What is the one essential classic movie that you can't do Christmas without?

[Faygo Kid]

For me, it's George C. Scott's version of "A Christmas Carol." We will watch it yet again Christmas Eve; it is the best.

Some others:

Christmas in Connecticut (first version)
Miracle on 34th Street (definitely first version)
Holiday Inn
Bachelor Mother (what, you haven't seen this one?!?)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (actually, the only good movie of the series)

How about you?

?

[tigereye]

1. I've never seen the George C. Scott one!

I've seen the Alastair SIms one, the Patrick Stewart one, and the Muppet one with Michael Caine, which we ALWAYS watch - probably because my son enjoys it, and so do we!

I try to watch White Christmas, Holiday Inn and THe BIshop's Wife ( the Cary Grant one.) I used to watch Poirot's Christmas (from Mystery) before I lost the tape. :(

Oh and the Nutcracker. you have to see that!


:hi:

[Faygo Kid]

4. Then you are in for a treat. I like the others - I love the Scott one.

To me, it is the best. I hope you will rent it at the video store tomorrow, and try it this Christmas. I love Patrick Stewart, but his version frankly sucks compared to George C. Scott's.

[kath]

21. Agree - the one with George C. Scott is the best.

[LoveMyCali]

7. It's a Wonderful Life

is one of my all-time favorite movies and I also have the Cary Grant version of The Bishop's Wife on DVD.

I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation last night and laughed until I cried when the squirrel jumped out of the tree. Oh, and I'm still amazed there are people who never watched A Christmas Story, especially since TBS usually runs it for 24 hours straight starting on Christmas Eve.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

17. I've only seen parts of A Christmas Story

never sitting through the whole movie in one sitting... I only briefly saw the Lamp scene.

It's probably because I had something to do! Sorry :-(.... I was exactly the same way with Star Wars (I had never seen it before I met my fiance) and my fiance sat me down to watch Star Wars!

[tigereye]

22. Christmas Story is wonderful!

what a great, funny, sweet story. Not maudlin, kind of earthy and subversive, in a way.


The funny thing is the mom's hair and the kid's glasses - totally 80s! :rofl:

[tammywammy]

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

My dad loves this movie so we always watch it. Also I like A Christmas Story.

[Mz Pip]

3. The Christmas story

Very nostalgic for me.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[greenbriar]

5. Christmas Vacation

we have a brother in law that acts JUST like Eddie


we watch this every Thanksgiving

just to prepare us :)

[Bennyboy]

6. Planes, Trains & Automobiles....

More about Thanskgivng and always watch it on Thanksgiving because it gets the Holiday season off to a good start...

[Political Heretic]

8. The Musical Scrooge with Albert Finney!

Absolute MUST!

[Faygo Kid]

11. I like life, life likes me, life and I fairly fully agree. Eating food, drinking wine. . .

I can't get those songs out of my head. They say happiness is a thing you can't touch, a thing you can't see, I disagree. . .On behalf of all the people who've assembled here, I'd merely like to mention, if I may. . .

No, I didn't look these up. I love that film, too - I took my Mom to see it in 1970, when it came out. She was 52, and I was 19, and I can't ever remember taking her to another movie, but it was wonderful.

Now I am 56, and she is gone. And I thank you for reminding me of it (although I have the soundtrack - and now I will go listen to it).

[Political Heretic]

16. I hate people! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNkvM1BSwy0

[tekisui]

9. Scrooged, with Bill Murray

And, of course

It's A Wonderful Life

[LostInAnomie]

13. You stole mine!

Scrooged is awesome... well, except for the ending. That part is kinda cheesy.

[sueh]

10. Die Hard n/t

[libnnc]

12. A "new" classic for me is Home for the Holidays

The cast is amazing. Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downy Jr., Charles Durning, Dylan McDermott, Geraldine Chaplin, Steve Guttenberg and directed by Jodie Foster...fantastic. I love movies that highlight "holiday angst". It's a tough time of year and it's nice to laugh at characters who have just as tough a time at Thanksgiving and Christmas as you do.

[MorningGlow]

14. It's a Wonderful Life

Must...weep...copious tears...or it ain't Christmas. "Daddy! Teacher says whenever a bell rings, an angel gets its wings!" "That's right!...Atta boy, Clarence." Aaannnndddd hand me the kleenex box; the flood gates are openin'. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Faygo Kid]

15. No knock on the movie; I didn't include it because I'm saturated.

Funny thing is, before the mid 1980s, nobody saw it. It's a dark and measured performance by James Stewart. Kind of scary, actually. But it's great stuff, and I'm glad you included it.

[NNadir]

18. The Ref with Kevin Spacey and Dennis Leary.

A classic Christmas Movie.

[GCP]

33. I die laughing over that scene with the candles on their heads

At the dinner table. Judy Davis is awesome.

[Solon]

19. KISS saves Christmas, of course!

:P

[yellowdogintexas]

20. "Pocketful of Miracles", "We're No Angels" in addiiton to "A Christmas Story"

Miracle on 34th Street, and "Its a Wonderful Life'

"White Christmas" is a good one too.

[Initech]

23. Christmas Vacation, Bad Santa

[mulsh]

24. "The Thin Man"

I line up 5 highballs at the start, bourbon and soda since I can't stand martinis. ( the action takes place around Christmas)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. The Bishop's Wife

Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young.

But before I watch, I have to make sure I have tissues close by. :D

[Morrisons Ghost]

26. Ok here gos

Its a Wonderful Life,A Christmas Story,A Charlie Brown Christmas,A Christmas Carol{The one from 1951 with Alastair Sim}All of the claymation cartoons Rudolph,Santa,The one with Mr Freeze:-)

[begin_within]

27. Here's a good one:

"The Homecoming: A Christmas Story" became the TV series "The Waltons," and even if you don't like "The Waltons" you should watch this one - it's really good. It finally came out on DVD. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067209/

[CatholicEdHead]

28. Going My Way

[flvegan]

29. For Christmas? The Ref.

Denis Leary makes the holiday season tolerable.

[Iggo]

30. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

"I'M TELLIN' YA WHY!!!"

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. "Love Actually"

A wonderful movie set in England (mostly) with a terrific ensemble cast...

I cannot recommend it highly enough!

:bounce: :bounce:

[GCP]

34. My dear Peggy - we watched it the other night

For probably the third time. The deleted scenes are great - the one with the little boy's wish to see peoples' farts was great - especially Emma Thompson's reaction!

[Orsino]

32. The Shop Around the Corner

Basis for You've Got Mail:
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0033045/



I dunno. Nothing really seems can't-do-without-it, but A Christmas Story and A Charlie Brown Christmas seem to cover most of the necessary bases, but we just sort of happen upon them. The Shop Around the Corner has been the only one we've gone so far as to plan to watch.

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. Alien. Star Wars. Casablanca, and other Bogart movies.

For me, Bogart is associated with Christmas. Not Christmas movies, none of which I really like.

[TommyO]

36. The Muppets Christmas Carol

Fozzie as "Fozziewig" was inspired casting.