RSSTop 10 Christmas Specials & Movies
(Red originally posted on Christmas 2005, but it worthy of reposting for the Christmas Season for everyone to enjoy. – Tom)
Like many of you, Mrs Red and I have always enjoyed the Christmas season watching the many specials and movies. So many of them have a deeper message and some are just fun.
I have come up with what is my top ten of all times. It is a special time of year and sometimes its present enough to give the time to just sit down and spend time with the ones you love and just watch some a the greatest specials of the season.
The gift of treasured time spent together is sometimes one that we forget the most.
Add to the list of ones that you love the most in the comments or in the forums.
Merry Christmas to all
1. Its a Wonderful Life
Far and away the greatest Christmas story. Everyone of us has had a “George Baily” moment.
Its a Wonderful Life transcends time as we all touch so many lives and never really give it much thought.
Favorite Quotes:
- “Bread — that this house may never know hunger. Salt — that life may always have flavor.” –Mary. “Wine — that joy and prosperity may reign forever.” –George.
- ”Dear Father, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope. Show me the way, oh God.” –George.
- “A toast … to my big brother, George. The richest man in town!” –Harry Bailey
Audio quotes:
“Buffalo Gals” sung by Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed
“Every time you hear a bell rings it means some angel’s just got his wings.” –Clarence
“Auld Lang Syne” |
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Should auld acquaintance be forgot Should auld acquaintance be forgot For Auld Lang Syne, my dear, |
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2. Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer
From the Island of Misfit Toys to Yukon Cornelius to the Bumble, a must see every year. The high ranking dates back to college drinking games where Red unfortunately had the mistake of picking Rudolf. Drink when he appears, drink when his name is mentioned and when he speaks. Oh my.
I am swayed also by the fact that I have a best friend who actually looks like Hermie, although he is not a dentist.
Burl Ives as the singing snowman. It doesn’t get any better than that.
And as the song goes … “he’ll go down in history”.
3. Charlie Brown Christmas
A true Christmas classic discussing in such an innocent manner the commercialism of Christmas and its true meaning.
Any Christmas special that actually explains the real purpose of Christmas and references “Jesus” in it is more than worthy of a top three.
Favorite Quotes:
- I didn’t know it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe all it needs is a little love. (Linus)
- What is it you want? (Charlie Brown) Real estate. (Lucy)
Linus’ meaning of Christmas
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men’”. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
4. Santa Claus is Coming To Town
Fred Astaire playing the postman, delivering all our letters to Santa in that great vehicle. The Burgermeister Meisterburger, Winter and the Kringles.
Songs like “Put One Foot In Front of the Other” play and next thing you know you cannot get it out of your head.
5. A Christmas Story
Ralphie and the Red Rider B.B. gun. The 1940’s nostalgia in this story through the eyes of a kid are classic.
This movie has more great quotes than could ever be listed.
Favorite Quotes:
- Only one thing in the world could’ve dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.
- Mr Parker: He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny.
Mother: He does not!
Mr Parker: He does too, he looks like a pink nightmare!
- Schwartz: Well I double-DOG-dare ya!
Narrator: NOW it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a “triple dare ya”? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare.
Schwartz: I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!
Narrator: Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!
6. A Year Without a Santa Claus
Santa sick? Taking Christmas off? Say it isn’t so.
Two names describe this great Christmas special as most people remember it for them and not the actual name of the special.
Heat Miser & Cold Miser
Talk about infectious songs that never leave your head.
7. A Christmas Carol
Take any one. One just as good as the other and the all have great details of Dickens classic that the others do not.
The immortal tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a timeless and must always see classic.
As Tiny Tim says, “God bless us, everyone”
8. Frostie the Snowman
How can you go wrong with Jimmy Durante as the narrator? Professor Hinkle’s hat could do nothing for him, but did wonders for Frosty.
Although there are too numerous quotes to mention the most memorable line and important is the following, “Happy Birthday”.
As much as this is a children’s fun story, I have always believed that the happy birthday reference was the miracle of birth that took place on Christmas Eve.
9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
From Whoville to up the sides of Mt. Crumpit. The Grinch learns the real meaning of Christmas.
- It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
- It came without packages boxes, or bags!
- And he puzzled and puzzled, till his puzzler was sore.
- Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
- “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
- Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Wiki
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
by
Dr Seuss
Christmas is about love and peace for mankind and sharing it with one another, not only on Christmas Day but everyday. As Chuck Jones put it that evening, “When you work, only the love should show, not the work.” How The Grinch Stole Christmas has revealed that love for 30 years and will for many more decades to come.
10. Miracle on 34th Street
The miracle of Christmas, nothing need more be said.
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Comments
6 Responses to “Top 10 Christmas Specials & Movies”
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I love your list.Golly,I just heard a bell ring.These are great and timeless movies.
Personally, I like “Scrooged” the best, starring mr. Murray.
A Chritmas Carol with Alastair Sim and A Charlie Brown Christmas, which I first watched when I was 7, back in 1966, and have enjoyed it still, ever since.
Merry Christmas to ALL the Monkeys.
Great list – but where is “Home Alone”?
Thanks Red and Tom, you provide a great spot for all of us.
May the Christmas spirit be in all of us all year long.
BTW my favorite to watch, the eve before Christmas Eve is It’s a wonderful life, if anyone can get the DVD, get the one with the making of the movie, surprisingly the movie tanked when it came out, but look at it now. Capra went to great lengths to make the movie.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FELLOW MONKEYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
I like 1, 7 and 10 but the rest of those would be akin to torture for me to have to watch. Thank goodness they are not required for a visit from Santa!