Holiday Movie Milestones
There are a surprising number of ‘holiday’ films celebrating anniversaries this year, so much so, we had to compile them into a post and highlight some of our favorites. If you haven’t seen some of these films, or perhaps haven’t watched them in a very long time, we encourage you to give them a watch! If they don’t put you in a wintery, holiday spirit, we don’t know what will! Enjoy!
The Holiday (2006, dir. Nancy Meyers) – turns 15!
I blame this movie for my frequent urge to shout “bollocks” and book a plane ticket for a faraway destination around the holidays… I also have now been watching this movie for practically half my life, and it still hasn’t gotten old. From its flawed editing, celebrity cameos (look out for Dustin Hoffman, Lindsay Lohan, and James Franco), delightful cast (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law, Rufus Sewell, and Eli Wallach), and to its sappily perfect storyline, what’s not to love? – Sarah 🥂
The Preacher’s Wife (1996, dir. Penny Marshall) – turns 25!
This remake of The Bishop’s Wife (1947, dir. Henry Koster) pairs the acting talents of Courtney B. Vance, Whitney Houston, and Denzel Washington in a modern holiday classic. The story revolves around a struggling church led by pastor Henry Biggs (Vance), who, along with his wife, Julia (Houston), is soon visited and aided by an angel named Dudley (Washington). The background of this film always stands out to me, particularly the ice skating scene, which was filmed in Portland, Maine! – Sarah ⛸
Hook (1991, dir. Steven Spielberg) - turns 30!
Hook is a fun and fantastic twist on the timeless tale of Peter Pan (dig that alliteration). The film stars Robin Williams as a hardened, workaholic adult Peter Banning who must rediscover his inner child to save his children who have been kidnapped by the titular captain (Dustin Hoffman). While it takes some suspension of disbelief to see Robin Williams in a role where he has to relearn childhood, he plays both sides of himself very well. He’s pretty intimidating as a gruff adult. The movie is unlike any other Peter Pan film out there. It has a truly youthful, boyish feeling as if this world were really created and controlled by the Lost Boys. Bangarang! – Bailey ⚔
Babes in Toyland (1961, dir. Jack Donohue) - turns 60!
In a village of nursery rhyme characters, an evil miser plans to wed a woman in order to steal her inheritance. This Disney live-action adaptation of the 1903 operetta is a bit on the odd side, but still worth a rewatch every once in a while. The film stars former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, Tommy Sands, Ed Wynn, and Ray Bolger in a delightful turn as the over-the-top villain. It may not be a movie for everyone, but for Disney geeks like me, it’s full of that delightfully bizarre magic that is so specific to this era of Disney live-action. – Bailey 💰
Bundle of Joy (1956, dir. Norman Taurog) – turns 65!
When Polly Parish (Debbie Reynolds) is mistaken as the mother to an orphaned baby, she soon gets more for the holidays than she bargained for… This remake of Bachelor Mother (1939, dir. Garson Kanin) attempts to up the glitz of its predecessor by turning the story into a technicolor musical and pairs Reyolds opposite her then husband, Eddie Fisher. This film isn’t all that memorable, but it does have a pretty good New Years sequence, and is well worth a rewatch this holiday season. – Sarah 👶
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, dir. Frank Capra) - turns 75!
On Christmas Eve, a desperate man learns his true worth through the intervention of his guardian angel. It’s a Wonderful Life gets a reputation as a movie that gets overplayed on television at Christmastime, but to me, it’s much more than a mere Christmas movie. George Bailey (James Stewart) is a man with deep personal desires, but those desires run contrary to his sense of responsibility to the vulnerable people in his community. It’s a film that recognizes the sacrifice that comes with being a force for good in the world and its unexpected rewards. That’s a pretty good sentiment for any day of the year. – Bailey 🔔
How many of these films have you seen before? Are any of them staples of your yearly holiday film viewing? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to find time to watch our December Film Club Pick: Ball of Fire (1941, dir. Howard Hawks)!
Copyright © 2021 Sarah Crane & Bailey Lizotte Clark
