Classic Christmas family films
Few things make us feel more festive than curling up on the sofa to watch a classic Christmas films.
From timeless favourites like A Christmas Carol to romantic classics like It’s A Wonderful Life, here’s our pick of 5 of the best classic Christmas films of all time.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s A Wonderful Life is one of the most enduring and iconic Christmas films ever made. James Stewart will forever be remembered as George Bailey, a family man who sees life in a whole new way after wishing he was never born. Part comedy, part drama, it’s as entertaining as it is heart-warming. Though we’ve all seen this film before, there are few better movies to help us get into the festive spirit.
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn captures all the magic of old Hollywood and all the glamour of Broadway in one film. Starring greats Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, the film follows the story of a musical troupe caught in a love triangle; after leaving the troupe behind and moving to the country, Jim (Bing Crosby) opens the Holiday Inn, a small hotel that features holiday themed dinner shows. While the film covers a whole range of holidays, it’s best remembered for its music, and particularly, the now iconic song that helped it win an Oscar – White Christmas.
White Christmas
Inspired by the success of Holiday Inn, White Christmas builds on the same themes but tells the story in a new way – this time in technicolour. White Christmas has all the elements of a festive classic; snow, romance and plenty of song and dance. The film was a huge hit at the box office, and is still regularly shown on TV more than 60 years later.
Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street is a festive favourite with adults and children alike. The original 1947 version stars Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, who must prove he is Santa Clause and help a young girl (Natalie Wood) rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. The film was so popular it inspired a remake nearly 50 years later; the 1994-version stars Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson.
Scrooge
Brian Desmond Hurst’s 1951 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a true festive classic; the story follows Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley, who urges Scrooge to see the error of his ways, lest he be doomed to walk the earth in chains. Thereafter he’s visited by the spirits of Christmases past, present and future, who help him finally see the truth. Though A Christmas Carol has been made for the big screen several times – the most recent in 2009 starring Jim Carrey – no one has played the mean-spirited Scrooge better than Alastair Sim, whose performance inspires both laughter and tears.
What are your favourite classic Christmas movies? Let us know in the comments below!
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
Latest posts by Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor (see all)
- Spring Cleaning Playlist - February 28, 2021
- Spring Cleaning Tips - February 28, 2021
- Silversurfers Book Club Spring 2021 - February 25, 2021
- Elizabeth Taylor’s most memorable movie roles - February 25, 2021
- Asparagus, sweet potato and tomato shakshouka - February 23, 2021
Next up...
Leave a Comment!
Log in to comment
You need to be logged in to interact with Silversurfers. Please use the button below if you already have an account.
LoginNot a member?
You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!
JoinCommunity Terms & Conditions
Content standards
These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.
You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.
Contributions must:
be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.
Contributions must not:
contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.
Nurturing a safe environment
Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.
We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
"I absolutely adore you" -
"Shut up and deal".
Hope all of you at Silversurfers have a very happy Christmas