Jingle Bell Grok: Holiday Movie Backups

Jingle Bell Grok: Holiday Movie Backups

Dec 24

Quick. You have 12 hours to get to the video store before we’re locked down for Xmas day. And while you’ll no doubt catch your favorite holiday flicks, don’t you think it might be time to mix it up a little? Perhaps clean the mental palette a bit, and try something different. Something not typically considered a holiday movie.

I’m not talking about Die Hard. I’m not talking about Gremlins. Everybody looking for a quirky xmas film picks those. No no no. You need something off-the-radar, something that would win you a bar bet. And don’t sweat it, I’m here to help. Better yet, these movies are typically in stock on Christmas Eve – everyone else is fighting over the last copy of Jim Carrey’s crappy Grinch, but you’ll be set.

The Thin Man – William Powell and Myrna Loy create a fantastic couple in this film based on the Dashiell Hammett mystery novel. While not completely a comedy (more of noir-lite), the ex-private eye and wealthy socialite couple are unique for a 1935 film. That they’re quite the drinkers only doubles the fun. And best of all, the film takes place, very overtly, during Christmas. It’s like a gangster flick that occasionally stops to decorate a tree or sing a carol.

Bell, Book, and Candle – Another old-timey, over-looked classic, in which Jimmy Stewart plays a book editor who is wooed (both typically and mystically) by Kim Novak, witch. An odd little film, as it combines New York’s fictional, beatnik witch and warlock underground (including one worth-the-price-of-rental Jack Lemmon) and Christmas Time. The conclusion plays out after the holidays, but there’s plenty of snow and holiday shopping in most of it.

Ghostbusters 2 – Here’s a little secret about Ghostbusters 2. It’s not as bad as you think. Yes yes, you have to smack the idiot brother to the timeless first film. All the cool people are doing it. And all the cool people are idiots. That movie’s biggest flaw is that it’s a cynical attempt to cookie-cutter reproduce the success of the first film, and even 6 year-olds can see it. But, if you can get past all that wasted potential, it’s got everything we loved from the first movie – the Bill Murray dialogue alone is worth a watch. Plus, and this isn’t often thought about by people too busy bleating about how much it sucks, it’s a holiday film. It starts in the weeks leading up to Xmas (decorations can be seen in the opening scene), gets a nod as the boys duplicate the workin-hard montage from GB1, wearing Santa hats in a shot, and ends on New Years Eve. Perhaps the finest holiday spooktacular, after A Christmas Carol, and Scrooged (also, a sadly underplayed Holiday classic.) Best of all is the subtle message that even at Christmas, people are cranky bastards (New Yorkers doubly so.)

The Second Coming – This will be a bit tougher to find. In fact, I’m not 100% certain this is available on DVD or video in North America. But if I were to tell you a movie existed where Christopher Eccelston plays a laddish Manchunian, who stumbles out of the pub on his 33 birthday and is struck is the sudden, blinding realization that he’s the son of God, part deux. And better yet, it’s not a trick or a hallucination – he’s the real deal. Then what? Not only is it a great story, it’s a lot of value, as it aired on TV as a three part mini-series. Better yet, it’s written by Russell T. Davies, master of the Doctor Who reboot.

Can’t Make It To The Store?

Tune in to Turner Classic Movies for these quick and dirty back-ups;

Holiday Affair – “A young widow is torn between a boring businessman and a romantic ne’er-do-well.” Robert Mitchum is the ne’er-do-well, Janet Leigh is the widow. It all starts over a Christmas toy train set.

The Bishop’s Wife – Not the Denzel remake, but the Carey Grant original. Carey. Grant. As an angel. And if that’s not enough, David Niven is the Bishop. Man, why’d they remake it with Denzel? Denzel is Denzel. He’s no Carey Grant.

Remember the Night – Non-shaggy DA, Fred McMurray, nabs shoplifter Barbara Stanwyck, whom he then takes home for Christmas. And then they fall in love. Awww.

Happy Holidays everyone…

239 comments

  1. Great, great list. I love Ghostbusters II. Haters can suck it.

  2. Me too. I am totally with you–it takes a little work to get past the crass corporate veneer, but there’s some great stuff in GII.

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