My inspiration were my husbands family and my family as well.
1.Meet Me in St. Louis
It’s the year before the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, and the four Smith daughters learn lessons about life and love, as they prepare for a reluctant move to New York.
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: There’s no sweeter voice on the planet than Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” In this scene, she croons to her little sister, right after getting engaged to the boy next door.
2.Love, Actually
This feel-good movie follows the lives of eight couples in London, England during a frantic month before Christmas. Though vastly different, their stories are interwoven in love, lust, and luck.
Details: Directed by Richard Curtis, this movie stars Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, and Martine McCutcheon. Runtime is 135 minutes; released in theaters Nov. 6, 2003; on DVD April 27, 2004. Rated R for sexuality, nudity and language, so not for kids!
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: Olivia Olson’s sweet version of “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” wrapped around the various romantic storylines…it’s enough to make a girl weep… sniff…
3.How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The grumpy green guy hatches a plan to steal Christmas and ends up wreaking havoc on the innocent Whos in Whoville.
Details:Director:Ron Howard
Writers (WGA):Dr. Seuss(book)Jeffrey Price (screenplay) ...Actors: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen,Jeffrey Tambor
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: Mr. Grinch is sooo evil, you think there’s no possible way he can turn his life around. But change happens, thanks to some help from little Cindy Lou Who. Great animation, an expressively mean Grinch, and a memorable Christmas tune make this clip a winner.
4.White Christmas
Army buddies Bob Wallace and Phil Davis team up to become a top song-and-dance act. But things get complicated when they cross paths with sister act Betty and Judy Haynes. When the girls travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, running the place.
Details: Directed by Michael Curtiz, this film stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, and Dean Jagger. Not rated (but G-ish), it runs 120 minutes. Released in theaters Oct. 14, 1954; on DVD Nov. 21, 2000.
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: When Bing Crosby goes behind the Christmas tree and opens the white horse statue from Rosemary Clooney, it’s so ridiculously corny, but such a classic vintage movie moment. Just try not smiling. I dare you.
5.A Charlie Brown Christmas
When Charlie Brown laments about the commercialism of Christmas, Lucy suggests he become director of the school Christmas pageant. The little round-headed guy attempts to restore some holiday spirit with a forlorn little tree.
Details: Directed by Bill Melendez, this animated color film features the voices Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez, Karen Mendelson, Peter Robbins, and Christopher Shea. Rated TV-G, it runs 25 minutes. Released on TV Dec. 9, 1965; on DVD Sept. 12, 2000.
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: Even if you’re not religious, it’s hard not to love this little clip of Linus explaining the true meaning of Christmas. Very sweet.
6.The Santa Clause
Description: When Scott Calvin inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.
Details: Directed by John Pasquin, this movie stars Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson, Judge Reinhold, Eric Lloyd, and David Krumholtz. Rated PG for a few crude moments, it runs 97 minutes. Released in theaters Nov. 11, 1994; on DVD Oct. 29, 2002.
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: David Krumholtz steals every scene as the snarky, militant Head Elf Bernard. In this clip, he gives little Charlie a magical snow globe, as Scott insists he’s not Santa. Bernard begs to differ.
7.It's a Wonderful Life
George Bailey gives up his travel dreams to run the family business, but things turn sour when $8K goes missing. He’s ready to end it all, but guardian angel Clarence shows him what life would have been like had he never been born. It’s not pretty.
Details: Directed by Frank Capra, this film stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore and Henry Travers. Rated G, it runs 130 minutes in vintage black-and-white. Released in theaters Dec. 20, 1946; on DVD Oct. 31, 2006 (60th Anniversary Edition).
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: No one does giddy better than Jimmy Stewart. Standing on that bridge and realizing that his life didn’t turn out bad after all, he races home to soak in the love and warmth of all his friends, right there to help him out. Awesome!
8.A Christmas Story
Young Ralphie tries to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle really IS the perfect gift for a young boy, even if his mom says, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”
Details: Directed by Bob Clark, this movie features Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Peter Billingsley, and Ian Petrella. Rated PG, it runs 94 minutes. Released in theaters Nov. 18, 1983; on DVD Oct. 7, 2003 (2-Disc Special Edition)
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: Poor Ralphie is mortified to open his Aunt Clara’s present and find a pink bunny costume. “He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny,” says his dad. I think we’ve all been in Ralphie’s furry feet. Maybe not to this degree, but we can identify with the little guy.
9.A Christmas Carol, a.k.a. Scrooge
A bitter curmudgeon is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve – the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Unless he can change his penny-pinching ways, things aren’t looking good for Ebenezer Scrooge.
Details: Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, this 1951 version of the film stars Alistair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley, and Michael Hordern. Not rated, it runs 86 minutes. Released in theaters Nov. 28, 1951; on DVD Nov. 2, 1999.
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: Of the many version of “A Christmas Carol,” this one is the best. Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge is first devilishly mean, then angelically giddy, as in this last scene where he’s “light as a feather.” Brilliant.
10.Elf
When Buddy the Elf learns his real dad is living in New York City, he leaves the safety of the North Pole to go find him.
Details: Directed by Jon Favreau, this movie stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen, and Zooey Deschanel. Rated PG for some mild rude humor and language, it runs 97 minutes. Released in theaters Nov. 7, 2003; on DVD Nov. 16, 2004.
Why It’ll Spread the Holiday Spirit: Will Ferrell is so innocently joyful about life and – in this scene – seeing his old friend Santa, it makes you feel good about life, too.
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