Monday, December 11, 2023

Christmas at the Movies by Vicki Batman

Happy Holidays to all of you! And thank you, Liz, for inviting me to blog with you today.

I’m sure a lot of you movie people have favorites you watch during this season. White Christmas is a favorite because my sisters and I watched it on Christmas Eve and yes, we sang the songs. The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant as an angel. Miracle on 34th Street—the parade, the awesome Santa, and the non-believers who become believers. 

The Grinch—it is so beautiful to see his heart grow three sizes when he realizes the true meaning of Christmas. Fa who doray. Da who doray. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer—even someone different has a gift to share. Charlie Brown Christmas—who can forget Linus’s recitation of the true meaning of Christmas and all the friends gathering around the little twig tree transformed into one of great beauty. The kids sing my favorite hymn, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” 

I also like Love Actually—I know some of you find it depressing. It’s about love lost and love found. And who can forget Bill Nighy as a rock n’ roller with a Christmas song. Millions is a favorite of mine—brothers find a duffle full of money and have a great adventure while the bad guys are looking for the moola. The movie is directed by Danny Boyle who gave us Slumdog Millionaire

Just to be completely different, my family likes Stalag 17. The movie is set in WW2 in a POW camp at Christmas. Amongst one of them is a rat. William Holden steals the show. No Die Hard. Just doesn’t work for me as a Christmas movie. LOL.

I love love love Christmas in Connecticut—Barbara Stanwyck is a columnist who has to recreate a real Christmas for a young man returning from the war. The movie is fun and crazy and romantic.

And sometimes attached to Christmas in Connecticut when it airs on TCM is an Academy award-winning short movie entitled Star in the Night, a retelling of the Christmas story set after the war in a desert auto court. I truly get teary every time I watch it. Bring a hankie and click this link on YouTube: A Star In the Night 1945 - YouTube

For more holiday fun, curl up on the sofa with your favorite beverage and/or snack and indulge in these rom com holiday short stories:


Find yours at multiple retailers and at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z45SGC5

Vicki Batman’s stories are full of fun, romance, and possibilities which will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for coming today, Vicki. I LOVE old Christmas movies!

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    1. me too, Liz. Be sure to watch Star in the Night. Happy holidays!

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  2. Oh, Vicki, I love all these movies you mentioned! Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays!

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    1. Hi, Mary. I thought I commented but it isn't showing. Anyway, I think it is fun to watch holiday movies and yes, I even cram in a Hallmark one. LOL

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  3. I'm definitely going to check out _Star in the Night_ tonight. I love old Christmas movies. And there's something to be said for the fluff of today's streaming Christmas romances as well -- not all, of course, but most are good for having on in the background while decorating and card writing.

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    1. I truly love Star in the Night. Grabs my heart every time. I hope you enjoy it too.

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  4. A lot of people don't know about The Bishop's Wife--it has a hilarious scene where David Niven is stuck to his chair. The remake with Eddie Murphy is actually very good--and totally different from the original. I liked Christmas in Connecticut except that she's so shamelessly flirting with the hero while pretending to be married--wish they could have finessed that a little! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. The chair scene with David Niven is so funny. I've never watched the remake. Handsome says the same thing about Christmas in Connecticut and the flirting. I love her "I'm tired" scene. Hugs!

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  5. Love Christmas movies. One of my newer favorites is Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles!

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    1. I've never watched that movie. I shall add to my list. Check out Millions. The ending is so great. vb

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  6. Wonderful to remember those movies, Vicki. I too love White Christmas and the older Holiday Inn, Christmas in Connecticut is fun too. I also like Holiday Affair with Janet Leigh and the original Miracle on 34th Street. Thanks goodness for TCM so we can see these oldies.

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    1. TCM is our go to channel. I like the two you mentioned as well. I feel as if my holidays are enriched with these movies. Don't you? VB

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