Watchingwell 

                                                                              

                                                             Curated classic films

NOW FOR SOMETHING  COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT

 

    Some of you may be suffering from     Christmas movie fatigue this year (I know I   am), so I have a completely different set of   films to match your mood.

 

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians  (1964) directed by Nicholas Webster

Not exactly from the ‘classic’ era, but it’s a real riot for anyone looking to escape the ordinary Christmas fare. In this tale, Martians decide to kidnap Santa Claus from Earth so that their children can have toys, too. Santa is a kind man and is ok with everything but violence and the Martians assure him that won’t happen.

Santa Claus (versus the Devil)  (1959) directed by Rene Cardona

Worse than the above is this Spanish language production, dubbed in English, of the most ridiculous, bizarre story of Santa’s toy distribution being thwarted by the evil Pitch. It has the distinction of being bad enough to be dissected by Mystery Science Theater 3000. However, some people rave about its creepy images, and almost Fellini-like incoherence. May cause nightmares in young children.

Black Christmas  (1974) directed by Bob Clark

An all-star cast in the original slasher movie. A sorority is terrorized during Christmas vacation.  Starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon, Andrea Martin, this is scary. Before Halloween and Friday the 13^th, there was Black Christmas.

 

Christmas Holiday  (1944) directed by Robert Siodmak

This reminds me of the SCTV sketch of Joe Flaherty presenting what he thinks is a scary movie called Hour of the Wolf which, to his dismay, actually is a Bergman-type psychological drama.  This is a title which should denote a feel-good-joy-of-the-season story, but in reality, is a film noir starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly, in untypical roles.  Not a Christmas movie.

 

Miracle of the Bells (1948) directed by Irving Pichel, starring Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Frank Sinatra.

This is actually a good movie, and although it comes close to being preachy and maudlin, it isn’t. Well-acted by all the players. MacMurray is Valli’s agent who accompanies her dead body back to her hometown in coal country. Through MacMurray, the tragic story of her career unfolds. There is a Christmas scene in a Chinese restaurant that is quite heartening. A young Sinatra plays the small-town priest.

Some nuns with a vision:

Come to the Stable  (1949) directed by Henry Koster

Loretta Young and Celeste Holm play nuns who follow a star to the small town of Bethlehem, Connecticut, with a vision to build a children’s hospital. Not exactly a Christmas story, but it has the feel of it, and many people feel its spirituality makes it appropriate viewing for the season. It received seven Academy Award nominations.

More nuns plus Bing.

The Bells of St Mary’s  (1945) directed by Leo McCarey

Bing Crosby, reprising his role as Father O’Malley in his new parish, St. Mary’s, facing off against the strong-willed Ingrid Bergman as the Mother Superior. Both join to save the old building and convince the businessman who owns the land to build a new school. Bing sings and there are Christmas scenes, and who says Christmas more than Bing?

These take place during Christmas and show you how little these characters have of the Christmas spirit.

Lady in the Lake  (1946) Directed by Robert Montgomery

In this adaptation of the Raymond Chandler mystery, Robert Montgomery directs himself as the detective, narrating the case. (He  reluctantly added the scene at the end when he is in front of the camera because the preview audience said they needed this.) Co-star Audrey Totter hires him to find the boss’s wife while Christmas is being celebrated at the firm.

Cover Up  (1949) directed by Alfred E. Green

A nice little noir with Dennis O’Keefe as an insurance investigator coming to a small town in the process of preparing for Christmas to investigate a suspicious suicide. With William Bendix and Barbara Britton.

Lady on a Train (1945) directed by Charles David, with Deanna Durbin and Ralph Bellamy

In New York City on Christmas Eve, a young woman witnesses a murder and joins with a crime novelist to solve the mystery. Some comic touches make this a kind of screwball whodunnit.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) directed by Peter R. Hunt

Some call this the Christmas Bond movie. The Alpine setting, the ski and bobsled chases, and John Barry’s Academy Award winning score, which contains some lovely themes, add to this mood. Some also feel that this film was completely underrated, as it is much closer to the Fleming story.  Starring George Lazenby and Diana Rigg. What could be more fun to watch on Christmas Day than a Bond film and Diana Rigg?

The Lion in Winter (1968) directed by Anthony Harvey

It’s 1183 in England and King Henry has allowed wife, Eleanor, out of prison for Christmas while he struggles to decide between his three sons as his successor. Less a Christmas movie than a dramatic tour de force by Peter O’Toole, Katherine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, in a script by James Goldman.

Christmas in July  (1940)  directed by Preston Sturges

Last, I shamelessly present a film that is connected to the holidays by merely having the word Christmas the title. Obviously it’s in July so it’s not about Christmas, but with a Preston Sturges script, it’s going to be worth your time. Dick Powell is a struggling jingle-writer who is the victim of a cruel hoax in which he is made to believe he has won first prize in a slogan contest. Co-starring Ellen Drew and the usual cast of players in Sturges films.

For all you traditionalists out there, and I may turn out to be one when Christmas Eve comes around, I remind you of some of the great films that we have previously suggested to watch as we wrap presents or drink eggnog or whatever it is that you do while you watch.