Christmas Idea #5

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without watching your favorite seasonal movie. My favorite? It's a Wonderful Life. Classic. And hey, Jimmy Stewart. I don't know if many are aware of 'What a Wonderful Guy' Jimmy Stewart was. His on-screen self-effacing performances reflected much of the man off-screen. Did you know he was a decorated World War Two pilot? Before the war ended, he was one of only a few men to move from private to colonel in just 4 years. He continued in the Reserves until 1959; when he retired at the rank of Brigadier General. He did do some successful acting before the war; and so after a short break after the war, he went back to acting. But he would not let the studios publicise his wartime triumphs. He did not want to appear to be profiting from the war in any way, even though he was a hero.

'It's a Wonderful Life' was his first movie after the war. Released in 1946, it was Jimmy's final Capra production and his first on-screen kiss since before the war. That phone scene kiss with Donna Reed? One take. It went so well that part of the embrace had to be cut to make it past the censors. Too passionate. I say well done, you can kiss me anytime, Jimmy! ;) Of course he has many other non-christmas-y classics; Harvey, North by Northwest, Winchester, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Man who shot Liberty Valence. Well, I could go on and on, but we have to veer back in the direction of holiday movies. I just HAD to plug one of my favorite actors; Jimmy Stewart.

So take some time and pop in your favorite holiday movie, whatever it may be. For more ideas, here are some great Christmas classics.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (original 1964 version)
Elf (2003 with Will Ferrell and James Caan)
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Scrooged (1988 with Bill Murray)
Miracle on 34th Street (original 1947 version)
A Christmas Story (1983)