9 Must Watch Christmas Classic Movies by David Wolfe

Merry Movie Christmas Paper Dolls and Pop Trivia
by David Wolfe

Nine Must Watch Christmas Classic Movies

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than cuddling up with a classic Christmas movie? For the past 17 years, artist and Hollywood historian David Wolfe has shared his love of such holiday treasures through his annual paper doll Christmas cards, shown on paperdollywood.com. Click on the "David Wolfe" tab to see each and every one. Keep an eye on his paperdollywoodblog for his 2019 card. By popular demand, David depicts nine of his favorite films in one special book, Merry Movie Christmas Paper Dolls, available from Amazon.com. For the month of December 2019 it's on special from paperdollreview.com for just $8, regularly $12.50! 

Rosemary Clooney as Betty Haynes in White Christmas

WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) is a high-gloss musical romance. Crooner Bing Crosby and comical Danny Kaye play post-war buddies who have become top show-biz stars. They connect with The Haynes Sisters played by sweet songstress Rosemary Clooney and ambitious dancer Vera-Ellen. The buddies discover that their retired general owns an inn in Vermont that is failing until Bing and Danny organize a military reunion and it starts to snow, snow, snow, becoming a finale that looks like an old-fashioned Christmas card.

Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (1947) is the sentimental tale of a Santa look-alike old man (Edmund Gwenn) who insists he’s Kris Kringle. He is hired by Macy’s to play Santa in the famous department store. Kids and parents love him as he initiates a “miraculous” advertising ploy of Christmas spirit above retail profits. Non-believer, young Natalie Wood has been raised by her single mother without fantasy stories but the little girl wonders if Kris Kringle is really Santa. Is he or is he not? Ho! Ho! Ho!

Henry Travers as Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) is the all-time great classic film, neglected for years until wide TV exposure made the heart-wrenching movie famous. George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, is in financial distress and is stopped from ending his own life by Clarence, an angel trying to earn his wings. Clarence shows George what the town would have been like without him. Coming to his senses, George rushes home to his family, and in the last scene his young daughter Zuzu (Karolyn Grimes) declares, “every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”

Judy Garland as Rose Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944) is a sentimental turn-of-the-century musical with Judy Garland crooning “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to copiously teary Margaret O’Brien. The film is a perfect period piece, lavishly produced and an example of MGM’s legendary excellence.

Will Farrell as Buddy the Elf in Elf

ELF (2003) is Buddy (Will Ferrell), a ludicrously adult elf who towers over the little workers in Santa’s workshop. When he leaves the North Pole he confronts a realistic world that needs his saccharine sweetness. His well-meaning comedic misadventures bring heartfelt joy to the world. 

Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989) stars adept comedian Chevy Chase as bumbling Clark Griswold, a big-hearted guy who wants to celebrate an old-fashioned family Christmas including millions of malfunctioning lights trimming the house. However, his holiday dreams and schemes go wrong again and again with side-splitting results.

Favorite Christmas kids - Zuzu, Tootie, Susan, Ralphie, Kevin and Timmy

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) mixes sweet sentiment and high hilarity in a nostalgic tale, wryly told by Jean Sheppard. Obsessive, adorable Ralphie ( Peter Billingsley) tries to make sure he gets his dream gift, an Official Red Ryder BB Gun, but every grown-up worries that he’ll put out his eye. Of course, he doesn’t and his Christmas wish comes true.

HOME ALONE (1990) turns a disaster into uproariously slapstick comedy when young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left behind as the rest of the family jets away for the holidays. Two inept thieves (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) become the battered victims as the resourceful boy cleverly thwarts their every evil action plan. The film was such a hit that it spawned several sequels.

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949) is a kindly Christmas fable about Timmy (Gordon Gebert), a fatherless boy who mistakes an electric train from his mom’s job as a gift for himself. Timmy manages to get the train and a new dad in a surprisingly sweet role for Robert Mitchum. This film, long neglected, is just now gaining well-deserved popularity.