"Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is.
Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think what you would think. The wonder of it!"--Tasha Tudor



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Movies

There are so many Christmas movies and specials out there. I can never resist watching them when they are on TV. There are some that I just seem to turn to again and again. They are as familiar as the special ornaments that get unwrapped each year to place on the tree.
Here are a few of my favorites. Some are new, some not so new. While my list could go on and on, I'm posting those that I've watched in the past couple of weeks.

Christmas in Connecticut. The classic starring the stunning Barbara Stanwyck. It makes me smile every time I watch it. I love her outfits in this movie. What a movie star she was.




Take Peace, A Corgi Cottage Christmas with Tasha Tudor. OK, OK, yes, I do watch this one all year round. I admit it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love that Linus recites the real Christmas story from the Bible in this and tells Charlie Brown what Christmas is really all about. And Snoopy. When he decorates his house? Come on...that is awesome.


Prancer. So sweet. I just want to hug Jessica and take her home with me.


All the Rankin Bass movies from the 60's...especially Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to town...as a little girl I was always enchanted by Kris and Jessica's wedding scene in the woods with the Winter Warlock. I still am.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. Mmm....maybe not so mean after all, eh? Just a little misunderstood. Plus, my fellow artists and crafters, we must accept him as one of our own. After all, he did make his own Santa suit and reindeer, did he not? Crafting genius at the top of Mt. Crumpit.


While not technically a Christmas movie, "Little Women" with Winona Ryder is one of my favorites. Its got enough Christmas scenes to qualify for a spot on my Christmas movie shelf. Who wouldn't want to 'go a-wasailling' with the March girls?


"A Christmas They Never Forgot" Little House on the Prairie movie. It is a compilation of 'rememberings' by the characters as they are snowed in at the Ingalls one Christmas. It includes the part of the Little House pilot movie where Mr. Edwards crosses the creek to bring Mary and Laura their red mittens just like he got when he was 'just a sprig in Tennessee' and they each got a 'cookie made like a heart and sprinkled with white sugar.' (Insert blissful sigh here...)



The Muppets Christmas Carol. Michael Caine as Scrooge. Classically narrated by Gonzo. Fun musical numbers. Kermit and Miss Piggy. What more do you want?


Love "The Holiday" with Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and Jude Law. I especially love the relationship between Kate Winslet and Eli Wallach's characters in this film. Oh, yes, and Iris's cottage. I believe it was built for the film. Love love love....



Of course, Its A Wonderful Life. My Corgi, "Bailey" was named after George Bailey in this film. Does that tell you how much my husband and I love this one? He still cries at the end every time he sees it. (Which is one of the reasons I love him so...)

What are some of your favorites? Whether you can steal away a few minutes from your Christmas preparations or settle in after the big day with a big bowl of popcorn I hope you get the chance to enjoy a few of these or your own special favorite holiday movies. Let me know if you see a good one! xo xo CS ^..^

11 comments:

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Cat, your movie selections are just the best!
Of course, being a corgi mama, we have Tasha's videos, and love them.
I purchased Christmas in Connecticut last year, as we watched that every year as kids. All of your choices are just the best of the best! Oh, we always watch the Bells of St. Mary's too, with Bing.
Blessings to you and your corgi household this Christmas.

ClassyChassy said...

I would love to see the Barbara Stanwick one - she was a wonderful actress! The oldies are my favorite movies!!!

KsMaryLou said...

So many great Christmas movies. I watched Prancer for the first time a few nights ago.....sweet; of course, it didn't hurt that Sam Elliot was in it. ;-)

Chatty Crone said...

I love Christmas in Connecticut and It Is A Wonderful Life!

We Wish You a Merry♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ And a Happy New Year!!! Merry Christmas to everyone........

Merry Christmas!
SAndie

Suzanne said...

Love the same as you but add in The Bishop's Wife with Loretta Young, David NIven and Cary Grant:-)

Linda said...

nostalgic movies,wonderful Merry Christmas to you and your family, 2legged and 4 paws. Lindax

Whosyergurl said...

Cathy, love your selections! Those are some of my favs, too. What about "An affair to remember?" which was re-made into "Love affair?"
Love the Susan Sarandon "Little Women." A few years ago, the duggles took me to see "Sweeny Todd" on Christmas day, I had to come home and watch that movie to cleanse my mind. Now...I get to pick our Christmas day movie!
Holiday hugs to you,
Cheryl in IN
WHOSYERGURL

Flutterby Patch said...

Hi Cathy, we were complaining at suppertime this evening about the lack of any newly made Christmasy stories, we always have to rely on the old favourites. I'm with you on most of your choices and of course 'Wonderful Life' is top of my list (and everyone elses list in Britain according to a survey). I'd include festive episodes of 'The Waltons' and the 1951 version of 'Scrouge' with Alastair Sim. I like the black and white version but they added colour in later years which ruined it. Wishing you all (human and furry) a very happy 2010. love Eli

Susan said...

I just found your blog and I have to add two more movies to your list - though it is a nearly perfect list! It is not Christmas at our house unless we have seen Mickey's Christmas Carol (with Mickey Mouse of course) and While You Were Sleeping. I hope you had a fantastic Christmas! My son wanted a Corgi so badly this year but alas we cannot have pets here! It looks like they do well in the snow though so maybe when we move up north a Corgi could still be an option!

ocmist said...

I never knew that Tasha Tudor HAD videos of her stuff. Wonder where you would find them... I'll have to do a Google search. I did get a couple of her books after finding out about her from you, and completely LOVED them!

We have two totally corgi movies: Little Dog Lost - an old Disney Movie, and Murder She Purred. It was those two movies that got us started with corgis.

I've never heard of Christmas in Connecticut, but I have always loved Barbara Stanwyck... that's the main one I'm going to look up. I also like the Bells of St. Mary's, and White Christmas. Of course, we HAVE to watch It's a Wonderful Life and one of the Scrooge movies. I like the Little House one, and all the cartoons you mentioned too, because I got to watch them about a hundred times each year when I was working with the special ed students I used to work with before my injury.

forever growing said...

Watching White Christmas with Bing right this second! Love the old movies, might be because I am old myself!!