I used to be a bit of a Scrooge who just thought of Christmas as a somewhat enjoyable day between two superior holidays, Halloween and New Year’s Eve. As the years have passed, though, Christmas has become my favorite holiday. I love that it falls early enough in winter that us Michiganders aren’t quite tired of snow yet. I love the lights, the scents, the … Continue reading Collector’s Corner: Christmas Films!
Welcome to the first of Eight Days of Christmas, a celebration of the wintery and often heartwarming holiday cheer churned out by Hollywood. This year’s Eight Days of Christmas will feature films and classic television episodes. It all kicks off today with The Dick Van Dyke Show‘s episode “The Alan Brady Show Presents,” a variety show-style Christmas episode from season three. On to the show!… … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas, Day 1: Christmas with the Petries
A note from Lindsey: Merry Christmas to those who are celebrating today! I hope you all are having a fantastic holiday! Today wraps up the Eight Days of Christmas series, and I’m sharing a review of one of the most beloved Christmas classics, It’s a Wonderful Life. Previous posts: The Bishop’s Wife, Boys Town, Miracle on 34th Street, Bundle of Joy, A Christmas Wish, Beyond Christmas, … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
It doesn’t feel like the Christmas season without a visit to the Redford to watch a Christmas classic. The season began early for me this year, as I visited the Redford to watch one of my favorite holiday films, Miracle on 34th Street, the weekend before Thanksgiving! A film appropriate for both holidays (and therefore appropriate for viewing any time between Halloween and the New Year), … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas: Miracle on 34th Street at the Redford Theatre
Yep, I’m one of “those people” — the people who love Christmas music, and begin listening to it way too early each year. I don’t know about you all, but I started putting the She & Him Christmas album, the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soundtrack, and other holiday tunes on heavy rotation in early November. Now that we’ve reached December 24, a date on which … Continue reading Christmas songs on film: 9 Favorites
Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum) has landed a seasonal job as a clerk at a New York City department store. While working one day, he meets Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh), a customer who seems to have big money to spend. As it turns out, Connie is actually a spy from one of the store’s competitors, snooping around and purchasing a very expensive train set. The next … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas: Holiday Affair (1949)
Snow tells the story of Sandy Brooks (Ashley Williams), an awkward zookeeper who has no talent for telling jokes and makes friends with the animals who inhabit the San Ernesto, California zoo because she doesn’t have any human friends. Sandy is constantly pursued by a pesky man named Buck (Patrick Fabian) who is always asking her for dates. Given the task of buying some reindeer … Continue reading Eight days of Christmas: Classics of the Corn, Snow & Snow 2: Brain Freeze
Ah, New York City. Is there a more wonderful place to be during Christmas? From the lights to the crowds to the snow, the answer to that question is probably no, especially if you’re living a plush existence on Fifth Avenue, “the richest avenue in the world.” A tour bus is driving down the exclusive avenue one day when the announcer points out a boarded-up … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas: It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
The favorite film: Love Actually, a 2003 holiday romantic comedy written and directed by Richard Curtis The synopsis: Romance is explored through the intertwining storylines of multiple couples as they experience young love, fading love, lost love, lust and even brotherly love during the Christmas season in London (and in a few other places, but mostly in London). The cast: Colin Firth as Jamie Liam … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas: Favorite things about… Love Actually
The year is 1856, and the Eunsons (Robert, portrayed by Cameron Mitchell, and Mamie, portrayed by Glynis Johns) have just arrived in America from Scotland. They’ve been invited to the small village of Eureka by Mamie’s uncle, whom they plan to live with. Upon arrival in Eureka, though, the Eunsons are given bad news: Mamie’s uncle was killed recently in a house fire, and little … Continue reading Eight Days of Christmas: All Mine to Give (1957)
