Whatever happened to the old-fashioned, classic Christmas movies our grandparents used to watch?
Nothing, but as generations have gone on people have steered towards newer Christmas movies and remakes of movies—whether it be new Hallmark movies, Elf (2003), A Christmas Carol (any version), etc.
These old classics are sure to bring back fond holiday memories or give people a few new movies to watch this holiday season:
Holiday Inn (1942) starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, this is a musical performance through all the holidays throughout the year from Valentine’s Day to Christmas Day. Irving Berlin’s music in the film is phenomenal, as is the choreography by Danny Dare.
Holiday Inn is about a three-person act that shifts when a romance becomes complicated. When Jim Hardy (Crosby) takes off to live on a farm and quickly realizes he isn’t satisfied with it, he makes the farm an inn for 15 holidays throughout the year. For each holiday there is a dinner performance to go along with the holiday theme.
The film also introduced and won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song. Berlin’s “White Christmas” earned this award.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) starring James Stewart and Donna Reed is a beautiful comedy-drama about a man who sees what peoples’ lives would be like if he was never born. After his imminent suicide, his guardian angel shows him this and how life would be if he hadn’t touched so many lives around him on Christmas Eve.
This film also won several awards including: a CEC award from the Cinema Writers Circle Awards in Spain for best foreign film, a NBR award from the National Board of Review for top ten films, a National Film Registry award from the National Film Preservation Board, OFTA Film Hall of Fame award from the Online Film & Television Association for motion picture and a Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award from the Young Artist Awards for Jimmy Hawkins.
In response to Irving Berlin’s music in Holiday Inn, White Christmas (1954) starring Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney was created and featured a new version of Crosby’s song “White Christmas.”
White Christmas tells the story of two showmen who follow a sister act to a Vermont lodge where they will perform for the holiday season. The showmen put together a group act for the holiday season to bring in customers to the inn of their former commanding general. With singing, dancing, romance and snow, the film provides viewers with the classic warm holiday spirit for any age group.
If you have yet to watch these films grab some hot cocoa, lay around with family and friends and check out these forgotten Christmas classics before the holiday season slips away.
