A Holiday Celebration: Exploring Hidden Gem Holiday Films
One thing that irks me about numerous contemporary Christmas films is their insistent meta-commentary – the gaudy decor, the predictable music tunes, and the clichéd dialogue about the essence of the holidays. Perhaps because the style hadn't yet solidified into tradition, pictures from the 1940s often approach Christmas from far more imaginative and far less anxious angles.
The Affair on Fifth Avenue
One favorite gem from exploring 1940s holiday comedies is It Happened on Fifth Avenue, a 1947 lighthearted farce with a brilliant hook: a happy-go-lucky hobo spends the winter in a unoccupied Fifth Avenue estate each year. That season, he brings in fellow down-on-their-luck individuals to live with him, including a former GI and a teenager who turns out to be the heiress of the home's rich landlord. Filmmaker Roy Del Ruth imbues the film with a surrogate family coziness that most newer Christmas stories have to labor to earn. It beautifully balances a thoughtful story on affordable living and a whimsical urban fantasy.
Tokyo Godfathers
Satoshi Kon's 2003 tragicomedy Tokyo Godfathers is a entertaining, poignant, and deeply moving version on the festive story. Drawing from a western film, it centers on a triumvirate of homeless individuals – an alcoholic, a trans character, and a teenage runaway – who find an discarded baby on the night before Christmas. Their mission to find the infant's mother triggers a chain of misadventures involving gangsters, newcomers, and apparently serendipitous connections. The movie celebrates the magic of chance typically found in holiday stories, offering it with a cool-toned visual style that sidesteps saccharine emotion.
Introducing John Doe
Although Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life justifiably gets much praise, his other film Meet John Doe is a compelling Christmas film in its own right. Starring Gary Cooper as a handsome everyman and Barbara Stanwyck as a plucky reporter, the story kicks off with a fake missive from a man vowing to leap from a ledge on the holiday in protest. The public's embrace forces the reporter to recruit a man to impersonate the mythical "John Doe," who then becomes a national icon for kindness. The movie functions as both an heartwarming story and a sharp critique of wealthy media magnates trying to exploit public sentiment for political gain.
A Silent Partner
While Christmas slasher pictures are now commonplace, the festive suspense film remains a strangely underpopulated category. This makes the 1978 gem The Silent Partner a fresh discovery. Starring a superbly sinister Christopher Plummer as a criminal Santa Claus and Elliott Gould as a mild-mannered bank clerk, the story sets two kinds of opportunistic oddballs against each other in a stylish and surprising narrative. Mainly ignored upon its original debut, it is worthy of rediscovery for those who like their festive entertainment with a chilling atmosphere.
The Almost Christmas
For those who like their family reunions chaotic, Almost Christmas is a hoot. With a star-studded ensemble that features Danny Glover, Mo'Nique, and JB Smoove, the movie delves into the strain of a family gathered to share five days under one roof during the Christmas season. Private dramas bubble to the surface, culminating in scenes of over-the-top farce, such as a dinner where a firearm is brandished. Of course, the story reaches a satisfying ending, providing all the fun of a holiday mess without any of the actual aftermath.
The Film Go
The director's 1999 film Go is a Yuletide-adjacent story that functions as a teen-oriented take on interconnected stories. While some of its humor may feel product of the 90s upon revisiting, the film nevertheless boasts plenty aspects to enjoy. These include a cool turn from Sarah Polley to a captivating appearance by Timothy Olyphant as a dangerous drug dealer who amusingly sports a Santa hat. It captures a particular style of 1990s movie attitude set against a holiday scene.
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
The famed director's 1940s farce The Miracle of Morgan's Creek forgoes typical Christmas cheer in favor for irreverent comedy. The movie is about Betty Hutton's Trudy Kockenlocker, who ends up with child after a drunken night but cannot remember the father involved. The bulk of the comedy comes from her situation and the attempts of Eddie Bracken's lovestruck Norval Jones to marry her. Although not obviously a Christmas film at the outset, the story culminates on the festive day, making clear that Sturges has refashioned a playful interpretation of the birth narrative, packed with his trademark witty style.
Better Off Dead Movie
This 1985 teen film starring John Cusack, Better Off Dead, is a quintessential artifact of its time. Cusack's