Comments on: It’s a lot like (my) Christmas.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:54:44 +0000

Margaret O’Brien wasn’t in the original Miracle on 34th Street, which I have seen.

I haven’t seen the Katherine Hepburn Little Women.

By: Barbara Raines

Barbara Raines — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:33:49 +0000

May I politely suggest you see the original Miracle on 34th Street with Margaret O’Brian and Maureen O’Hara, as well as the original Little Women with June Allyson and Katharine Hepburn. I’d like your opinion as I have seen both. Prefer the originals, of course.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:27:18 +0000

It's not remotely a "Tale of the Christ" but Ben-Hur is still a pretty solid film. Nothing Christmas-y about it, though. Still have yet to see The Ten Commandments though I have it on DVD. I'm waiting until I can see it on a big screen. I just can't imagine a circumstance where I would watch Jesus of Nazareth.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:22:06 +0000

True enough. But Charlie Brown is the only one I never fail to see.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:21:29 +0000

Not really, as Kym and I got rid of our cable some many months ago. I’ll have to get it from the library, I suppose.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:53:55 +0000

Have you seen the ’38 version of A Christmas Carol?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029992/

I look forward to comparing this version to that with Sim as well as the muppet film.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:48:02 +0000

Other candidates would be religious epics. Particularly:

The Ten Commandments (1956)
As Hitchcock would say: a film is only as good as its villain. Yul Brynner is excellent as Rameses. The old-school effects (like the Red Sea of Jell-O) are charming and its 70mm Technicolor–absolutely beautiful. I find that kids eat this one up too–there is much spectacle to enjoy.

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
Technically a mini-series, but easily the best adaptation of The Gospels. Zeffirelli’s treatment is far more subtly crafted than George Steven’s The Greatest Story Ever Told or Nicholas Ray’s King of Kings (and let’s not even bother with Gibson’s Passion).

Ben Hur (1959) is a classic and considered a “Tale of the Christ” but it simply doesn’t feel like a Christmas film–much more in the sword-and-sandals category.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:22:31 +0000

As for A Christmas Story, you have plenty of opportunities to see it again this year:

The TCM 24 Hour Marathon:
http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,163119,00.html

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:20:32 +0000

In terms of the animated classics, I suppose it’s a matter of semantics. TV specials like these can be considered movies, albeit TV movies. Especially in this case, since you or anyone else wouldn’t actually be watching them in a theater anyway. Besides, there’s no use excluding one for the other. Charlie Brown and Rudolph are both wonderful!

By: David

David — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:16:35 +0000

I intended to mention A Christmas Story in my prologue. I have since corrected the matter.

In regard to the Rankin/Bass classics, as I mentioned with Charlie Brown, they’re not technically movies. Charlie Brown is the only television special that earns recurrent viewings in the same 25 day period, so I made special concessions for its inclusion.