tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post4414320820327761760..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: The Holiday Season Is Upon Us!AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-24952651254488947512012-11-27T14:28:10.965-05:002012-11-27T14:28:10.965-05:00I'm way late, but I have to agree with Charlie...I'm way late, but I have to agree with Charlie Brown"s Thanksgiving (popcorn!!) - but Peanuts' Christmas is my fave "special" with the animated, non-Jim Carrey version of Grinch coming in a close second. Thirs is the original!! Miracle on 34th Street. <br /><br />I also have to admit that I kinda like some of the Hallmark movies. The Hallmark commercials make me cry at Christmas, so I try and avoid those, but some of the treacly movies are fun, sweet, easy...<br /><br />Die Hard!!!!<br />Since a main character's name is Christmas, does that make Expendables a Christmas movie?? :)rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-87469657321166612582012-11-25T11:10:11.122-05:002012-11-25T11:10:11.122-05:00I'm going with The Lemon Drop Kid as one of my...I'm going with The Lemon Drop Kid as one of my all time Christmas favorites. <br /><br />You also can't go wrong with The Duke and John Ford in The Three GodfathersFloyd R. Turbohttp://www.threedonia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-40546454291902219002012-11-24T22:26:16.366-05:002012-11-24T22:26:16.366-05:00Saw Rise of The Guardians with my oldest. Strictl...Saw Rise of The Guardians with my oldest. Strictly by the numbers and feels soulless but harmless and reasonably entertaining. Santa in this film is wrapped in tattoos and wields two swords, so he's not your father's Santa.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25070155572700820482012-11-22T18:10:26.112-05:002012-11-22T18:10:26.112-05:00A Charlie Brown Christmas
Christmas With The Krank...A Charlie Brown Christmas<br />Christmas With The Kranks....<br />Scrooged!Critchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07106908233705403513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86956881699890469862012-11-22T13:00:26.682-05:002012-11-22T13:00:26.682-05:00Thanks Backthrow! Happy Thanksgiving!
Here are y...Thanks Backthrow! Happy Thanksgiving!<br /><br />Here are your links: <a href="http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">WKRP</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOBqGEfhHKw" rel="nofollow">Animated Classics</a>AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49024150592409742582012-11-22T12:29:32.201-05:002012-11-22T12:29:32.201-05:00Here's an interesting and informative recent i...Here's an interesting and informative recent interview with WKRP IN CINCINNATI creator Hugh Wilson, and several other key people involved in the sitcom, about the 'Turkeys Away' episode:<br /><br />http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/<br /><br />Also, a classic animated goodie to help further celebrate the day:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOBqGEfhHKw<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!Backthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-42793837710229213882012-11-22T12:02:54.400-05:002012-11-22T12:02:54.400-05:00Dave, That moment, where Les is talking about how ...Dave, That moment, where Les is talking about how he thought turkeys could fly is one of the classic moments in sitcom fame. Everyone who watched that episode was still talking about it decades later!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-91047496379019134382012-11-22T12:02:05.847-05:002012-11-22T12:02:05.847-05:00tryanmax, I don't think I've seen Mayflowe...tryanmax, I don't think I've seen <i>Mayflower</i>?<br /><br />Backthrow, Thanks for the additional information! That could make it hard to find.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67893056513081154522012-11-22T00:14:11.465-05:002012-11-22T00:14:11.465-05:00When I want to get a laugh I say that my favorite ...When I want to get a laugh I say that my favorite Christmas movie is "Die Hard". It really is one of my faves, but just in the general category. My top three Christmas movies are no surprise. In no particular order: A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and It's a Wonderful Life. All have wonderful messages and are endlessly entertaining. <br /><br />There really aren't that many Thanksgiving movies, except for John Hughes' masterpiece "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", so I will mention my all time favorite Thanksgiving