My Favorite Holiday Films | 2013

First off, Merry Christmas everyone!!! I don't know about you? But I love watching Christmas movies. I thought it would be fun to share my favorite movies that take place during Christmas, New Years Eve, and in December -- making this my favorite holiday movie list. Also, none of these movies are in any special order.

It Happened on 5th Avenue {1947}

A homeless New Yorker moves into a New Yorker Tycoon mansion when the owner goes south for the winter {the owner doesn't know} and along the way he gathers friends to live in the house along with him. Before he knows it, he is living with the actual home owners {who play along with the idea for their daughter}. Starring: Don DeFore & Gale Storm. This is one of my favorite Christmas films. Plus, Gale wears some adorable clothes too! Which is always a plus. *smile*

The Shop Around the Corner {1940}

Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand one another fall in love with each other through the letters they send each other as anonymous pen pal's. This is the original film that the remakes In the Good Old Summertime {1949} & You've Got Mail {1998} are based off.

I'll Be Seeing You {1944}

A soldier suffering from battle fatigue meets a young woman on Christmas furlough from prison {for accidentally killing a man} and they fall-in-love. Starring: Joseph Cotten, Ginger Rogers, and Shirley Temple. One of those tearjerking movies that is so perfectly lovely in the end.

Home Alone {1990}

Kevin, an eight year-old boy, is accidentally left behind when his family flies to France for Christmas. Whilst home alone he must become the man of the house and defend the home from burglars {and quite brilliantly too!}. This is one of those movies that I grew up watching on TV every Thanksgiving/Christmas. The sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is great too!

Christmas in Connecticut {1945}

A magazine food writer has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her farm in Connecticut for a traditional family Christmas. Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, and S.Z. Sakall. Very sweet & fun! Plus, Barbara Stanwyck wears some really cute clothes! Always a huge plus. *grin*

Miracle on 34th Street {1947}

Miracle on 34th Street is a charming story Christmas story. About a wonderful old man who claims he is Santa Claus and is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. Starring: Maureen O'Hara, Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood, and William Frawley.

Christmas Holiday {1944}

Army officer Charlie Mason meets beautiful Maison Lafitte hostess Jackie (her real name is Abigail Manette). She tells him the story of the decline of her marriage with the charming but unbalanced Robert Manette. When her husband kills a bookie his controlling mother tries to cover up the crime. When he is caught she and her son blame Abigail. Abigail, feeling guilty when her husband receives a life sentence, runs away from her husband's aristocratic family. Meanwhile, Robert escapes from jail and comes to see Abigail, but he is shot by police and dies in her arms. Starring: Deanna Durbin & Gene Kelly. This is one of my favorite Deanna Durbin films {I always wished she acted in more movies!} -- even if it is on the dark side. And Gene Kelly plays a very scary bad guy {that you believe him} -- it's freaky!

Holiday Affair {1949}

A lighthearted Christmas-season romance follows the story of Connie Ennis, a young widow who is a comparison shopper. While out on the job she runs into Steve Mason at a department story. Steve suspects what Connie's job is when she buys a full train set a little too quick and that has the exact amount of money ready -- tax included. She claims the train is for her little boy, Timmy. When she comes home with the train set, Timmy thinks the train set is for him and is devastated when his mother returns it the next day. I'll save the rest of the plot for when y'all watch the film. Starring: Robert Mitchum & Janet Leigh. This is one very sweet film and if you have never seen it, you must put it on your to-watch list.  

An Affair to Remember {1957}

Two people meet on board a ship en route from Europe to New York and fall in love. When they get off the ship they agree to meet six-months later at the top of the Empire State Building. Starring: Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr. One of those tear-jerking romantic films that is a classic.  

Meet John Doe {1941}

A man needing money John Willoughby, who was a former baseball pitcher, agrees to become a nonexistent person, John Doe, who was created by newspaper woman Ann Mitchell. This John Doe says in the newspaper that he will be committing suicide on Christmas Eve as a protest to what is going on in the world - thus a political movement begins. Starring: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Lockhart, Walter Brennan, & Edward Arnold.

