The 10 Best Christmas Movies of All Time - in Color and Black-and-White

My choices for the 10 Best Christmas Movies of all time are perhaps different than others would opt for. Since I was born in the 1930's, I have had an opportunity to view first-run movies which others have only seen as reruns on late night television. Half of my choices were from the 1940's, some of them in black and white.

1. Holiday Inn (1942)

This Oscar-winning movie stars Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds in a tale of a former night club
performer who turns a farm into an Inn which is open to the public only on holidays. The hotel chain, the Holiday Inn, took its name from this film. The smash hit "White Christmas" written by Irving Berlin was introduced in this movie.

This movie brings back memories of long ago when I visited the hotel in the Adirondack Mountains which was the setting for the Holiday Inn.

2. White Christmas (1954)

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star as two WWII veterans who want to help their former commanding officer keep his Vermont hotel from going under. They offer to bring their successful musical to the hotel to bring in patrons. Their Vermont buddies from their old army division come to the Christmas Eve show and save the hotel from bankruptcy. The song "White Christmas" is also featured in this movie. Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen provide the love interest for the main characters.

I have always enjoyed movies about WWII veterans and their need to start new careers upon their return from war. The outstanding cast is another reason to place this movie in the Top 10.

3. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

When two pen pals fall in love, they are unaware that they work together in a gift shop where they have great animosity towards each other. James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan make this black-and-white story believable. The plot has been recycled and is now recognized in the updated version in 1998 - "You've Got Mail" - starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

My mother took my sister and me to this movie when I was very young, and explained the plot to us.

4. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

No Top 10 List would be complete without this one. Kris Kringle (played by Edmund Gwenn) is hired to play Santa in Macy's New York Store at Broadway and 24th Street when the former Santa is intoxicated at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Through a series of awkward events, Kris Kringle goes to court and must prove to the judge that he is the real Santa Claus. Natalie Wood, in one of her first movie roles as a 9-year-old, believes fervently in Santa and saves the day when the judge rules in Kris Kringle's favor.

Having just watched Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November, I look forward to seeing this classic movie once again on its usual reruns throughout the Christmas holidays.

5. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Once again Jimmy Stewart is immortalized in celluloid as he portrays George Bailey who, down on his luck, wishes he had never been born. George is saved by his guardian angel Clarence (played by Henry Travers) who shows George what would have happened to many of the townspeople if it hadn't been for George's help to them in time of need. Donna Reed plays George's faithful wife who has loved him since childhood.

I look forward to seeing this black and white film once again this year. It is probably my #1 pick for a good-feel movie.

6. The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

Pitting Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman against each other as Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict is a difficult premise to get across. Each has a different philosophy regarding education and the retention of the rundown building which houses the children. They do become friends by the end of the movie when Father O'Malley decides to tell Sister Benedict she is being transferred because of her contraction of tuberculosis and not because of their disagreements.

I love this movie. I was in eighth grade when this was first released. We learned the words of the songs from the movie - The Bells of St. Mary's and Aren't You Glad You're You. Great memories from a Catholic upbringing.

7. A Christmas Story (1983)

Ralphie wants only a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas but is told over and over again by grown-ups that "You'll shoot your eye out." The days leading up to Christmas are endless and demonstrate the trials of a nine-year-old boy who has relationship problems with adults and children. Fortunately, he does get his Red Ryder BB Gun from Santa.

My children loved this movie when it was first released, especially the part where Ralphie's friend has his tongue stuck to a flagpole in the freezing cold weather. We still laugh about it to this day.

8. The Santa Clause (1994)

A divorced father played by Tim Allen is unwittingly drawn into delivering toys to children all over the world on Christmas Eve. The sleigh and reindeer are on his roof with instructions on how to proceed. The elves inform him that he has 11 months to get ready for the next Christmas Eve. When he grows a beard as well as a gut, he convinces himself and his son Charlie that he is the real Santa. Enter the antagonist - his ex-wife's new husband, a psychiatrist, who sets up obstacles to Tim's relationship with his son.

I watched this movie for the first time at Thanksgiving this year while on vacation in Florida. It put a smile on my face and a desire to sit still for additional movies about Santa over the Christmas season this year.

9. Jingle All the Way (1996)

A procrastinating father, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, promises his wife he will pick up the toy that their son wants for Christmas - the action figure Turbo Man. You guessed it. Turbo Man is out of stock in every store. The antics to find Turbo Man take the character down a road where he ends up playing Turbo Man is a Christmas Eve parade. All ends well.

I also watched this movie for the first time this past Thanksgiving. Having a five-year-old grandson at my side on the couch gives it a special significance which I will long remember.

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

This remake of an animated version filmed in 1966 stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch who hates Christmas and decides to steal it away from the citizens of Whoville who have made him unhappy over the years. After making off with all the Christmas toys and trimmings, he learns that the citizens of Whoville are reconciled to their loss and have realized that Christmas is more than toys and gifts.

My children as adults still call roast beef "roast beast" as it is called in this movie at the joyous end. Jim Carrey's 2000 version cannot be matched.

That's All Folks!

Source:

Wikipedia
Personal experience