TV episode, other than the infamous Turkey Drop from "WKRP in Cincinnati": The show was "Quantum Leap", the first episode of the third season, "The Leap Home Part 1". Imagine being able to relive your all-time favorite thanksgiving dinner, before life really kicked you in the nuts. Now I have no real tragedy or grief in my life; my parents and only sister are still alive and today we celebrated my grandmother's 99th birthday. But this episode makes me weep every time, it's that good. Dave Olsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49918043708888358192012-11-21T23:47:54.523-05:002012-11-21T23:47:54.523-05:00T-Rav, Same here, they're too sickly sentiment...T-Rav, Same here, they're too sickly sentimental. They basically drip syrup from the get go and they feel fake throughout.<br /><br />Hollywood is surprisingly bad at making genuinely good holiday films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-32035591669021513702012-11-21T23:37:46.337-05:002012-11-21T23:37:46.337-05:00I love The Muppet Christmas Carol. Thankfully, the...I love <i>The Muppet Christmas Carol</i>. Thankfully, the whole movie is up on YouTube, so I can just go on and watch it once I'm in the Christmas spirit. I also like the '90s version of <i>Miracle on 34th Street</i>. <br /><br />What I do not like--practically any of the holiday movies you find on Hallmark; which is to say, all of the programming on Hallmark. That's an example of what can happen when you stack everything on one genre.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-5352834062850832252012-11-21T17:42:14.215-05:002012-11-21T17:42:14.215-05:00http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsSFDeAqkk
This i...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsSFDeAqkk<br /><br />This is a 1950's special I used to enjoy in the 1950's. It is all done with marionettes and covers the poem "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Nativity." It has been made available in DVD and looks rather dated, but it takes me back to a happier time in America.<br />.<br />Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47315381895033399812012-11-21T16:53:11.408-05:002012-11-21T16:53:11.408-05:00Andrew,
THE CHEATERS (1945) is very hard-to-find,...Andrew,<br /><br />THE CHEATERS (1945) is very hard-to-find, as it wasn't released on home video and isn't currently on Netflix streaming. Turner Classic Movies aired it a couple of Decembers ago, but I don't think they're running it this year. <br /><br />However, somebody thoughtfully posted it in full on YouTube:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cfEi2kzShw<br /><br />Fortunately, REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940) is easier to see now than it was just a few years ago. It's on DVD (albeit as an exclusive 'TCM Vault' release, so only a couple of online retailers officially carry it), and TCM runs it every December... looks like they're playing it in primetime (EST) this year, on Dec 12th, in fact. They're airing IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947), too, on the night of December 23rd.<br /><br />Also, TCM is running BEWARE, MY LOVELY (1952) this Monday, November 26, at Noon (EST), if anyone wants to see Ida Lupino threatened by a psychotic Robert Ryan at Christmastime, in a Hitchcock-esque suspense film. It was directed by Harry Horner, who was better known as a Production Designer on films like A DOUBLE LIFE, BORN YESTERDAY ('50), THE HUSTLER, AUDREY ROSE and the 1980 version of THE JAZZ SINGER.Backthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-70868391138124600932012-11-21T16:38:00.239-05:002012-11-21T16:38:00.239-05:00How could I forget Mouse on the Mayflower? It'...How could I forget <i>Mouse on the Mayflower</i>? It's one of the few Rankin/Bass productions done in cell animation (traditional) rather than stop-motion. I haven't seen it in years, myself. I recall it as being better than <i>Cricket on the Hearth</i> but not as good as <i>'Twas the Night Before Christmas</i>.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63870255781560743052012-11-21T15:46:33.918-05:002012-11-21T15:46:33.918-05:00Indi, Those are always great specials as well. I ...Indi, Those are always great specials as well. I like all the claymation stuff.