Christmas Films at Ames Public Library
Today is 12/2/2008
A-C | D-I | J-R | S-Z | Animated Family Christmas Movies |
The Bishops Wife (DVD DRAMA BIS and VIDEO DRAMA BIS) 109 min. 1947.
When Episcopalian bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) prays for divine guidance in his efforts to raise funds for a new cathedral, his prayers are answered in the form of a handsome, personable guardian angel named Dudley (Cary Grant). Establishing himself as a Yuletide guest in the Brougham home, Dudley arouses the ire of Henry, who, unaware of what his visitor is, assumes that Dudley has designs on the bishop's wife Julia (Loretta Young). Eventually, the lives of both Henry and Julia are agreeably altered by the presence of the affable angel. Henry regains the "common touch" he'd almost lost, while Julia realizes anew how much she truly loves her husband
Bush Christmas (DVD FAMILY BUS) 77 min. 1947.
Two children are heading home to Australia for Christmas. On their journey they encounter a group of thieves and they accidentally give them the information they need to steal their father’s horses. The children then try to save the horses.
The Christmas Card (DVD DRAMA CHR) 84 min. 2007.
In the midst of the war in Afghanistan, a soldier is touched by a Christmas card he receives from a girl in a small town in the USA. As months pass, the card never leaves the soldier’s side giving him strength to survive and setting him on a mission to find her.
A Christmas Carol (VIDEO DRAMA CHR) 70 min. 1938.
This screenplay makes some adjustments from the original Dickens tale of a miser visited by the ghosts of Christmas, past, present and future. For example the Ghost of Christmas Past is played not by a robust middle-aged man but by a beautiful young woman. Nevertheless the film is well cast and includes such reliable character actors as Leo G. Carroll (Marley's Ghost), Barry McKay (Scrooge's nephew Fred) and June Lockhart in her screen debut as one of the Cratchit children. Terry Kilburn plays a fine, non-sentimental Tiny Tim.
A Christmas Carol (DVD DRAMA CHR and VIDEO DRAMA CHR) 86 min. 1951.
This British film is widely considered to be the definitive version of the many film adaptations of Charles Dickens's classic novel. Alastair Sim stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, a London miser who, despite his wealth, refuses to make charitable contributions and treats his sole employee, Bob Cratchit, as an indentured servant. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by apparitions who take him on a tour of his life and he realizes what a wretch he has become, transformed by greed from an idealistic youth into an embittered ogre. Infused with a new, cheery outlook, Scrooge sets about earning his redemption.
A Christmas Carol (DVD DRAMA CHR) 94 min. 1999.
Old Scrooge, the meanest miser in London, is visited one Christmas Eve by three spirits who change his life forever. Patrick Stewart (Star Trek’s Captain Picard) stars as Scrooge in this brilliant presentation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic.
The Christmas Shoes (DVD DRAMA CHR) 94 min. 2006.
A workaholic attorney crosses paths with a young boy on Christmas Eve and rediscovers the true meaning of love. Based on the Grammy-nominated song by Newsong.
Christmas Special/ Abbott and Costello (VIDEO COMEDY CHR) 61 min. 1952.
The legendary comedy duo’s Christmas special was first broadcast in 1952 as part of the Colgate Comedy Hour television program.
A Christmas Story (DVD COMEDY CHR and VIDEO COMEDY CHR) 98 min. 1983.
A young boy must convince his parents that a toy rifle is the only gift that will make Christmas worthwhile. Adapted from a memoir by humorist Jean Shepherd (who narrates), the film centers on Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), a young boy living in 1940s Indiana who is desperately yearning for a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas. Despite protests from his mother (Melinda Dillon) that he'll shoot his eye out, Ralphie persists, unsuccessfully trying to enlist the assistance of both his teacher and Santa Claus. All the while, Ralphie finds himself dealing with the constant taunts of a pair of bullies and trying to not get in the middle of a feud between his mother and father (Darren McGavin).
The Christmas Toy (VIDEO FAMILY CHR) 50 min. 1993.
When no people are around, the toys still play in the playroom. But since a toy will be frozen forever if a person catches it out of position, they have to be very careful. It is Christmas Eve, and Rugby the Tiger remembers how he was the Christmas Toy last year, and thinks he's going to be unwrapped again. And it's up to Apple the Doll, whom Rugby supplanted as favorite toy, to tell him what's in store. But Rugby won't believe her, and tries to get into the Christmas package. Muppeteer Jim Henson’s film will delight young and old.
Christmas Vacation (VIDEO COMEDY CHR) 97 min. 1989.
The Griswolds have a disastrous, but funny holiday.
Christmas with the Kranks (DVD FAMILY CHR) 98 min. 2004.
Based on the novel, Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham. When only-child Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora decide to book a cruise and skip Christmas altogether. Their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever.
Classic TV Christmas (DVD TV CLA) 150 min. 2006.
A collection of six television shows from classic comedies of the fifties featuring Christmas stories.
Classic TV Episodes from Christmas Past (VIDEO 791.45 CLA) 260 min. 1994.
Uncut classic TV episodes celebrating Christmas includes such performers as Jack Webb, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bob Cummings and Jack Benny.
Comfort and Joy (VIDEO COMEDY COM) 93 min. 1985.
Quietly funny, sad and sweet, full of quirky, oddball performances–the perfect antidote for a lonely Christmas. Soundtrack by Mark Knopfler.
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