NFR: Christmas Films

[SP]

Born Free (1966) - must be 30+ years since watching this film at the Saturday Morning Pictures & it's still stands up pretty well despite the slightly wooden acting.  Virginia McKenna & Bill Travers star with a beautiful sound track by John Barry & Matt Monro singing the title song. 

Any other forgotten gems?

[MisfitKid]

Begins and ends with "A Christmas Story".

[Forever Fulham]

It's a Wonderful Life.  You've got stuttering Jimmy Stewart, an angel named Clarence (trying to get his wings), and the evil town banker, Mr. Potter.  Jimmy Stewart's character was utterly believable, and 20 minutes into the film, you're hooked. 

Move forward a whole lotta decades, and there's "Elf", something of a tour de force by comic actor Will Ferrell. 

[ToodlesMcToot]

It's a Wonderful Life.  You've got stuttering Jimmy Stewart, an angel named Clarence (trying to get his wings), and the evil town banker, Mr. Potter.  Jimmy Stewart's character was utterly believable, and 20 minutes into the film, you're hooked. 

Move forward a whole lotta decades, and there's "Elf", something of a tour de force by comic actor Will Ferrell. 

These two and A Christmas Story are those that immediately come to mind as seasonal "must see's" for me.

[Forever Fulham]

Also, there's a Finnish movie (2010) titled Rare Exports, A Christmas Tale.  I've never seen it.  Critics raved about it when it came out, and I've been meaning to finally rent it.  Anybody watched it?  Any good?

[Mince n Tatties]

Bad Santa....Billy Bob Thornton.

[Berserker]

Also, there's a Finnish movie (2010) titled Rare Exports, A Christmas Tale.  I've never seen it.  Critics raved about it when it came out, and I've been meaning to finally rent it.  Anybody watched it?  Any good?

Yes saw it in Dublin when the film was first released. Loved it so much I pre-ordered it when i came back on DVD.

Also like A Nightmare before Christmas

[Fulham Tup North]

Princess Bride..... Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Robin Wright.
'Swash-Buckling' fun for all the family and a great scene where two guys have to decide which glass has poison in it.  Very funny scene.
:)

[HatterDon]

We have about 15 versions of A Christmas Carol in the house, and always try to watch a half dozen or so. There's nothing quite so uplifting as a man so lost being redeemed.

Most of the very popular Christmas movies don't work for me. The one about the little fat bespectacled child from Cleveland who wants a bee-bee gun is the greatest atrocity of them all. I must confess, though, that despite the fact that I usually cringe at the very sight of Will Farrell, I do enjoy Elf immensely.

[Berserker]

Yes I like Elf.

[Lighthouse]

Yes like Mr Hatter I always play A Christmas Carol at Christmas. Has to be old Alistair Sim doing his stuff. Oh and The Muppets Christmas Carol.

Although not a Christmas film I always watch Pleasantville. Another feel good film.

In days of DVD I tend to watch films all the time as the days of good Christmas TV are gone. When my Sister was alive she insisted on watching the Lord of The Rings trilogy. Which took up most of the Christmas Hols. But I shall stick to films like Peter Cushing in Doctor Who and hope some decent Marx Brothers films or some classic black and white holiday musicals turn up.

[colcliff]

Bad Santa  totally bad taste  but brilliant
for a real sickly Xmas film miracle on 34th street
and then they always show escape to victory  worth watching for Peles overhead kick and Stallone's terrible goal keeping

[The Equalizer]

Die Hard - the best Christmas film ever!

[MJG]

Die Hard - the best Christmas film ever!

I had been thinking about posting that as well.
Depends what you want really, is it a list of films shown at XMAS or set during XMAS?

If its the latter I'm going to have to say White Christmas, if its the former can only be The Great Escape.

[Berserker]

Alan Rickman was good in Diehard

[muiscatron]

Scrooged - Bill Murray at his best. Best scene - where the homeless shelter guys think he's Richard Burton.

[The Equalizer]

Alan Rickman was good in Diehard

Good? GOOD? He was bloody amazing! Best movie villain of all time, in my opinion!

"It's Christmas Theo! It's the time for miracles!"

[Fulham1959]

For older members :

Bachelor Mother (1939) starring Miss G. Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn

Set at Christmas and moving through into New Year, this is as good a romcom as you'll ever see.  It's very slickly made, very funny and Miss Rogers never looked more desirable : mainly demure in this role but quick witted and very occasionally sassy.  The DVD was hard to find but my thanks goes to the originator of this topic as I've just checked on Amazon and it was released this year.

I do have a colourised version on DVD, within a box set, but have never watched it, preferring to view my old b/w VHS copy transferred to DVD.

By the way, I'm not ashamed to say I love well made romcoms from any era.

(When I tried to type the actress's first name, it was changed to 'special one'  -  I kid you not!  You try it.)

[Deanothefulhamfan]

It's a wonderful life, Elf, Home Alone, The Grinch and Die Hard are among our DVD's that we bought in China that we simply had to watch at Xmas....

This year we will add to the collection no doubt, and your suggestions are being noted....

I am 29 going on 6, and absolutely love Christmas.... God knows what I will be like when I have kids haha

[The Equalizer]

For older members :

Bachelor Mother (1939) starring Miss G. Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn

Set at Christmas and moving through into New Year, this is as good a romcom as you'll ever see.  It's very slickly made, very funny and Miss Rogers never looked more desirable : mainly demure in this role but quick witted and very occasionally sassy.  The DVD was hard to find but my thanks goes to the originator of this topic as I've just checked on Amazon and it was released this year.

I do have a colourised version on DVD, within a box set, but have never watched it, preferring to view my old b/w VHS copy transferred to DVD.

By the way, I'm not ashamed to say I love well made romcoms from any era.

(When I tried to type the actress's first name, it was changed to 'special one'  -  I kid you not!  You try it.)

Make that for 'all members', I'm 38 and absolutely love the classics. I've seen this film before, quite a while back, and can't actually remember it very well. Will keep an eye open for it.

Thanks for the recommendation!