Miracle on 34th Street (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)Christmas films; now a days are just as eagerly awaited as perhaps the season itself by cinema goers all over the world with every season bringing on a new batch, most of which will probably be forgotten before the season returns the following year.
These films concentrating on showing three wise men being lead by a star to a place where the virgin Mary gave birth to the one whom Christians through out the world have called the messiah.
With time however Christmas films as did perhaps the season itself; moved away from only being focused on the birth of Christ and started including such themes as Santa Claus.
Christmas eventually stretched beyond even these two themes and like Christmas itself which expanded so did the films concerning this time of year, to include the effect this season has on most people and their relationships to one another.
As it might have been this story which was the first to concentrate on another matter concerning Christmas other then Jesus or Santa Claus.
Many films however would follow based on the theme created by Dickens though perhaps the one that sticks out the most from all these versions of the same, at least as far as those which are in black and white is the one staring Reginald Owen in 1938 in the role of the Ebenezer Scrooge.
Where "A Christmas Carol" can be said to have been the first film to focus on other then religious subjects perhaps it is the film "It's A Wonderful Life" which in a way goes back to them though again not concentrating on Jesus' birth but on an angel coming down to earth to assist "George Bailey".
"It's A Wonderful Life" in my opinion and that of many (at least in the United States) others has in recent years replaced "A Christmas Carol" as far as being the most symbolic film of the Christmas season.
That being the spirit of giving and sharing with our neighbors specially should they be in need or if they through out their lives have done as much as George Bailey did for those in his town of Bedford Falls.
It combining sentimentalism but in a strange manner those who are portrayed as such are also shown as being practical.
This sentiment being exclaimed in the line "I wouldn't even have a roof over my head it if wasn't for you George" used by one of the characters who contributes to solve George's dilemma over the money which had been stolen from his savings and loan.
This being the case though a very forgettable version called "It happened One Christmas" was made in 1977 which given the fact that many were not familiar with the original version at the time become very popular.
All of which sending "It happened One Christmas" back to the obscurity from which it should have never left.
All of which making it hard for film viewers to focus on any one particular version or associating the main character "Ebenezer Scrooge" with any particular actor, given that many from George C.
This not being the case for George Bailey; as this character has come to be associated exclusively with James Stewart.
For instance "The Odd Couple" did so when Oscar dreamed he was "Scrooge" being visited by the ghost of Felix; given that the ghost of Marley could not make it given that it was his busiest time of year.
Magoo" and even Walt Disney cashed in on the idea using Donald Duck's rich but often parsimonious Scottish uncle.
"The Christmas That Almost Wasn't" I would recommend as being nice though it perhaps lacks somewhat in originality as it takes a page from "It's A Wonderful Life".
However when mentioning Christmas films there are some which I would not take even the most rotten kids I know to see such as the one made with Dudley Moorecalled "Santa Claus" or "Miracle On 34th Street".
This "poor girl's" tragedy is even augmented because she has no father, as if her more then loving mother were not enough.
Of course there are other films which were made and can be purchased on DVD such as "The Bells Of Saint Marry" though this film I know very little about as I have neither seen it nor read its synopsis and what little I do know about it is that there is a Swedish actress by the name of Ingrid Bergman, who plays a nun.
I having little in the way of knowledge about this film can not recommend it though I have heard from many that it is worth seeing but then again this was what I heard about that tactless film "Miracle On 34th Street".
This 30 minute animated film by "Doctor Zeus" showing how a little girl teaches the mean Grinch, that there is more to Christmas then toys and decorations; is a real Christmas classic which no child should ever miss.
Where I recommend this animated film I by no means do so the idiotic film version made in recent years with the same title by director Ron Howard (also known for his portrayal of the Happy Days character Ritchie Cunningham) staring Jim Carey.
TV shows have also contributed great stories for this time of year known as Christmas and it is with all my heart that I would like to recommend to those who should read this article, that this Christmas they turn on Youtube and watch the episode of the Twilight Zone; entitled "Night Of The Meek".
It is this story which I would say is my favorite as far as stories portraying the character who is also known as Saint Nick.
One of which contrary to the child in "Miracle On 34th Street" asks not for a house in the country but a job for his unemployed father.
To become the biggest gift giver of all.