Penny Serenade {1941}

While listening to a recording of "Penny Serenade," Julie Gardiner Adams begins reflecting on her past. Roger and Julie Adams had suffered a tragedy when she miscarries in an earthquake during their 1923 stay in Japan. After loosing the baby they are told that she cannot have children. They request to adopt a two-year old boy, but ultimately adopt a much younger girl as a two-year old boy is not available. They struggle to make ends meet and to keep their parental rights when Roger loses his job. When the little girl dies suddenly, the emotional strain threatens to destroy their marriage. In the end, they are offered the opportunity to adopt a little boy who matches their original request -- saving their marriage. Starring: Cary Grant & Irene Dunne.

Made For Each Other {1939}

John Mason, a young lawyer from New York City, meets Jane while on a business trip. After knowing her for only day he marries her and brings her home -- hoping to take her on a honeymoon. When arrives back home his family is disappointed with his choice as they hoped he would marry his boss's daughter -- which would give him a raise and a partnership into the firm. Jane encourages John to demand a raise and a promotion after winning an important trial, but with finances tightened by the Depression, Doolittle {his boss} requires that all employees accept pay cuts. After Jane has a baby, John becomes discouraged by his unpaid bills and by the tension between Jane and his mother, who lives with them in their small apartment. On New Year's Eve the baby is rushed to the hospital with pneumonia. Who will die soon unless a serum is delivered by plane from Salt Lake City.  Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Carole Lombard, & Charles Coburn. 

Bachelor Mother {1939}

Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers), a clerk at Merlin's Department Store, is mistakenly presumed to be the mother of a foundling. Outraged at Polly's unmotherly conduct, David Merlin (David Niven) becomes determined to keep the single woman and "her" baby together. Starring: Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Charles Coburn. This is one of my favorite Ginger Roger's films, well...I love every film I've seen of hers, but this is a really sweet film.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith {1941}

New York sophisticates David Smith (Robert Montgomery) and Ann Smith (Carole Lombard) have been lovingly married for three years, or so they believed. They are told individually that due to a technicality - an unresolved municipal and state jurisdictional issue at the time of their supposed marriage - their wedding was not legal, and as such they are not really married. Despite David saying earlier in the day that if he had to do his life all over again that he would not have married her (even though he loves her), it is Ann that decides not to marry David this second time around due to an action, or in reality inaction, by David in reaction to the news of their marriage being invalid. While Ann goes about her life as a supposedly single woman (which includes calling herself Ann Krausheimer), David does whatever he can to win Ann back. But winning Ann's hand may be difficult as part of Ann's new life is dating other men. One of those other men and the most serious is David's best friend (Jack Carson). Starring: Robert Montgomery, Carole Lombard, Jack Carson. This was Hitchcock's only comedy film, and it is fantastic! I just wish he had done more comedy films.

Bundle of Joy {1956}

A musical remake of Bachelor Mother, Debbie Reynolds plays an over-eager clerk in a large department store and Eddie Fisher plays the boss' son. After getting fired from her job, Polly Parish finds an adorable baby on the steps of the foundling home and the folks inside mistake her for the mother. Dan Merlin (Eddie Fisher), well-meaning, tries to help Polly out with the baby, and the buds of romance begin to appear. Meanwhile old Merlin, the owner of the store, thinks he just might be a grandfather. Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Eddie Fisher. I love this musical remake of Bachelor Mother! You must check it out as soon as you can. 

Alright, I think I'll stop here -- otherwise I might go on forever and this would become one very long post! *smile* I know I didn't mention White Christmas or Holiday Inn but that is because I still haven't seen either films. I keep saying I'll see them both, but I never do. Oh, well. Maybe next year? 

Now, tell me. What are your favorite holiday films?