Film I Recommend (Christmas)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (UK 1951)
Writer: Noel Langley (The Wizard of Oz-1939, The Pickwick Papers-UK)
Composer: Richard Addinsell (Blithe Spirit-UK 1945, A Tale of Two Cities-1958)
Ebenezer Scrooge: (Sir) Alistair Sim (London Belongs to Me-UK, Stage Fright-UK, The Belles of St Trinians-UK); Jacob Marley/Marley's Ghost: Michael Hordern (Khartoum, Where Eagles Dare, Anne of a Thousand Days); Ghost of Christmas Past: Michael J Dolan; Ghost of Christmas Present: Francis De Wolff (Treasure Island-1950, From Russia with Love); Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: C Konarski; Bob Cratchit: Mervyn Johns (Dead of Night-UK); Mrs Cratchit: Hermione Baddeley (The Pickwick Papers-UK, The Belles of St Trinians-UK, Mary Poppins); Tiny Tim: Glyn Dearman; Mrs Dilber: Kathleen Harrison (Oliver Twist-UK 1948, The Pickwick Papers-UK); Fred: Brian Worth (Ill Met by Moonlight-UK 1957); Young Ebenezer: George Cole (The Belles of St Trinians-UK, Minder-UK TV); Alice: Rona Anderson; Fezziwig: Roddy Hughes; Mrs Fezziwig: Hattie Jacques (Carry On... series-UK, Sykes-UK TV)

The definitive adaptation of Dickens's classic Christmas novella, if not of all-time, then certainly for much of the 20th century. The "carol" in question is the story of a Victorian-era money lender, Ebenezer Scrooge, who has grown bitter and cynical with age. But on the eve of Christmas Day, Scrooge is visited by four Christmas spirits who will take him on a journey of Christmas through his lifetime in an effort to redeem his soul and show him the impact of his actions on the lives of others.

SCROOGE (UK 1970)
Writer: Leslie Bricusse
Director: Ronald Neame (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Poseidon Adventure)
Composer: Leslie Bricusse (Doctor Doolittle-1967, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Victor/Victoria)
Ebenezer Scrooge: (Sir) Albert Finney (Tom Jones-1963, Murder on the Orient Express-1974, Amazing Grace); Marley's Ghost: Alec Guiness (Oliver Twist-1948, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Star Wars IV-VI); Ghost of Christmas Past: Dame Edith Evans (The Importance of Being Earnest-1952, Tom Jones-1963, The Whisperers); Ghost of Christmas Present: Kenneth More (Sink the Bismark!, Battle of Britain); Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Paddy Stone; Bob Cratchit: David Collings (Doctor Who-UK TV 1975, Julius Caesar-1979); Mrs Cratchit: Frances Cuka (Sense and Sensibility-UK 1971, Henry VIII and His Six Wives); Tiny Tim: Richard Beaumont; Tom Jenkins: Anton Rodgers (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Merchant of Venice-2004); Isabel: Suzanne Neve (The Portrait of a Lady-UK 1968); Fezziwig: Laurence Naismith (The Persuaders-UK TV, Fall of Eagles-UK); Mrs Fezziwig: Kay Walsh (Oliver Twist-1948, Stage Fright-UK); Fred: Michael Medwin