As for a personal confession of mine, I must say that "It's A Wonderful Life" along with "The Night Of Meek" never fail to bring tears to my eyes.
These films concentrating on showing three wise men being lead by a star to a place where the virgin Mary gave birth to the one whom Christians through out the world have called the messiah.
With time however Christmas films as did perhaps the season itself; moved away from only being focused on the birth of Christ and started including such themes as Santa Claus.
Christmas eventually stretched beyond even these two themes and like Christmas itself which expanded so did the films concerning this time of year, to include the effect this season has on most people and their relationships to one another.
As it might have been this story which was the first to concentrate on another matter concerning Christmas other then Jesus or Santa Claus.
Many films however would follow based on the theme created by Dickens though perhaps the one that sticks out the most from all these versions of the same, at least as far as those which are in black and white is the one staring Reginald Owen in 1938 in the role of the Ebenezer Scrooge.
Where "A Christmas Carol" can be said to have been the first film to focus on other then religious subjects perhaps it is the film "It's A Wonderful Life" which in a way goes back to them though again not concentrating on Jesus' birth but on an angel coming down to earth to assist "George Bailey".
"It's A Wonderful Life" in my opinion and that of many (at least in the United States) others has in recent years replaced "A Christmas Carol" as far as being the most symbolic film of the Christmas season.
That being the spirit of giving and sharing with our neighbors specially should they be in need or if they through out their lives have done as much as George Bailey did for those in his town of Bedford Falls.
It combining sentimentalism but in a strange manner those who are portrayed as such are also shown as being practical.
This sentiment being exclaimed in the line "I wouldn't even have a roof over my head it if wasn't for you George" used by one of the characters who contributes to solve George's dilemma over the money which had been stolen from his savings and loan.
This being the case though a very forgettable version called "It happened One Christmas" was made in 1977 which given the fact that many were not familiar with the original version at the time become very popular.
All of which sending "It happened One Christmas" back to the obscurity from which it should have never left.
All of which making it hard for film viewers to focus on any one particular version or associating the main character "Ebenezer Scrooge" with any particular actor, given that many from George C.
This not being the case for George Bailey; as this character has come to be associated exclusively with James Stewart.
For instance "The Odd Couple" did so when Oscar dreamed he was "Scrooge" being visited by the ghost of Felix; given that the ghost of Marley could not make it given that it was his busiest time of year.
Magoo" and even Walt Disney cashed in on the idea using Donald Duck's rich but often parsimonious Scottish uncle.
"The Christmas That Almost Wasn't" I would recommend as being nice though it perhaps lacks somewhat in originality as it takes a page from "It's A Wonderful Life".
However when mentioning Christmas films there are some which I would not take even the most rotten kids I know to see such as the one made with Dudley Moorecalled "Santa Claus" or "Miracle On 34th Street".
This "poor girl's" tragedy is even augmented because she has no father, as if her more then loving mother were not enough.
Of course there are other films which were made and can be purchased on DVD such as "The Bells Of Saint Marry" though this film I know very little about as I have neither seen it nor read its synopsis and what little I do know about it is that there is a Swedish actress by the name of Ingrid Bergman, who plays a nun.
I having little in the way of knowledge about this film can not recommend it though I have heard from many that it is worth seeing but then again this was what I heard about that tactless film "Miracle On 34th Street".
This 30 minute animated film by "Doctor Zeus" showing how a little girl teaches the mean Grinch, that there is more to Christmas then toys and decorations; is a real Christmas classic which no child should ever miss.
Where I recommend this animated film I by no means do so the idiotic film version made in recent years with the same title by director Ron Howard (also known for his portrayal of the Happy Days character Ritchie Cunningham) staring Jim Carey.
TV shows have also contributed great stories for this time of year known as Christmas and it is with all my heart that I would like to recommend to those who should read this article, that this Christmas they turn on Youtube and watch the episode of the Twilight Zone; entitled "Night Of The Meek".
It is this story which I would say is my favorite as far as stories portraying the character who is also known as Saint Nick.
One of which contrary to the child in "Miracle On 34th Street" asks not for a house in the country but a job for his unemployed father.
To become the biggest gift giver of all.
As for a personal confession of mine, I must say that "It's A Wonderful Life" along with "The Night Of Meek" never fail to bring tears to my eyes.
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