Thursday, December 4, 2014

December 3rd - Favorite Christmas Movies

Well, I am into the 3rd day of this Blogmas 2014 challenge!  Check out the list of prompts here; it isn't too late to join us and write your own favorites!


MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

(1947 version)

A movie from the 40's?  Hmmm!?  That old, huh?  Yep!  My favorite Christmas movie by far is "Miracle on 34th Street", the story of a "nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus.  He is institutionalized as insane when he accidentally hits someone with his cane; a young lawyer defends him by arguing in court that he is the real thing!"

Starring Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle; Maureen O'Hara as Doris Walker; Natalie Wood as Susan Walker; and John Payne as Fred Gailey, the story is new yet old and an awesome movie for both young and old.

A couple of favorite quotes from the movie are:

Kris Kringle:  Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind... and that's what's been changing.  That's why I'm glad I'm here, maybe I can do something about it."

Fred Gailey:  "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."

Susan:  "I believe... I believe... It's silly, but I believe."


(1994 version)

Well, as much as I love the 1947 version of "Miracle on 34th Street", once I saw the 1994 version with Mara Wilson ("Matilda" and "Mrs. Doubtfire"), I was definitely hooked!  Mara's character in "Miracle on 34th Street" is little Susan Walker, who discovers that dreams do come true if you just believe.  Her mother, played by Elizabeth Perkins, hires Kris Kringle, played by Richard Attenborough, to "play" Santa at the store in which she works.  Bryan Bedford, played by Dylan McDermott, is Susan's mother's "friend", the one Susan wishes to be her new father.

Following the original movie's plot, but updated a little, this version is just as heart-warming as the first one.

Additional quotes from the updated version are:

Dorey Walker:  "I don't care what you asked Mr. Kringle for.  Susan, that is not why we're going to the house."
Susan Walker:  "We're going to the cataloged house, right?  That's the house I told him I wanted.  I showed him a picture of it and he took it and he said he would get it for me."
Bryan Bedford:  Well, a house is a pretty big gift, Susan."
Susan Walker:  "That's what Mr. Kringle said."

Dorey Walker:  "Susan."
Susan Walker:  "What?"
Dorey Walker:  "What else did you ask Mr. Kringle for?"
Susan Walker:  "A baby brother.  See ya!"

Can't you just see the mischievous grin on her little face as Susan answers her mother's question!!  And my favorite scene of all - when they walk into that house and Susan sees the cane standing by the fireplace...she knows this is the house that Kris Kringle has given her - just as she asked him to do!

So much for my movie review!  Now, pop some popcorn and let's have a "night at the movies" watching an awesome classic Christmas movie!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Information on this movie was found at: 1947 version and 1994 version.



Linking up December 1 - 25

8 comments:

  1. You know, I've never seen this film! [Either version]...am going to have to rectify this and find it to be able to watch it with the littles before Christmas!

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    1. Oh, it's an awesome film!! My favorite - of course! I also love It's a Wonderful Life with James Stewart...but I had written so much of Miracle on 34th St. (both versions), that I decided not to include that one!

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  2. Miracle on 34th Street is a definite Christmas classic. Such a feel good movie. I haven't watched it for awhile though. I think I might have to see if I can find it on tv during this Advent/Christmas season!

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    1. I own the 1994 version; but used to have both (before CDs and DVDs!)...Thanks for reading and commenting...hope you find the movie and watch it this year!!

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  3. I remember watching this movie on TV, though I don't know which version it was.
    My favorite Christmas movie would be 'It's a Wonderful Life.'

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    1. Romi, I like "It's a Wonderful Life", too; just didn't want my post to be too long so I concentrated on the two versions of "Miracle..."

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  4. Can you believe that I've never seen either of these movies? Thanks for the recommendations--I'll have to find them and watch them this season :).

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    1. That is probably because you are YOUNG...I am 63 years old and these are movies we probably watched with my parents and grandparents! I can't remember WHEN I first saw either of them, or even "It's a Wonderful Life"!! Thanks for reading and commenting!

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