This is perhaps my favourite version of Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL--it has to be as it's the only version I have watched dozens of times, Christmas season or not. I am not sure why since the film is 1) is a musical and 2) is not the most faithful of adaptations. Maybe it's because it was always on TV a week before Christmas when I was a kid... Maybe because it was the one movie my dad, sister, and I always watched together as a family... In any case, Scrooge is charming, it's the only musical you'll probably ever finding me singing to, and Albert Finney's performance as Scrooge hits a nerve somewhere in me like none of the others do. The film does such a marvelous job solidly connecting Scrooge's downward spiral to the love he lost in Belle. I watched the film a lot as an older teen--a time when my lack of a love in my life was starting to haunt me. I think I was afraid that all my years of unrequieted love was making me bitter and I needed a reminder of what might await me down that path.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984)
Ebenezer Scrooge: George C Scott (The Bible: In the Beginning, Jane Eyre-1970, Patton); Marley's Ghost: Frank Finlay (The Three Musketeers-1973, Count Dracula-UK); Ghost of Christmas Past: Angela Pleasance (The Six Wives of Henry VIII-UK, Midsomer Murders-UK TV); Ghost of Christmas Present: Edward Woodward (Callan-UK TV, The Wicker Man-UK 1973, The Equalizer-TV); Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Michael Carter (Star Wars VI); Bob Cratchit: David Warner (TRON, Hornblower-UK TV, Batman: The Animated Series-TV); Mrs Cratchit: Susannah York (The Battle of Britain, Jane Eyre-1970, Superman I & II); Tiny Tim: Anthony Walters; Fred Hollywell: Roger Rees (Cheers-TV, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Crossing); Young Ebenezer: Mark Strickson (Doctor Who-UK 1983); Belle: Lucy Gutteridge (Tales of the Unexpected-UK TV, Little Gloria...Happy at Last, The Secret Garden-UK 1987); Fezziwig: Timothy Bateson (Labyrinth, Harry Potter V-voice)

If there is ever an adaptation of this Christmas classic that could supplant the 1951 version, it is this made-for-TV special. George C Scott's superior interpretation of the world-weary miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, is every bit as emotional and dramatic as Sim's (despite Scott's harsh American accent). I suggest watching both versions every year: Sim's because of the black & white, archaic-atmosphere and the great Marley/Scrooge backstory; Scott's because of the gorgeous Victorian-era sets and costumes and because there are some really great, natural comedic moments. I also think that the 1984 cast-ensemble gives the best performance (by quite a bit) of any other version. Be sure to look for two small cameos, one by Michael Gough ("Alfred" from the first four Batman films) and the other from Joanne Whalley ("Sorsha" from Willow).

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1999)
Ebenezer Scrooge: Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation-films, TV, games, X-Men-films, games, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind-Disney); Marley's Ghost: Bernard Lloyd (A Danergous Man: Lawrence after Arabia-UK); Ghost of Christmas Past: Joel Grey (Cabaret, Kafka, Oz-TV); Ghost of Christmas Present: Desmond Barrit (A Midsummer Night's Dream-UK 1996, Northanger Abbey-UK 2007); Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Tim Potter (Finding Neverland); Bob Cratchit: Richard E Grant (The Scarlet Pimpernel-1999 UK, Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka-voice UK); Mrs Cratchit: Saskia Reeves (Dune I-2000); Tiny Tim: Ben Tibber (I Am David); Fred: Dominic West (300, The Punisher II); Young Ebenezer: Kenny Doughty; Belle: Laura Fraser (A Knight's Tale, Casanova-UK 2005); Fezziwig: Ian McNeice (Ace Ventura II, Dune I & II-2000)

It would be wrong not to suggest this version since Patrick Stewart has famously (and faithfully) performed the Christmas parable as a one-man show for many years. Of note in this version is that much of Dickens's dialogue has been updated for the modern day audience. Also, this was the first of the adaptations to make noticeable use of digital special effects, and they do add very nicely to the story. Of all the adaptations, this version is definitely the most accurate portrayal of Victorian-era London. One fanboy cameo of note is Celia Imrie ("Bravo 5 pilot" from Star Wars I and "Kate MacLeod" from the Highlander TV series).

AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL (1979)
Writer: Jerome Coopesmith (Hawaii Five-O-TV, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas-animated)
Director: Eric Till (Luther)
Composer: Hagood Hardy (Anne of Green Gables-CA, Anne of Avonlea-CA)
Benedict Slade: Henry Winkler (Happy Days-TV, The Waterboy, Click); Jack Latham: Ken Pogue (Adderly-TV, Highlander-TV); Jessup: Gerard Parkes (Fraggle Rock-TV); Merrivale: David Wayne (Adam's Rib, Batman-TV, The Andromeda Strain-1971); Matt Reeves: Dorian Harewood (The Jesse Owens Story, Full Metal Jacket); Thatcher: RH Thomson (Road to Avonlea-CA TV, Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace); Mrs Thatcher: Linda Goranson; Jonathan Thatcher: Chris Cragg; Helen: Susan Hogan (Night Heat-CA TV); Mr Brewster: Chris Wiggins (Swiss Family Robinson-CA TV, Redwall-CA animated); Mrs Brewster: Mary Pirie

