In chronological order, here are some of my favorite Christmas films / specials.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) – I’m going to include this on my list, yet it is such a great film that it is much more than a Christmas film. It is a Frank Capra film. And, one of the greatest films of all time.
THE JACK BENNY SHOW “Jack Does His Christmas Shopping” (1960) – A classic episode of the Jack Benny Show where Jack goes to a department store for Christmas shopping. His run ins with Mel Blanc, as a salesperson wrapping up a wallet, are so funny, even Jack couldn’t keep a straight face.
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER (1964) – What to say other than it is still the best. 
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965) – Also nothing much to say. “Lights please?”
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1974) – While not considered in the top tier of Christmas specials (it doesn’t even air on network TV anymore, only on ABC Family), this is the one narrated by Joel Grey, with the mice, and the clock. There is something about it that always works.
COMFORT AND JOY (1984) – Largely forgotten, if anyone has even seen it at all, this is Bill Forsyth’s Scottish film about a radio DJ caught up in the middle of a war between battling ice cream vendors during Christmas time.
A GARFIELD CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1987) – Garfield, Jon, and Odie go to Jon’s family farm for Christmas. Garfield befriends Jon’s mom. This used to be a popular one, yet I haven’t even seen it on the cable channels this year.
A CLAYMATION CHRISTMAS (1987) – The California Raisans may be forgotten now, but they will live on in this, one of the better novelty Christmas specials from Will Vinton. It is made up of various claymation segments set around various Christmas Carols, hosted by Siskel and Ebert like characters.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)– A CHRISTMAS STORY may be the new Christmas classic. Not for me. I’ll take the Griswalds any day. I just love this film.
MY SO-CALLED LIFE “So Called Angels” (1995)– Every Christmas Eve, I watch this episode, where Ricky is thrown out of his house, and the homeless angel (Juliana Hatfield). No matter how many times I watch it, that final scene, in the church, with the choir singing, it gets me every year.
LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)– The Richard Curtis modern day classic. Maybe the fact that it has an R rating is keeping it from having the sort of Holiday airplay that other films have. But, a great film no matter what time of year. And I just love the above scene.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Best Christmas Specials Of All Time
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2 comments:
Garfield? Have never seen this but then again, I love Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol and Emmet Otters Jugband Christmas, so who am I to judge?
I watched Christmas Vacation again the other night and was struck by how up and down it was. Some great jokes, followed by some really bad ones. But its the closest to the original.
And Keira Knightly is just beautiful in this movie. I don't know that she has been as beautiful in anything else.
I forgot to add EMMET OTTER.
That is what I hate about doing lists.
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