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Post by NoShear on Dec 23, 2023 18:21:09 GMT
I hesitate in posting this one as it's so ugly amidst the beauty of lonesomepolecat's thread here, but it's a cautionary tale from me - don't watch it during the Holidays season:  The story could've used your "Santa's Slay" title, TopBilled. |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Dec 23, 2023 18:24:13 GMT
Thanks for mentioning O. Henry's Full House (1952), LonesomePolecat. I adore this film. It's a beautiful display of giving as the spirit of the season. My favorite sequence is "The Last Leaf", which reduces me to blubbering every single time.
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And while we're at it, thanks also for mentioning A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). (I knew you'd give us a list of animated films!) There's something about a cartoon kid from the mid-60s lamenting the commercialism of the Christmas season that really puts some things into perspective. I love the whole vibe of this film. It's calm and moody, sad and reverent, hopeful and joyous. And any excuse to go around humming tunes from Vince Guaraldi is A-OK in my book.
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 23, 2023 19:47:33 GMT
A fun, obscure British Christmas movie is 1962's "Crooks Anonymous" with Julie Christie (my brain always needs a minute or two to reset to normal thinking after I hear the name or see Julie Christie). My comments on it here: "Crooks Anonymous"
It has many Santas
And Julie Christie!
 I’m gonna have to check this one out — it looks lots of fun! |
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 23, 2023 19:55:47 GMT
I hesitate in posting this one as it's so ugly amidst the beauty of lonesomepolecat's thread here, but it's a cautionary tale from me - don't watch it during the Holidays season: The story could've used your "Santa's Slay" title, TopBilled. There are some depressing holiday films I could mention — ALL MINE TO GIVE — This one I caught on TCM’s recommendation but the ending was soooo depressing I was angry about it— why am I sitting here?!?! The point of the film is, what, life sucks? Great Christmas message! THE HOLLY AND THE IVY — a dish of Christmas cynicism but at least it works out at the end, so I didn’t mind watching it so much, though once was enough for me, but at least it has a great cast THE SNOWMAN — a magical fantastic animated film with a hauntingly beautiful song, “We’re Walking in the Air”, but of course they have to have the depressing ending, because jt is French. Life hack hint: I watch this cartoon most years then just turn it off after they come home and say “that’s the happy ending!” NESTOR THE CHRISTMAS DONKEY — another needlessly depressing “why am I sitting here?!” type of film….. but for kids! |
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 24, 2023 0:59:10 GMT
 Just watched WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, set in Chicago Other Christmas movies in the Chicago area: A CHRISTMAS STORY NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION HOME ALONE A big chunk of CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES |
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Post by intrepid37 on Dec 24, 2023 3:59:22 GMT
One of my favorites is 1994's Trapped in Paradise.
Dana Carvey is especially delightful in it.
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 24, 2023 6:11:09 GMT
Right now I’m watching a TV special I love called A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES with Denholm Elliott, based on the memoir by Dylan Thomas  |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Dec 24, 2023 6:15:45 GMT
There are some depressing holiday films I could mention — |
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 24, 2023 7:19:15 GMT
A foreign language Christmas film is MY MOTHER’S CASTLE, the sequel to MY FATHER’S GLORY — Marcel’s family goes back to the cottage for Christmas  |
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Post by topbilled on Dec 24, 2023 8:39:19 GMT
I have a bit of insomnia so I am re-watching THE CHEATERS. The scene with the choristers near the end of the picture is truly sublime.
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 24, 2023 8:43:24 GMT
There are some depressing holiday films I could mention — This one is really depressing, I agree. Here’s some Christmas Noir that I love, and that are plenty cynical, but not depressing to me: LADY IN THE LAKE COVER UP LADY ON A TRAIN REPEAT PERFORMANCE CASH ON DEMAND (neo noir) And what I call pre-noir, THE THIN MAN  |
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Dec 24, 2023 9:06:41 GMT
Some more Christmas programming: DESK SET  HEIDI  MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS - with Kermit and the gang, plus Seaame Steet and Fraggle Rock  EMMET OTTER’S JUG BAND CHRISTMAS — another Jim Henson special based on a Children’s book  BABES IN TOYLAND — Disney’s version of this classic operetta is my favorite  WHAT A WAY TO GO — in The Dick Van Dyke segment, he goes berserk with work at the store, ignoring Shirley MacLaine for two Christmases in a row because “Christmas means business — big business!”  |
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Post by Fading Fast on Dec 24, 2023 10:36:15 GMT
There are some depressing holiday films I could mention — |
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Post by Fading Fast on Dec 24, 2023 10:54:25 GMT
Christmas Holiday (1944) -- While Dean Harens awaits a flight home for Christmas, he meets näive Deanna Durbin who is married to wastrel Gene Kelly. She tells the story of the husband's murder trial. As you probably can guess, it goes down hill. This one is really depressing, I agree. Here’s some Christmas Noir that I love, and that are plenty cynical, but not depressing to me: LADY IN THE LAKE COVER UP LADY ON A TRAIN REPEAT PERFORMANCE CASH ON DEMAND (neo noir) And what I call pre-noir, THE THIN MAN "Lady on a Train"
I really like "Cash on Demand," we screened it for Sunday Live! around this time last year.
I'd add "Mr. Soft Touch" to the list.
I also really like "Lady on a Train," especially because Deanna Durbin wears a couple of outrageous hats with the confidence to pull them off. My comments on that movie, from two yeas ago, here: "Lady on the Train"
 
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Post by Fading Fast on Dec 24, 2023 10:57:19 GMT
Some more Christmas programming: DESK SET |
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