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November 20, 2012

Plotting Princess Vicki on The Holiday Reel Turns

The Holiday Reel Turns

I have many favorite Christmas movies; however, there's some that are a little different and would like to share a bit of them.
a favorite holiday shot of mine


Millions. Takes place during the euro conversion in England (yes, I know. Didn't happen in England.) Two brothers find a duffle bag filled with pound notes and have a field day spending and sharing, only the robber is trying to get it back. Poignant moment: The youngest brother, who talks to various saints, is wondering if his recently deceased mother is a saint. There's an awesome scene where he is reunited with her, and he asks what she's done to be considered for sainthood. The mum says, "Don't you know? It was you." I cry every time.

Stalag 17. Set in WW2 at Christmas time. There's a spy in the American unit and he's giving secrets to the Germans. Is the bad guy who everyone thinks he is? A superb performance by the entire cast, and particularly, William Holden.


While You Were Sleeping. Don't watch this romantic comedy for Sandra Bullock. Watch for Bill Pullman. He's goofy, instantly smitten, and adorable. His brother has been knocked unconscious during a robbery, and the transit worker who admires him from afar accidentally says she is the fiancée. If you get an unedited version, my friend plays one of the doctors who is singing auld lang syne.

Star in the Sky, a post WW2 black and white western, featuring three cowboys who bought stuff they don't know what to do with and end up at a motor court with a cast of colorful occupants on Christmas Eve. This one is short and sweet and sometimes found on TCM.

Love Actually. Various stories, with the theme of love of their life, spliced together surrounding Christmas. Bill Nighy is hilarious as the aging rock 'n roller; Hugh Grant has a very funny dance scene; Emma Thompson as the average mom whose life is turned about, and Keira Knightly's admirer comes to terms with her marriage to his best friend.

And that's just a small portion of mine. So…

Let's start a list!

Name your holiday movie favorites. And if you leave your email address in the comments, you are in a drawing for a holiday scarf.



25 comments:

Liese said...

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to holiday movies. I have to see A Christmas Story (no problem there's one station that puts it on and runs it for 24 hours Christmas Day) and It's a Wonderful Life. I guess it's a nostalgia thing.

Elizabeth Essex said...

I love the original, animated version of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the more recent version of The Polar Express is a favorite as well. But I adore the irreverence of A Christmas Story. So much fun. :)

Happy holidays to all.

Nancy said...

My fav is WHITE CHRISTMAS. Love it when Danny crack Bing up is the "Sisters" number!

Happy Holidays, all!

Light,
Nancy Haddock

Patricia said...

Thank you for the list of movies, Vicki. One of my favorites is The Christmas Box with Richard Thomas (John Boy from The Waltons). It's based on a book although I can't remember if it's Richard Paul Evans or not.
Patti

Sylvia said...

I love Miracle on 42nd Street both versions. Santa being put on trial is one of the funniest scenes, especially when they call the prosecutors little boy. I also love It's a Wonderful Life. I think I'm going to watch these this weekend to try to get in the spirit.

Playground Monitor said...

I love "A Season for Miracles." It's from 1999 and you can probably find it on the Hallmark channel or Lifetime. It's a wonderful romance about a woman fighting to keep her niece and nephew out of the foster system. And it's based on a novel by Marilyn Pappano. All the ones previously mentioned are faves too. My younger son, who is 29 years old and single, wants a leg lamp. Oy!

Marilyn

chris k said...

my favorite all time oldie but goodie christmas movie is the Bishops Wife with Cary Grant. But more recent - I like the two movies with Holiday in the title- One with Jack Black and Eli Wallach where the women move into each other's homes in england and LA- the other the one with Queen Latisha where she thinks she's dying

I enjoy those two modern winter movies.

Karilyn Bentley said...

I love the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Christmas Story. I've actually never seen It's a Wonderful Life. My mom didn't think it so wonderful so we were never allowed to see it as kids and I never cared to when grown! :)

Marian Lanouette said...

I love White Christmas, Christmas Story, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and the muscial Scrooge

Sasha Summers said...

