Christmas at the Bijou

For several years I've watched Christmas movies all year long, one each month; after all Christmas is in your heart but this year I purposely waited until December to start watching my favorite Holiday flicks; it was hard but that's what self-control is for.

Here is a list of my favorite Holiday movies & why I like them:

The Man Who Came To Dinner



For a long time this was my least favorite Holiday movie but to be honest, it's been growing on me the last few years. It's the story of Sheridan Whiteside, an irascible celebrated man of letters who, while visiting in Ohio, takes a nasty fall & is house bound for the Holidays: taking over, barking orders & making everyone's life miserable, including sabotaging his secretary's new found love life. He's a combination of Scrooge & Groucho Marx, in the end though he sees the error of his ways & pretty much fixes everything, then as he's leaving…

Favorite Line:  “My Great Aunt Jennifer ate a whole box of candy every day of her life. She lived to be 102 and when she'd been dead three days she looked better than you do now!”

A Christmas Story



This is the story of Ralphie Parker, a likable kid & his quest for an official Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun rifle; that's all he wants & this movie chronicles his dreams, schemes & manipulations. I'm not sure that Ralphie changes at the end of the film or learns a lesson but it's fun to watch all the shenanigans that unfold throughout this glimpse of yuletide Americana, it's heartwarming & a perennial favorite.

Favorite Line: “How are they going to deliver a bowling alley here tonight?!”  

Miracle on 34th Street



I know this a Santa Claus movie but in reality, it's a great evangelistic film & here's why: The real deal comes to town & slowly, one by one, each character, through interaction & witnessing his sincere care & love, starts to believe in him; in the end, they all believe. Sound familiar? It should, read any of the Gospels…

Favorite Line:  “Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles” 

It's a Wonderful Life



I've seen this movie upwards of 50 times in my life; I'm not kidding about that. The well known story of George Bailey, a small town man w/ big dreams who gives up those dreams so others can find theirs… In a moment of desperation, he's given a gift: to see what life would be like without him in it. I'm sure we've all been there, if even for a moment, 'wondering how things, family & people would have turned out w/o our influence.

Favorite Line: “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”  

Elf



The story of Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole, who goes in search of his father in New York City & finds not only family but also love. His worldview, shaped by Christmas, starts to infect all those around him & the spirit of Christmas becomes everyone's mindset. I really like this film, it's heartwarming & just plain fun to watch. 

Favorite Line: “Hey! There's no singing at the North Pole. YES THERE IS!” 

Christmas in Connecticut



My all-time favorite Holiday flick. Elizabeth Lane, celebrated columnist, is living a lie & all of a sudden, she has to manufacture the life she's been pretending to live. To complicate it all, she meets war hero Jefferson Jones & they slowly fall for each other, even though she's pretending to be married & he's already engaged. I've seen this movie too many times to count & it's fresh each time.

Favorite Line: “John, when you're kissing me, don't talk about plumbing.”

A Charlie Brown Christmas



There's no words to describe this one, it's a just a classic. Perpetually hapless Charlie Brown discovers the real meaning of Christmas, that's all. It's short & to the point & that's the way I like it…. The parts that crack me up in this is when any character yells at another & that character spins backwards off the screen.

Favorite Line: “That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

With that I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas & happy viewing!


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