This interpretation of Dickens's famous Christmas tale takes place in Depression-stricken New Hampshire. It follows the basic themes of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, but the film has its own personality and original story, so don't go into this thinking it's simply a straight Americanised adaptation. It is very nicely done with some excellent acting throughout. The film does tend towards the grainy/muted side, but I think this works in favour of the film given its setting. I especially liked the performances of Thomson as "Thatcher" and Harewood as "Reeves"--and obviouslly Winkler, who's "Slade" ranks right up there with Sim and Scott's performances as "Scrooge".

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)
Writer: Jean Shepherd (In God We Trust...All Others Pay Cash-novel); Bob Clark
Director: Bob Clark (Murder by Decree, Porky's)
Composer:  Paul Zaza (Murder By Decree, Porky's)
Ralphie Parker: Peter Billingsley (The Wonder Years-TV, producer-Zathura & Iron Man); "Old Man" Parker: Darren McGavin (Captain America, Billy Madison, The X-Files-TV); Mrs Parker: Melinda Dillon (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry and the Hendersons, Captain America); Randy Parker: Ian Petralla; Schwartz: RD Robb; Flick: Scott Schwartz (The Toy); Miss Shields: Tedde Moore (Murder By Decree, My Summer Story); Scut Farkus: Zack Ward (Anne of Green Gables series, Resident Evil II); Grover Dill: Yano Anaya; Narrator: Jean Shephed

The Christmas adventures of Ralphie Parker and his family in late 1930s Chicago, which include the family Oldsmobile, the Bumpis hounds, a Major Award, and an official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and that "thing" which tells time... This endearing adaptation on semi-autobiographical short stories by Jean Shepherd will probably trigger your own memories (and adventures) of Christmas as a kid. (The authour/Narrator also has a quick on-screen cameo regardin the line to see Santa in the department store.)

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
Writers: Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich (The Thin Man, Father of the Bride, The Diary of Anne Frank-1959); Jo Swerling (Platinum Blond, No Greater Glory, The Pride of the Yankees); Frank Capra
Director: Frank Capra (Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Arsenic and Old Lace-1944, State of the Union)
George Bailey: James Stewart (Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Destry Rides Again, The Glenn Miller Story); Mary Hatch: Donna Reed (They Were Expendable, From Here to Eternity, Ransom!); Mr Potter: Lionel Barrymore (You Can't Take it With You, Duel in the Sun, Key Largo); Uncle Billy: Thomas Mitchell (Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Bataan, The Keys of the Kingdom); Clarence: Henry Travers (Dodge City, Shadow of a Doubt, The Bells of St Mary's); Peter Bailey: Samuel S Hinds (You Can't Take it With You, Destry Rides Again); Ma Bailey: Beulah Bondi (Make Way for Tomorrow, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Back to Bataan); Bert: Ward Bond (You Can't Take it With You, They Were Expendable, Wagontrain-TV); Ernie: Frank Faylen (Road to Rio, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis-TV); Sam Wainwright: Frank Albertson (Wake Island, Psycho); Violet: Gloria Grahame (Crossfire, In a Lonely Place, Oklahoma!); Mr Gower: HB Warner (You Can't Take it With You, Lost Horizon-1937, Mr Deeds Goes to Town)

