Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' transcended book form and was adapted many times into films, made-for-TV movies and musicals (Photo by gutenberg.org)
MANILA, Philippines – Looking for a quiet yet memorable way to spend Christmas with the whole family? Why not avoid the busy Christmas crowd for a change and spend the day curled up in the living room watching a feel-good Christmas film?
With barely four weeks left before the big day, Bulletin Entertainment lists down seven of the most popular Hollywood Christmas flicks – from the classics to the newer ones – that will surely heighten the holiday nostalgia.
‘A Christmas Carol’ (1938/2009)
Directed by: Edwin L. Marin/Robert Zemeckis
“A Christmas Carol” was originally a novel by acclaimed author Charles Dickens published in 1843. It tells the story of a cold-hearted man named Ebenezer Scrooge who, due
to his power-greedy and hateful ways, was visited by the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come on Christmas eve in an attempt to make him change his attitude. After being shown scenes from his youth, other people’s daily lives and his own future, Scrooge literally changed overnight to become a kind person by Christmas morning.
The first talkie starred Reginald Owen as Scrooge, while the 2009 3D version’s lead was comic Jim Carey. More, the story has become so popular that the term “scrooge” is now an adjective for a mean person.
‘White Christmas’ (1954)
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
This movie-musical starred Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as American World War II veterans and buddies who decided to become a sing-and-dance act after leaving the army. The pair becomes a hit, performing at nightclubs and ultimately on Broadway. Later on they are joined by a sister act played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. When the foursome travels to Vermont for the Christmas holiday, they find out that the lodge they will be staying at belongs to the men’s former commanding officer and is now facing bankruptcy. The four performers help save the lodge, and in the end, Bob (Crosby) and Betty (Clooney) and Phil (Kaye) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) confess their love for one another.
All the songs featured in the film were penned by American composer Irving Berlin, including “White Christmas” and “It’s Cold Outside.”
‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)
Directed by: Bob Clark
The flick basically shows one boy’s (Peter Billingsley) quest to get his ultimate Christmas wish: a Red Ryder BB Gun. Everyone – from his mom, teacher and even Santa Claus himself – refused to give him this with the excuse that he would only “shoot [his] eye out.” In the end the boy’s father gifted him with the gun (from Santa, of course), which the boy called the best present he had ever and would ever receive.
‘Home Alone’ (1990)
Directed by: Chris Columbus
“Home Alone” was actor Macaulay Caulkin’s claim-to-fame. As the title suggests, Caulkin’s character, the young and mischievous Kevin McCallister, was left alone at home as his family heads to Paris for a vacation. Thinking that his wish for his family to disappear came true, Kevin was overjoyed. His happiness was short-lived, however, when burglars attempted to enter their house. With his parents realizing he was not among the brood they made their way back home, where Kevin was busy preventing the bad guys from breaking into the house, setting up a number of simple yet clever booby traps around it.
The movie was such a success that it spawned three sequels: “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992), “Home Alone 3” (1997) and “Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House” (2002). While the second installment still starred Caulkin, the last two flicks saw Alex Linz (3) and Mike Weinberg (4) take on the role of the playful lead.
‘The Grinch’ (2000)
Directed by: Ron Howard
“The Grinch” was also based on a book by Dr. Seuss published in 1957, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” And just like Ebenezer Scrooge, the Grinch (Jim Carey) was a cynical green creature that despised everything Christmas-related to the point that he would even destroy it – very much unlike all the residents of his city, Whoville. Towards the end of the film, the Grinch also changes drastically. He begins to love Christmas, with his heart growing “three times bigger.”
‘Elf’ (2003)
Directed by: Jon Favreau
“Elf” follows the story of Buddy (Will Ferrell), a human who grew up in North Pole believing that he was, well, an elf. When he started growing an alarming size (for an elf, that is), Buddy finally learns the truth. He then sets off for New York City to find his real father as his mother has already passed away. Given that he isn’t used to life in the human world, Buddy faces misadventure after misadventure before he finally becomes successful with his quest.
‘The Polar Express’ (2004)
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
“The Polar Express” was a motion-capture animated film based from Chris Van Allsburg’s book of the same title. Notable for Tom Hanks’ performance in six different roles, it tells the story of the Hero Boy in search of “the true spirit of Christmas.” He went onboard the magical train called The Polar Express that stopped outside his house on Christmas eve. The train was headed for the North Pole, and there were also other kids onboard wanting to meet Santa Claus.
Hanks played the Hero Boy, the boy’s father, the conductor, the hobo, the Scrooge and Santa Claus.
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