Movies
Entertainer’s top 10 holiday classic movies
Maybe you’re on the other introverted side of the spectrum and elect to stay indoors during the holidays. That’s when the TV becomes that ever so familiar friend that stays with you till the end.
Here are some of our top picks –in no particular order giving meaning to the film quality- for movies to watch this Christmas.
White Christmas
Where to watch it: Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, FandangoNow
What: Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, White Christmas follows the vocational journeys of two U.S. soldiers in World War II before becoming successful entertainers and producers on Broadway. This musical comedy is sure to bring your family laughs during the holiday season.
Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen dancing in White Christmas.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Where to watch it: Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: Perhaps James Stewart’s (George Bailey) most renowned film, It’s a Wonderful Life is about a man who finds himself at the mercy of a bank through a wallowing amount of debt. After facing financial hardship and an arrest, Bailey starts to seriously consider suicide before meeting a talkative angel –who goes by the name of Clarence- who attempts to rescue him from his predicament.
Clarence (right), gives insight to George Bailey to keep him out of trouble in It’s a Wonderful Life.
Home Alone
Where to watch it: Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: This feel-good comedy brings the whole family into a litany of laughter as Home Alone pits two burglars against a boy, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), after he is inadvertently left behind by his parents who leave on a trip to France. You may be hard pressed to find a better laugh than watching two grown men’s plans get constantly foiled at the hands of a small boy.
Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) expresses his surprise on discovering two robbers attempting to invade his house.
Love Actually
Where to watch it: Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: Love Actually follows multiple characters in their quest for love during a eventful Christmas in London. Take Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Peter’s wedding for example, after the best man, Mark (Andrew Lincoln), still finds himself madly in love with the bride. The star-studded cast features Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, and many more.
Andrew plays the role of a hopeless romantic in Love Actually.
Miracle on 34th Street
Where to watch it: Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: Miracle on 34th Street prods as the question as whether Santa Claus is real. A question will always be etched into many hearts and minds this holiday season. In this classical drama, a man –who looks like the spitting image of Santa- takes the job of a stand-in Santa Claus at Macy’s after deeming to be unfit for the job. However, the owner of the store starts having second thoughts about him after he suggests to customers that their time is better spent elsewhere during Christmas than in the store.
Kris Kringle (Edmund Glenn) fills the role as Santa Claus at a store for an intoxicated Santa in Miracle on 34th Street.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Where to watch it: Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: Chevy Chase (Clark Griswold) attempts to corral his problematic family for a little trip two weeks before Christmas. After finding a tree, they realize their only option is to uproot it entirely and strap it on the roof of their car. Hilarity and chaos ensues from there after Griswold attempts to use 25,000 lights to decorate his house before causing a city-wide power outage.
Chaos and hilarity frequently ensue on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
A Christmas Story
Where to watch it: Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: With a 1940’s backdrop, A Christmas Story recounts the story of a 9-year-old boy named Ralph who constantly hears that his dream of owning a BB gun is unattainable with the ever-so-familiar words, “No, you’ll shoot your eye out.” While our protagonist fears that he may never get the BB gun for Christmas; he may find that some surprises are worth waiting for.
Ralph shows off his BB Gun, his elusive gift, in A Christmas Story.
Scrooged
Where to watch it: Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: Espousing the narrative of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Bill Murray (Frank Cross) embodies a character with similliar characteristics to Scrooge as a television network executive. His life takes a new turn, however, after he is met by his mentor Lew Hayward, who tells him that three ghosts will visit him over the course of one night, which changes his life forever.
A Christmas Carol
Where to watch it: Amazon, iTunes
What: Patrick Stewart takes on the role of Scrooge in this epic adaptation of Charles Dickens’ as he is visited by three ghosts that represent his past, present and future. After the visit, his new demeanor begins to show to his friends and family.
Holiday Inn
Where to watch it: Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, FandangoNow, Vudu
What: Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire) finds himself in a love triangle of sorts with Jim (Bing Crosby) and Lila, Jim has to look for love elsewhere. But on the journey, Ted gets dumped by Lila before becoming attracted to Jim’s new lover. This nostalgic throwback takes the viewer through a hilarity of drama as the performing trio attempt to find common ground after turning a hotel into a performance venue.
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