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-10955758067690590112012-11-21T15:45:23.565-05:002012-11-21T15:45:23.565-05:00Backthrow, Excellent list as usual! You are encyc...Backthrow, Excellent list as usual! You are encyclopedia of films! :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-42700826899030827132012-11-21T15:44:05.305-05:002012-11-21T15:44:05.305-05:00Scott, You don't celebrate Thanksgiving? I ca...Scott, You don't celebrate Thanksgiving? I can't imagine why not?! ;)<br /><br />Those are all good movies. A Christmas season isn't a Christmas season without <i>Christmas Vacation</i>!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-48086382327937624302012-11-21T15:42:05.231-05:002012-11-21T15:42:05.231-05:00Kenn, The Muppets do indeed do one of the best int...Kenn, The Muppets do indeed do one of the best interpretations of <i>A Christmas Carol</i>!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-74763279492330722532012-11-21T15:41:21.888-05:002012-11-21T15:41:21.888-05:00T-Rav, That's the official Commentarama Santa ...T-Rav, That's the official Commentarama Santa Hat.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53566849656411105212012-11-21T15:40:44.651-05:002012-11-21T15:40:44.651-05:00Mo, LOL! We usually drive around town one night i...Mo, LOL! We usually drive around town one night in December and check out the Christmas decorations.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63637663293174543202012-11-21T15:39:28.625-05:002012-11-21T15:39:28.625-05:00tryanmax, There's always room for Charlie Brow...tryanmax, There's always room for Charlie Brown at the holidays!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-42331556223433373442012-11-21T15:38:19.691-05:002012-11-21T15:38:19.691-05:00Nick, Thanks! I've never heard of a couple of...Nick, Thanks! I've never heard of a couple of those and I'll have to look into them. There is a shortage of good holiday films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-4511577234158184472012-11-21T14:38:04.091-05:002012-11-21T14:38:04.091-05:00I like Scrooged with Bill Murray - don't know ...I like Scrooged with Bill Murray - don't know why just do....<br /><br />And I like all the stop motion puppet mvoies with Rudolph and Santa and Frosty.<br /><br />Oddly enough the Berkely Campus had a strange response. Their favorite Christmas move was the Invention of Lying which I found boring as actaul 13th century history.Individualisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005025873042230314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-88100780029928944792012-11-21T14:25:45.220-05:002012-11-21T14:25:45.220-05:00Augghh... that's 'ON HER *MAJESTY'S* S...Augghh... that's 'ON HER *MAJESTY'S* SECRET SERVICE'... I hate stupid typos.Backthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-37769141529735769542012-11-21T14:22:30.540-05:002012-11-21T14:22:30.540-05:00Props to Nick, especially for mentioning REMEMBER ...Props to Nick, especially for mentioning REMEMBER THE NIGHT and THE CHEATERS.<br /><br />PLANES, TRAIN AND AUTOMOBILES ('87) is easily my favorite Thanksgiving-themed film, but I also honor the day by recreating WOR New York Channel 9's old Thanksgiving line-up of KING KONG ('33), SON OF KONG and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG ('49). Oh, and I also play the ludicrous giant-bird-from-space movie, THE GIANT CLAW ('57), the biggest 'turkey' of all, lol.<br /><br />As usual, I have no single, all-time favorite Christmas film, but the 'big four' are IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE ('47), MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET ('47), A CHRISTMAS STORY and SCROOGE/A CHRISTMAS CAROL ('51, Alastair Sim). <br /><br />My personal Christmas tradition is to run the classic black & white Popeye cartoon, 'SEASIN'S GREETINKS' ('33), followed by the Sim SCROOGE, then the Christmas episode, "Too Many Christmas Trees" ('65, which has a Dickens backdrop and features SCROOGE alumni Mervyn Johns and Patrick MacNee), of the British tv show THE AVENGERS, and finally the James Bond classic ON HER MAGESTY'S SECRET SERVICE ('69, which has Christmas/New Year's at its center, and THE AVENGERS' Diana Rigg).<br /><br />Other Christmas faves:<br /><br />HELL'S HEROES ('30)<br />THREE GODFATHERS ('36 and '48, the former is superior)<br />A HOLIDAY AFFAIR ('49)<br />MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS ('34)<br />THE BISHOP's WIFE ('48)<br />BEWARE MY LOVELY ('52, Xmas noir)<br />THE LADY IN THE LAKE ('46, ditto)<br />CASH ON DEMAND ('62, ditto)<br />BLACK CHRISTMAS ('74)<br />LETHAL WEAPON ('87)<br />DIE HARD ('88)<br />THE WOOL CAP ('04)<br />NIGHT OF THE HUNTER ('55, ends at Xmas)<br />THE PRESIDENT'S ANALYST ('67, ditto)Backthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.com