The Five Best Christmas Movies You’ve (Probably) Never Seen

National Review ^ | Dec 23, 2017 | Arthur Herman

[Cecily]

Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby were so great together in “Holiday Inn.” I love Fred’s drunk dancing scene.

[Henchster]

Sorry, the best “Christmas Carol” IS a musical, but it is “Scrooge” with Albert Finney and Alec Guinness.

[Nifster]

Yup. That is showing today

[Nifster]

Indeed

[JLAGRAYFOX]

This a terrific John Wayne flick. The entire cast is magnificent. And...Wayne stays true to his “equality for all” stance as played in this movie and in his movie,
“The Searchers”. Loved ‘em both!!!

[bonfire]

Best movie!

[MomwithHope]

Have seen 4 of the 5. Have not seen Cheaters. A couple of weeks ago I saw one I had never seen. Come to the Stable - 1949. Ultimately the best Christmas movie ever. Even though the word Christmas is never spoken or celebrated. A movie with no major conflict. Two nuns come to America with a calling to build a children’s hospital. God’s will touches everyone and involves them. They all say yes to His will. Just an amazing movie.

[Deplorable American1776]

And indirectly, “Holiday Inn” was the reason Fred Wilson named his motel ‘Holiday Inn’.

[ought-six]

There was a short movie from the 1940s called “Star in the Night,” that is fantastic. Google it and watch it; it is only about 25 minutes long.

[SamAdams76]

Good list.

As for Die Hard, I don't see it as a Christmas movie. Yes, the movie was set during Christmas but that doesn't make it a "Christmas Movie". It's really a movie about resolving a hostage situation and can be seen any time of year (good movie by the way).

Technically speaking, "A Wonderful Life" is not a Christmas movie either. Much of the action (in flashbacks) takes place outside of the Christmas season. Other than the ending scene, there is not a lot of Christmas in it. That said, Donna Reed is quite possibly the most beautiful woman of all time - in my opinion.

For me, "A Christmas Carol" is the most perfect Christmas story. I like almost all the movie adaptations of it and I try to read the Dickens original at least every other Christmas. It's a quick read that can be done in a single evening by a roaring fireplace with a glass of egg nog by your side and a dog lying at your feet.

[usconservative]

I’ve seen four of the five. Never heard of the Cheaters

Same here, and based on the description don't think it's one I want to see either.

[MD Expat in PA]

Last summer, I went with my niece and her kids and my nephew’s wife and their kids for a free Sunday morning showing of The Wizard of Oz at a local movie theater. While I’ve seen that movie on TV many times, it was a real treat to see it on the big screen.

I also went some years ago with a friend to see a restored print of Gone With The Wind on the big screen. Quite a different experience than watching it on TV, or even a big screen TV.

[Nifster]

True that.

[ExGeeEye]

I knew the "munchkin hanging himself on set" legend was a load of Vos scitis quod res est, but it took until seeing it properly to see that it really was.

[bleach]

Don’t forge the 3 Godfathers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqlUqWH17AI

An overlooked Ford/Wayne classic.

[AustinBill]

1947's The Bishop's Wife is a delight and one of my favorites as well. It's a story of redemption on many levels with a superb supporting cast that really help Grant, Young, and Niven shine. Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Hamilton is especially noteworthy as a bitter soul who finds redemption. Interestingly, it's a reprise of a similar role in which she undergoes the same sort of metamorphosis as Sr. Marie Therese Vauzous in 1943's The Song of Bernadette (also highly recommended).

[PAR35]

The Bishop’s Wife shows up fairly regularly.

[jmacusa]

The Sims version is the absolute best. No one does a better Scrooge than a superb British actor like Sims. Merry Christmas.

[Monterrosa-24]

I agree. I was shocked to see that some think Scott’s good version is better than Sim’s great version.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

There was a short movie from the 1940s called “Star in the Night,” that is fantastic. Google it and watch it; it is only about 25 minutes long.

TCM, 6AM tomorrow.