Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas movies

Everyone has a favorite, and ours is the musical "Scrooge" with Albert Finney playing Ebenezer. He made this movie in 1970 when he was a handsome young guy of 34, and part of the fun is watching a fine actor transform himself into the despicable old Scrooge. The movie dialog follows the Dickens's story, the dancing is wonderful, and the songs impossible to get out of your head once you know them. One of the best songs is called "Thank You Very Much." Scrooge is dead, the folks who hated him in life are gleefully hauling off his coffin, and Scrooge doesn't realize everyone can't see him. Here's a youtube video clip of this song from the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiNMz_745vQ

And then...the sad song called "Happiness," with a pretty flashback to Scrooge's youth (and a good-looking young Finney making you weak in the knees.) Here is the life he gave up to chase money. It always makes me cry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k5wsEHVy-4

What do you look forward to watching on a dark December night? I see there's a new animated "Christmas Carol" in the theaters starring Jim Carrey, but maybe we'll save that to watch with Nova on DVD someday. For old classics it's hard to beat Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby in "White Christmas," or "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. Enjoy!

2 comments:

  1. Here is a selection of three:
    It's a Wonderful Life
    Miracle on 34th Street - the original of course.
    Those two are standards and perhaps a bit syrupy. As a third I like We're No Angels with Bogart, Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Leo G. Carroll, Basil Rathbone and others. Funny, funny movie. The remake, if one could call it that, is dreadful.

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  2. Nice movies to watch on your warm Mexican veranda with Margarita in hand...

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