Okay I admit - ELF makes me laugh every time. And ya'll know how I LOVE to laugh. Also, It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story are some of my all time faves. Can't wait til the day after Thanksgiving - the decorating can begin... but not a day sooner. :) Happy Thanksgiving Princesses!!!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Liese: One year, we gave sons bb guns. They come running in our room and told us. Handsome and I both said at the same time, "You'll shoot your eyes out." LOL

Hi, Ms. Essex: I love the Grinch. "The who roast pudding, the who roast beast." Not seen Polar Express.

Hi, Nancy: You should be with us Friday night when the family gets together to watch White Christmas. We sing the songs too! Hilarious.

Hi, Patti: I've seen The Christmas Box one time, a long time ago and can't remember it well. Hmmmm.

Hi, Sylvia: I love how the networks show Miracle on 42nd Street on Thanksgiving with the parade. It goes so well together.

Hi, Marilyn: I don't know a Season for Miracles. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Hi, Chris: I love the Bishop's Wife, mostly because Cary Grant is in it. :) I know the one you're thinking of about the holiday switching. It's good. I'll check on it.

Hi, Karilyn: YOu haven't seen It's a Wonderful Life??? Girl.

Hi, Marian: Those are excellent suggestions. Thank you so much for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving.

Hi, Sasha: ELF is hilarious. I like the discovering about the big wide world part.

Alisha said...

It's A Wonderful Life!! Love it! "Buffalo Gals can't you come out tonight? Can't you come out tonight?"

And I love the old Frosty the Snowman too! I cry every time he melts. It used to devastate me as a child.

And the claymation old Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer. Love those old movies!

Great post to get us all in the spirit! Hugs!

Alisha said...

Just re-reading over all the comments..um..Karilyn...you've missed out...go watch It's A Wonderful Life!!! Maybe your mom didn't like black and white? I think they colorized it but I always watch the b&w version. I really think it is one of the best movies ever made about the human spirit. Such a great holiday message! And Jimmy Stewart is precious. I'm still totally in love with that man! Go watch it or we'll hog tie you at the next Princess meeting and force you to watch it..just kidding..sort of.

Kathleen Baldwin said...

Awh, Liese and I have the same exact favorites. I love the "You'll shoot your eye out" Christmas story. Hilarious. It reminds me so much of my brothers.

And how is it "It's a Wonderful Life" can touch my heart year after year.
"Wuhl, wuhl, I'll lasso the moon..."

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Alisha! I agree, we'll sit Karilyn down and make her watch. LOL. And added your suggestions to the list. It's growing!

Hi, Kat: Some of the movies really grab my heart too. It's A Wonderful Life is a beautiful movie.

Alisha said...

Oh I love that shoot your eye out movie too..totally cracks me up and reminds me of growing up and my own 3 crazy brothers! The dad is just like my funny dad too! :)

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Marilyn!!! I sat down for lunch and caught the last hour of your suggestion, A Season for Miracles. Very nice and got a little sobby too. Happy thanksgiving.

Anonymous said...

Christmas time is always one of my favorite times for movies. Lifetime and Hallmark always come out with some really sweet movies, but my all time favorite would have to be "White Christmas". I've always been a fan of the older movies.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Christie! I love White Christmas too. The songs are so catchy. One year when I was much younger, my sisters, grandmother and I piled on my bed and watched it together. We sang the songs and giggled. Happy holidays.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Here's the list:
A Christmas Story
It's a Wonderful Life!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Polar Express
White Christmas
The Christmas Box
Miracle on 34th Street
A Season for Miracles
The Bishop's Wife
Scrooge
ELF
Holiday movie with Jack Black
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer


Some we forgot:
Christmas in Connecticut
Good Sam
Santa Clause is Coming to Town
The Santa Clause
Home Alone 1, 2, 3

Sheila Seabrook said...

How wonderful, Vicki, I showed up in time to catch the full list of everyone's favourites. .:) Our must watch Christmas movies is A Christmas Story. We love the boy after his Red Ryder BB gun!

Janie Emaus said...

Mine is A Christmas Story. I watch it every year and sometimes more than once. But I'm always up for new suggestions.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sheila & Janie! I think this year A Christmas Story is the most popular. There are so many funny lines. The other day, Handsome and I were boxing something up and I said I should write Frageela on it. lolol

Susan Russo Anderson said...

Got to go with A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life. My tastes are totally unoriginal, but creating a list is a great idea and thanks!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

You are so welcome, Susan, and thank you for your input and visiting with the PP today. Happy holidays!