If you are sick and tired of watching “A Christmas Story,” “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Christmas Vacation” then maybe it is time to increase your Christmas viewing repertoire and dive into some of those lesser known movies that come on those old movie channels once in a while. Those who are looking for something new and different this holiday season can take a look at this list of the 5 Forgotten Christmas Classics and get a whole new perspective of the season. So break out the popcorn and cocoa and get ready to view these lesser known forgotten 1940s Christmas movie classics:
1. Holiday Affair. This 1949 movie stars Robert Mitchum (in a romantic lead, no less) and Janet Leigh as a clerk and a mystery shopper respectively who end up falling in love. There was a remake of this, naturally, but no one can beat Robert Mitchum when it comes to sexy and alluring and it is no wonder that Leigh dumps lawyer Wendell Corey for the sexy albeit jobless Mitchum.
2. The Man Who Came To Dinner. From 1942 this comedy stars Bette Davis as the long suffering secretary to the obnoxious columnist/radio host played by Monty Woolley (apparently a take on Walter Winchell) who slips and falls in some family’s house, threatens to sue them and promptly takes over. Enter Jimmy Durante, a menagerie of imported animal gifts and a handsome guy to sweep Davis off her feet.
3. Remember The Night. This 1940 film pairs Barbara Stanwyck up with Fred Mac Murray (who paired up with one another in Double Indemnity) as a thief and the district attorney respectively. MacMurray has charge of Stanwyck and before you know it, she is spending Christmas with his family and the two of them are falling in love.
4. Holiday Inn. You know the extravaganza “White Christmas” that comes on every year starting Bing Crosby? Well, this 1942 film is basically the same plot, only with dancer Fred Astaire as Bing’s buddy. Two guys fall in love with two girls at a lodge and Bing sings “White Christmas” for the first time.
5. Bachelor Mother. The 1939 film has Ginger Rodgers finding an abandoned baby around Christmas and hooking the owner of the department store where she works by New Years Eve.
While we can never get too tired of watching the classics such as “Miracle on 34 th Street” or one of the many versions of “A Christmas Carol” there are some forgotten Christmas classics out there that deserve to be heard. Check one or all of the above and start a new Christmas movie tradition!