Technically not even a "Christmas movie", this multiple Academy Award-nominated film grants to George Bailey a wish that most of us have uttered a time or two in a crisis: "I wish I'd never been born." The film takes place on Christmas Eve in a small, post-WWII American town, and through flashbacks tells us how George Bailey comes to wish that famous wish. A great cast of characters through and through, the moral of the story rings clear and never gets old; neither does watching Jimmy Stewart act in one of his classic "every man" roles. Keep this one on the shelf for year-round viewing.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
Writer: Valentine Davies (story; On the Riviera, The Glenn Miller Story, Strategic Air Command)
Director: George Seaton (The Country Girl, Airport)
Composer: Cyril Mockridge (Nightmare Alley, Guys and Dolls, Lost in Space-TV)
Kris Kringle: Edmund Gwenn (Pride and Prejudice-1940, The Keys of the Kingdom, The Trouble with Harry); Mrs Walker: Maureen O'Hara (To the Shores of Tripoli, Rio Grande, The Parent Trap-1961); Mr Gailey: John Payne (To the Shores of Tripoli, Kansas City Confidential); Susan: Natalie Wood (The Ghost and Mrs Muir, Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story-1961); Granville Sawyer: Porter Hall (Double Indemnity, Ace in the Hole); Mr Shellhammer: Philip Tonge; D.A. Thomas Mara: Jerome Cowan (Blondie's... series, High Sierra); Alfred: Alvin Greenman; The Hon. Henry X Harper: Gene Lockhart (Algiers, A Christmas Carol-1938, Carousel)

A movie that has become as much a Christmas tradition in America as watching A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life, this film tells the story of a man who claims to be the real Santa Claus and the little girl who believes him. What makes this film still relevant today is that the girl's mother refuses to allow her daughter to believe such "nonsense" after her own cynical experiences with "fantasies" growing up. The movie is a powerful vehicle of the important role of faith and children in our lives. A great film to watch when you feel yourself sliding down to cynical when it comes the magic of Christmas. (If you are a I Love Lucy fan, look for a cameo by "Fred Mertz", William Frawley.)

SCROOGED (1988)
Writer: Mitch Glazer (The Recruit)
Director: Richard Donner (Superman I & II, Lethal Weapon I-V, Timeline)
Composer: Danny Elfman (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Men In Black I & II, The Family Man)
Frank Cross: Bill Murray (Ghostbusters I & II, Groundhog Day, Space Jam); Claire: Karen Allen (Indiana Jones I & IV, The Sandlot); Lew's Ghost: John Forsythe (The Trouble with Harry, Charlie's Angels series-film and TV); Ghost of Christmas Past: David Johansen (American punk and jazz musician); Ghost of Christmas Present: Carol Kane (Taxi-TV, The Princess Bride, Addams Family Values); Ghost of Christmas Future: "Himself"; Grace Cooley: Alfre Woodard (Hill Street Blues-TV, Star Trek VI, Miss Evers's Boys); Bryce Cummings: John Glover (Batman: The Animated Series-1992 TV, Payback, Smallville-TV); Eliot Loudermilk: Bobcat Goldthwait (Police Academy II-IV, Hercules-Disney); James Cross: John Murray; Preston Rhinelander: Robert Mitchum (Out of the Past, Heaven Knows Mr Allison, El Dorado)

A modern, dark comedy adaptation of Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Not being a fan of spoofs much, this one is on my recommended list because of the way it entertained, and took me completely off-guard (emotionally) at the end. Repeated viewings has only cemented my firm belief in the way the film tells its story; even though the writers may have been trying for cynical when they set out, it seems as though they were changed by the story as much as Frank Cross (and Scrooge) and unwittingly ended up with a positive tale of love and Christmas spirit.

THE SANTA CLAUSE (1994)
Writers: Leo Benvenuti (Space Jam); Steve Rudnick (Space Jam)
Director: John Pasquin (Jungle 2 Jungle)
Scott Calvin: Tim Allen (Home Improvement-TV, Toy Story-Disney, Jungle 2 Jungle); Charlie Calvin: Eric Lloyd (Batman & Robin); Laura: Wendy Crewson (Air Force One, The Dark is Rising: The Seeker); Neil: Judge Reinhold (Beverly Hills Cop I-III, Seinfeld-TV); Bernard the Elf: David Krumholtz (Ray, Serenity-TV, Numb3rs-TV); Mr Whittle: Peter Boyle (Young Frankenstein, The Shadow, Everybody Loves Raymond-TV)

A successful, if not immature, toy store executive must accept his calling as the new Santa Claus or risk disappointing millions of children worldwide... Given time, this film could be on every American family's annual "Christmas Films to Watch" list. Much of the charm that embodies Miracle on 34th Street is on display here: the cute and insightful child, the parents with the worldly view, the rediscovery of the magic of Christmas apart from the commercialism. I also have to say that Tim Allen might be the best actor ever to portray "The Big Guy" (and for some time). What makes this one of my very favourite movies is how it reaches out to adults and reminds them that it is okay--even necessasry--to keep our childhood innocence, and most important, to believe in the intangible.

