Everyone knows about all the famous classic holiday films. They were watched repeatedly each Christmas season, are on various DVD releases, and some movie theaters even have revival showings.
But there are a number of holiday films from Hollywood’s Golden Age that many people may have never heard of that are far more worthy of viewing than any movies shown on television today.
For example:
1) Beyond Tomorrow (1940) – There are certainly better holiday fantasy films, but this is still worth watching, especially because of the performances of several great character actors. Three lonely old men try to improve the lives of others. 2) Remember the Night (1940) – This isn’t just a great holiday movie, it’s a great movie period. Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck are better known for their classic film noir collaboration Double Indemnity four years later, and her Christmas in Connecticut (1945) is better known. But this is a better movie than that holiday offering. Prosecutor Fred “takes custody” of Barbara for the holidays after his legal ploy puts her behind bars for Christmas. Stanwyck is one of the great actresses of all time and is in top form here, especially with her subtle excellence in the final courtroom scene as she discerns what MacMurray is doing. A Preston Sturges screenplay guarantees superb dialogue. 3) The Shop Around the Corner (1940) – Christmas takes a back seat to the James Stewart-Margaret Sullavan secret admirer love story that spawned several remakes, but this can still be considered a holiday movie. Frank Morgan, as always, is great, as the shop owner who employs the two stars. 4) The Cheaters (1945) – This is an interesting story about a very wealthy family that has to come up with a scheme to avoid bankruptcy. An individual who is their Christmas charity case begins to affect their plans. 5) Star in the Night (1945) – This 22-minute Oscar-winning short combines some of the Christmas story from the Gospels with a little bit of Dickens and a lot of great character actors. 6) It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) – A great ensemble of top character actors highlight this hidden gem. A New York City mansion on famous Fifth Avenue is supposed to be empty for the holidays, but winds up getting invaded but several well-intentioned individuals. 7) Tenth Avenue Angel (1948) – The plot is supposed to center around released convict George Murphy, but this movie is all about Margaret O’Brien as a little girl who loses faith in everyone and everything around here because of a string of disappointments. No other child star could carry off a role such as this. 8) > Holiday Affair (1949) – Robert Mitchum and war widow Janet Leigh find Christmas romance. Eight-year-old Gordon Gebert is very good as Leigh’s son. New York City and Central Park at Christmas are nice features. 9) The Great Rupert (1950) – Yes, the story is built around the actions of an animated squirrel, which accidentally rewards a family financially, but this is a very pleasant movie. Jimmy Durante is fun to watch, and his antics not only don’t get in the way of the plot but enhance it. Terry Moore is always very pleasant to watch and went on to be Oscar-nominated two years later in Come Back Little Sheba. 10) Susan Slept Here (1954) – The early part of this movie is set at Christmas as Dick Powell reluctantly takes in juvenile delinquent Debbie Reynolds. But most of the movie centers around their budding romance, while briefly touching on some serious subjects. This is the last movie acting role for Powell, and Reynolds is always a scene stealer.