Wow. If I tried to watch that many movies in one day, my head would be spinning. I've only seen one of those films, Sleepless in Seattle, and wonderful though it is, I still prefer the Irene Dunne-Charles Boyer and Deborah Kerr-Cary Grant versions.
Last night we watched A Shop Around the Corner (1940) with Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart, which has what I think is the most romantic movie ending of all time. Al said he prefers You've Got Mail, but I could barely get through it because despite Tom Hanks' considerable acting talent and Meg Ryan's cuteness, for me it lacked the charm of the original.
Midge, if you look at the running times of most of these movies they run just a little more than an hour and a half on average. There aren't any big three-hour epic films that I watch during the holidays. And I was on my own and able to take a break here and there, and watch some cartoons and go out and get lunch and things like that. My butt isn't glued to a chair or my recliner for the whole time, I would be in the local nuthouse if that was the case, I agree with that. But there is nothing on television this time of the year, so I watch a movie in the morning, two or three after lunch, and a couple more in the evening.
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Sunday, December 18, 2011:
66. Edward Scissorhands (1990) - Johnny Depp, Dianne Weist, and Winona Ryder star in this holiday film that runs the gamut from tear-jerking drama to almost-slapstick-comedy. Wonderful film to watch this time of the year, and recommended for anyone who hasn't watch this in a long time or who has never seen it.
67/ It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) - Don DeFore, Charlie Ruggles and Gale Storm star in the wonderful holiday film about a man who moves into an abandoned house and invites all his friends to come and have a party and he finds out that the real owners of the house are among the guests. Very wonderful film that has just recently been released on DVD by TCM, along with "The Shop Around the Corner".
68. The Santa Clause 3 (2006) - Weakest of the trilogy of flms from House of Disney. Tim Allen is back along with Martin Short who struggles to steal scenes in this overlong movie.
69. Annie Hall (1977) - I know I am pushing the holiday theme a little bit with this wonderful Woody Allen film that introduced us to Diane Keaton. Just a great movie to watch this time of the year.
70. The Apartment (1960) - Billy Wilder's wonderful film starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray. About an insurance executive who loans out his apartment to the big wigs in the company thinking this is the speedway to the top in this executive driven company. This film proves to be one of the best films to watch, not only this time of the year, but almost anytime of the year.
Continuing with my 100 Movie Challenge (and I don't think I am going to make it at this point) here are a couple more films.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011:
71. The Holly & The Ivy (1952) - Wonderful British drama about a Pastor and his family who get together at Christmastime, and memories of their losses from World War II bring them closer together. Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, and Denholm Elliott star in this really great movie.
72. Mixed Nuts (1994) - Generally a waste of time to watch, but a lot of fun watching some of Hollywood's funnier people trying to make this movie funny. They don't, and it isn't. But it happens at Christmas, so it needs at least one watch.
73. Miracle on 34th Street (1994) - Remake of the classic film of the 40s, and its in color. Otherwise it is pretty weak. Richard Attenborough is Kris Kringle, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott have the adult parts and Mara Wilson tries and fails to fill Natalie Wood's shoes. I still prefer the original version, but this is okay as far as remakes go.
It's getting closer to the big weekend, so I have to get on my stick and watch a lot of movies in the next few days. I am taking Christmas Day off, so I won't make the 100 by Christmas, but here we go.
Thursday, December 22, 2011:
74. Friday After Next (2002) - Should have known by the cast and where this film comes from that it wouldn't be a family film. Rated R for foul language, drug use and very pervasive language, I can tell you now that I will never watch this film again. This is the third film of the "Friday" trilogy, and takes place Christmas Eve. That's all I am going to say, and I won't recommend this to anyone.
75. Money Train (1995) - This is a really fun caper film that takes place underground on the New York subway system on Christmas Eve. Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Lopez, and Robert Blake star in this fast-paced film about two brothers who rob the payroll train right from under the noses of those sent to prevent such a thing from happening. Fun for all, and this is a great holiday action film.
76. A Christmas Carol (1984) - George C. Scott has the pleasure of portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in this re-telling of the Dicken's Classic.
77. Hollywood Party (1934) - MGM wanted to have a Christmas party on film using all their contract players and so they threw in a very light story about Jimmy Duranted celebrating his next "Smarzan" film, and Lupe Velez losing her jewels, and then added a lot of names to the guest list including Ted Healy and his Stooges, later to become The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, and the highlight of this 70 minute long frolic, Walt Disney provided a special color cartoon starring Mickey Mouse. Worth having just for that little animated vignette.
Last Edit: Dec 23, 2011 11:12:37 GMT -6 by dvdjunkie
Who says television isn't educational? Last night I learned that one of my favorite Christmas movies is really a hour-long television special. I am still going to list it, because I think it belongs in everyone's list of Holiday movies to watch.
Friday, December 23, 2011:
78. The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974) - With voice overs provided by the likes of Mickey Rooney and Shirley Booth, this little holiday trinket is from the claymation studios of Rankin & Bass in Great Britain. I have watched it for all these years and will continue to watch it. Great family entertainment for all ages.
79. White Christmas(1954) - This is just plain old family Holiday entertainment at its best. Forget the storyline, and the cheesy dialogue, this is great entertainment for the Christmas season.
80. Holiday Inn (1942) - This is the movie that introduced us to the song "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby. Also in this delightful comedy are Marjorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire. Classic story of boy chases girl until she catches him. Another must see for the holidays.
Bill, if you extend your deadline to New Year's Day, I think you might be able to reach the 100-movie mark.
I completely agree about White Christmas. It's so corny, so cheesy, the "romances" are not believable, but who cares? The last scene always gets me right here. *sniffle*
Last night I watched two movies that were both un-Christmassy as you can get, but still excellent --Murder, My Sweet (aka Farewell, My Lovely) starring Dick Powell and Claire Trevor (1944); and The Grapes of Wrath (1940) starring Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell and John Carradine. It's a long film and rather downbeat, but its story of ordinary working people struggling to survive in tough times seems just as timely today as it was in 1940. The actors create characterizations are astounding, unforgettable and at times quite moving. Fonda should have won the Oscar for his portrayal of Tom Joad. (He was nominated but lost to James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story.)
I had never seen the Dick Powell film before, despite its reputation as a film noir classic. It lived up to the billing. The story was gripping from beginning to end and had everything you expect in a 40's noir: a cynical world-weary detective, a poisonous femme fatale he nearly falls for, a mysterious missing woman, plus twists and turns of the plot and never knowing which of the characters you can trust and which is pulling a scam. Everyone smokes, the women have big shoulders and the men all wear hats. The black and white photography in itself was a treat, dramatic deep-contrast lighting, long menacing shadows, and special optical effects that were innovative for their time.