THE SANTA CLAUSE 2: THE MRS CLAUSE (2002)
Writers: Leo Benvenuti (Space Jam); Steve Rudnick (Space Jam)
Director: Michael Lembeck (Friends-TV)
Composer: George S Clinton (Mortal Kombat I & II, Austin Powers I-III)
Santa Claus/Scott Calvin: Tim Allen (Home Improvement-TV, Toy Story-Disney, Jungle 2 Jungle); Charlie Calvin: Eric Lloyd (Batman & Robin); Principal Carol Newman: Elizabeth Mitchell (Frequency, Lost-TV); Laura: Wendy Crewson (Air Force One, The Dark is Rising: The Seeker); Neil: Judge Reinhold (Beverly Hills Cop I-III, Seinfeld-TV); Bernard the Elf: David Krumholtz (Ray, Serenity-TV, Numb3rs-TV); Curtis the Experimental Elf: Spencer Breslin (The Kid)

In this sequel, eight years has transpired when Scott is informed that he must find a "Mrs Clause" before the next Christmas Eve or Santa will cease to exist. To make matters more complicated, his son, Charlie, finds himself in more and more trouble as the constant separation from his father takes a toll... Sequels are always tough, but chalk up a victory for The Santa Clause. I liked the premise of the movie since Scott certainly deserves a female companion in his job. Also, the movie removed any of the remaining villainisation of Laura and Neil that may have been left over from the first film. The one dark spot on this film is the continued insinuation that Santa is the sole spirit and heart of Christmas, and that without Santa there is no Christmas. That role belongs solely to Christ. That aside, all of the charm and emotion of the first film is back, making this film as solid as the first.

ELF (2003)
Writer: David Berenbaum (The Haunted Mansion, The Spiderwick Chronicles)
Director: Jon Favreau (Zathura, Iron Man)
Composer: John Debney (The Emperor's New Groove-Disney, The Princess Diaries, The Passion of the Christ)
Buddy the Elf: Will Ferrell (Saturday Night Live-TV, Anchorman, Stranger than Fiction); Walter Hobbes: James Caan (El Dorado, The Godfather, Thief); Jovie: Zooey Deschanel (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Tin Man-TV); Michael Hobbes: Daniel Tay; Mrs Hobbes: Mary Steenburgen (Back to the Future III, One Magic Christmas, Joan of Arcadia-TV); Papa Elf: Bob Newhart (Newhart-TV, The Rescuers Down Under-Disney, The Librarian I & II); Santa Claus: Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show-TV, Roots, Spider-Man: The Animated Series-1994 TV); Miles Finch: Peter Dinklage (Narnia: Prince Caspian)

Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole, ventures to Manhattan to find the father who doesn't know he exists... As a film afficianado it is always fun to be pleasently surprised by a film. This movie was one I avoided, not because I didn't have any interest, but because I never know what to expect from Will Ferrell (and I mean that in a positive, non-critical way). But everything about this film's hype delivers, and then some. It is a touching story of a search for a family intertwined with the magic of Christmas, but the humour is applied generously throughout so as not to make the story as nauseatingly sweet as Buddy's appetite. (Be sure to look for an elf-cameo by Peter Billingsley, "Ralphie" from A Christmas Story.)

[Other films I would recommend where the Christmas holidays play more of a cameo or background role thus are not technically "Christmas films" are Stalag 17, Battle of the Bulge, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Batman Returns, and Hook. These films are covered on other "Recommend" pages.]