5 Christmas Movies (more) For the Holidays Review

MEET JOHN DOE 1941

Another Capra classic this one has a big dose of  cynicism. It takes place during the holiday season so I'm calling it qualified as Christmas movie. Fired reporter Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwyck) prints a fake letter from unemployed "John Doe," who threatens suicide in protest of social ills. The public wants more so the paper is forced to rehire Ann and then must hire John Willoughby (Gary Cooper)to impersonate "Doe." Ann and her bosses use John mercilessly as John Doe's philosophy creates a politicial movement that must be taken seriously which might just lead to a truly tragic conclusion. There's a fun Walter Brennan performance here as well.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS-- 1945

Set in 1903, it revolves around the romantic trials and family life of Esther Smith (Judy Garland) who falls for the boy next door but learns that her father has has taken a job that will uproot the family from St. Louis and land them in New York at the end of the year. Eldest sister Rose (Lucille Bremer) also experiences romantic woes as she awaits a long distance proposal from New York. All the while, the Smith family awaits the arrival of the World's Fair; an event they're convinced will make St. Louis the country's main attraction. It takes place over 4 seasons and includes THE TROLLEY SONG. Vincent Minnelli composes scenes and shots of breathtaking beauty. I call it a Christmas movie because one of the best Christmas movie scenes is from is Judy singing Have Yourself a Merry Christmas.

THE LEMON DROP KID --1951

One of Bob Hope's best vehicles is this Damon Runyon re-make Hope is the Lemon Drop Kid who accidentally steers gangster Moose Moran's girl away from winning a bet and now the ‘kid' has gotta come up with $10,000 fast. Good thing it is Christmas time and people are easily persuaded to give their money to worthy causes. Highlight: Marilyn Maxwell's classic rendition of ‘ Silver Bells'

PENNY SERENADE - 1941

This bittersweet romantic drama was the third paring of Irene Dunn and Cary Grant. It has a strong Christmas scene so I've put it here as a ‘Christmas move' since despite it flaws I like several things about it. 1- Cary Grant's performance is among his best. 2- The set-up is clever and unique.Dunne's character remembers scenes from a troubled marriage because she is going through a record collection. Every record she plays triggers memories... from how the couple meets (listening to records) to good times and tragedies.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE -- 1947

What?  Everyone knows about this one and everyone watches this one and a lot of people are sick sick sick of it.    Ah, but there's been a backlash on this one and I've discovered a lot of people haven't seen it for years.   It's the greatest of them all. And if you think it's a bit too sentimental or too NICE... you need to sit down and watch it again. Yeah there's plenty of Capra-corn in the thing, and the Clarence and the Angel thing,  but it's got an edge to it. A true classic that was a flop when it was first released. Jimmy Stewart is superb. And the very flirty scenes with Donna Reed are enjoyable.  

If you want to watch some truly awful Christmas movies than get drunk on some spiked egg nog and watch THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T  which stars former kid show host Paul Tripp, The best so-bad its good Yuletide turky in my book.    You also have SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (which features a very young Pia Zadora -remember her?) and the Mexican made SANTA CLAUS that features a bargain basement costumed Devil  and some of the weirdest creepiest stuff every shown to little kids during Holiday Matinee showings in movie theaters for several years!!! If you watch this one just consider they used to play this for many years so that parents could drop this little ones at the movie theater for a couple of hours as they do some shopping. Lots of kids were traumatized!!! 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is worth watching a couple times (better than you think).  Preston Sturges' under-appreciated comic gem (but not a masterpiece) CHRISTMAS IN JULY isn't set during Christmas but you got a guy buying people gifts in it and the title.... Lots of funny lines and situations in this Brewster Millions/Nothing Sacred kind of flick.

SILENT NIGHT, EVIL NIGHT now known as BLACK CHRISTMAS  (the original one) is a decent horror film set around Christmas Time and directed by the guy who gave us CHRISTMAS STORY and PORKYS (aren't we lucky !!!). There are also several psycho Santa movies. They are all pretty awful, there's one I'm too lazy to look up right that's slightly better than they truly bad series of films (5 OF THEM) with the SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT title. The best of the psycho Santa ideas is the segment in the TALES FROM THE CRYPT theatrical movie with Joan Collins which was remade as part of the HBO TALES series that starred Larry Drake.

And to end on a positive note-another enjoyable movie set around Christmas time: TRADING PLACES !!! (you know Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Lee Curtis.  RATED R!!!).

Ho ho ho....