Memorable movies for Advent

Bill Knight column for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, Nov. 27, 28 or 29

The time of preparation for Christmas isn’t Black Friday, but Advent – Dec. 3-24 – in the church. So days remain to plan watching Christmas movies beyond Hallmark’s all-Christmas channel

Positives of Christmastime emerge in many holiday films (an unlikely way to find faith. For tips on boating, watching “Titanic” isn’t the best choice). And Hollywood doesn't produce material just to benefit the public. The industry makes movies to make money.

"Media culture works on forming a short attention span while the Bible focuses on a long-term horizon – good news, hope, redemption and a loving God," said conservative critic Michael Medved.

Still, you never know.

Out of  many Christmas film – “Come to the Stable” and “Elf,” “Meet John Doe” and “The Bishop’s Wife,” “The Holly & The Ivy” and “The Nutcracker,” even lousy pictures like “Jingle All The Way” and quirky hits like “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” – here’s a dozen gems:

“Charlie Brown’s Christmas” (1965). It's tough to be a "loser" during the holidays, and Chuck hangs tough. He's picked to direct a holiday play, but the "true meaning" of Christmas escapes the gang, even Snoopy. A tiny tree becomes a reminder of priorities; the ending is simple and heartfelt. This first "Peanuts" TV special is just 23 minutes long, but its message endures. Vince Guaraldi’s jazz score debuted here.

“A Christmas Carol” (1951). Of the many versions of Charles Dickens’ wonderful story, this alternates as a favorite with the 1938 version starring Reginald Owen. Featuring Alastair Sim as Scrooge, this is ghostly, sentimental and profound.

“Christmas in Connecticut” (1945). Barbara Stanwyck stars in this comedy about a columnist who writes about housekeeping and cooking from her rural home – except she knows little and lives in the city. Dennis Morgan co-stars as a Navy hero who’s introduced as a publicity stunt. Chaos and love ensue. The cast includes Sydney Greenstreet and S.K. Sakall.

“A Christmas Story” (1983). This warm and loving family picture movie version based on two Jean Shepherd stories is a repeat families anticipate each Christmastime. Peter Billingsley stars as a boy in the Midwest, daydreaming about a BB gun while his parents (Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin) cope with America in the 1940s.

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000). Filmmaker Ron Howard succeeds in a live-action film based on Dr. Seuss’s memorable book (and the popular animated TV special starring Boris Karloff).

With Jim Carrey in the title role, the film provides some back-story to the tale of the magical land of Whoville. Anthony Hopkins narrates; it features Christine Baranski and Molly Shannon.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946). The best. A regular guy and his family run into hard times by accident. When he considers suicide, an angel appears and helps him see what the world would’ve been like without him. Jimmy Stewart still draws tears in the climax, and Ward Bond and Frank Faylen as Bert and Ernie still put smiles on viewers’ faces. Filmmaker Frank Capra’s cast included Donna Reed and Henry Travers, Lionel Barrymore and Thomas Mitchell.

“Jesus of Nazareth” (1976).  An all-star cast helps filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli's version of the Gospel overcome its length. The six-hour epic stars Anne Bancroft, James Mason, Laurence Olivier, Anthony Quinn and Peter Ustinov. The acclaimed movie is remarkably faithful to scripture.

“The Nazarin” (1959). The award-winning, black-and-white Luis Bunuel melodrama follows a priest who's so innocent that he starts to annoy police and church leaders. Critical of organized religion, “Nazarin” is earnest and thoughtful.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993). Producer Tim Burton created the story and characters for this offbeat fantasy about the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown and his envy of Christmastown. Made as stop-motion animation, the ambitious movie is more sophisticated than the familiar Clay-mation. Voices are from Chris Sarandon and Catherine O’Hara.

“One Magic Christmas” (1985). Harry Dean Stanton was cast against type in this affectionate tale about a mother struggling with the burdens a commercialized Christmas can be. Stanton is an angel; Mary Steenburgen is the mom; Jan Rubes does a fine job as Santa.

“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964). Folk singer/actor Burl Ives narrates this yarn based on the song written for a department-story promotion and made popular by Gene Autry. It focuses on unhappy Rudolph and a crisis involving a blizzard, the Abominable Snowman, a prospector, an elf and St. Nick.

“White Christmas” (1954). Director Michael Curtiz took a fine song from a good film (“Holiday Inn”), and with re-casting and plot changes, made a great movie. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney and Vera Allen, star as two song-and-dance teams – one successful and one struggling, brought together during the season. A subplot involves trying to help a former general struggling with an inn. Add romance, silliness, Irving Berlin songs, and post-war nostalgia, and the picture becomes American cinema as memorable as an unexpected gift.