The 12 Days of Cinematic Christmas:
Cine's Favorite Holiday Films 2014
by Paulette Reynolds
December 14, 2014
Cine's Favorite Holiday Films 2014
by Paulette Reynolds
December 14, 2014
It's that time of year again, where we find ourselves comfy on the couch, remote in hand, ready to enjoy our holiday film favorites. CineMata's 'rave faces', as she likes to call them, feature Christmas, love, and redemption - in that order. (Not to mention happy endings!) So, in the spirit of the 12 Days of Christmas, we'd like to share them with YOU!
1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - This iconic masterpiece continues to be a cherished guest in millions of homes at Christmas time - and for good reason: Frank Capra sagely created a story of misplaced dreams and lost hope to teach the true meaning of the holidays. The cast is truly memorable - right down to little ZuZu and her petals. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Harry Travers, Harry Morgan, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Gloria Grahame, Frank Faylen, Sheldon Leonard, Lillian Randolph.
2. A Christmas Carol (1984) - George C. Scott channels his inner Scrooge to take home the Best Scrooge Award in Charles Dickens most beloved tale. But like any winner, the all-star supporting cast brings it across the finish line: David Warner, Susannah York, Edward Woodard, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence.
3. Shop Around The Corner (1940) - This black-and-white film, starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, centers on a pair of Christmas co-workers who battle on the job and love each other via their pen pal correspondence. The You’ve Got Mail remake can’t match the magic between the Stewart/Sullavan pairing. Frank Morgan, Felix Bressart, Joseph Schildkraut, Sara Haden, William Tracy.
4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - This animated classic, narrated by Boris Karloff, is far superior to the 2009 Jim Carrey overdone remake. Relying on Dr. Seuss's original verse, the lovable Grinch steals our hearts, as Karloff's voice hits all the right notes - and in twenty-six minutes! June Foray.
5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - If my focus stays on the charmed relationship between little skeptic Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn's gentle Santa, I hardly notice the sexist, gender-biased plot. Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Thelma Ritter, Gene Lockhart, William Frawley, Jerome Cowan, William Windom, Porter Hall.
6. Friday After Next (2002) - The third - and best - of the Friday films by Ice Cube, brings Craig and Day-Day back into the 'hood, where Santa steals, Damon's on the prowl, and Katt Williams' Money Mike defends his honor. Terry Crews, John Witherspoon, Don Curry, Anna Maria Horsford, Bebe Drake, and Maz Jobrani.
7. The Ref (1994) - Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey bicker their way through Christmas Eve under the watchful eye of Denis Leary, his gun, and sour relatives held hostage. Glynis Johns, Christine Baranski, J.K. Simmons.
8. The Family Man (2000) - High-roller Nicholas Cage gets dumped into working-class suburbia during the holiday season by his guardian angel, "for a glimpse". Well, waking up next to Tea Leoni does have its benefits! Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven.
9. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) - Jim Varney's Ernest P. Worrell helps Santa find his replacement, as a troubled runaway and lost reindeers add to his woes - knowwhatImean? Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker.
10. Mixed Nuts (1994) - A twenty-four hour Christmas Eve countdown at a suicide hotline, complete with a serial killer, a suicidal transvestite, and a lethal fruitcake. Steve Martin, Rita Wilson, Adam Sandler, Liev Schreiber, Juliette Lewis, Anthony LaPaglia, Garry Shandling, Madeline Kahn.
11. Trading Places (1983) - The delicious trio of Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Lee Curtis romp through this holiday tale of double-crosses and fake identities. Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Denholm Elliott.
12. Holiday Affair (1949) - This B film, remains notable for veteran noir star Robert Mitchum's valiant effort to make a family movie as Janet Leigh taps into her best Maureen O'Hara Miracle on 34th Street impression. Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey.
1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - This iconic masterpiece continues to be a cherished guest in millions of homes at Christmas time - and for good reason: Frank Capra sagely created a story of misplaced dreams and lost hope to teach the true meaning of the holidays. The cast is truly memorable - right down to little ZuZu and her petals. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Harry Travers, Harry Morgan, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Gloria Grahame, Frank Faylen, Sheldon Leonard, Lillian Randolph.
2. A Christmas Carol (1984) - George C. Scott channels his inner Scrooge to take home the Best Scrooge Award in Charles Dickens most beloved tale. But like any winner, the all-star supporting cast brings it across the finish line: David Warner, Susannah York, Edward Woodard, Frank Finlay, Angela Pleasence.
3. Shop Around The Corner (1940) - This black-and-white film, starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, centers on a pair of Christmas co-workers who battle on the job and love each other via their pen pal correspondence. The You’ve Got Mail remake can’t match the magic between the Stewart/Sullavan pairing. Frank Morgan, Felix Bressart, Joseph Schildkraut, Sara Haden, William Tracy.
4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - This animated classic, narrated by Boris Karloff, is far superior to the 2009 Jim Carrey overdone remake. Relying on Dr. Seuss's original verse, the lovable Grinch steals our hearts, as Karloff's voice hits all the right notes - and in twenty-six minutes! June Foray.
5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - If my focus stays on the charmed relationship between little skeptic Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn's gentle Santa, I hardly notice the sexist, gender-biased plot. Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Thelma Ritter, Gene Lockhart, William Frawley, Jerome Cowan, William Windom, Porter Hall.
6. Friday After Next (2002) - The third - and best - of the Friday films by Ice Cube, brings Craig and Day-Day back into the 'hood, where Santa steals, Damon's on the prowl, and Katt Williams' Money Mike defends his honor. Terry Crews, John Witherspoon, Don Curry, Anna Maria Horsford, Bebe Drake, and Maz Jobrani.
7. The Ref (1994) - Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey bicker their way through Christmas Eve under the watchful eye of Denis Leary, his gun, and sour relatives held hostage. Glynis Johns, Christine Baranski, J.K. Simmons.
8. The Family Man (2000) - High-roller Nicholas Cage gets dumped into working-class suburbia during the holiday season by his guardian angel, "for a glimpse". Well, waking up next to Tea Leoni does have its benefits! Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven.
9. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) - Jim Varney's Ernest P. Worrell helps Santa find his replacement, as a troubled runaway and lost reindeers add to his woes - knowwhatImean? Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker.
10. Mixed Nuts (1994) - A twenty-four hour Christmas Eve countdown at a suicide hotline, complete with a serial killer, a suicidal transvestite, and a lethal fruitcake. Steve Martin, Rita Wilson, Adam Sandler, Liev Schreiber, Juliette Lewis, Anthony LaPaglia, Garry Shandling, Madeline Kahn.
11. Trading Places (1983) - The delicious trio of Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Lee Curtis romp through this holiday tale of double-crosses and fake identities. Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Denholm Elliott.
12. Holiday Affair (1949) - This B film, remains notable for veteran noir star Robert Mitchum's valiant effort to make a family movie as Janet Leigh taps into her best Maureen O'Hara Miracle on 34th Street impression. Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey.
COPYRIGHT 2012/2016. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
