Holiday Movies I Can't Miss

I love Christmas movies, cartoons, specials. Can't get enough of them. And every year, even though I've seen the same things over and over again, I still crave the seasonal viewing of my beloved holiday favorites.

Here are my faves...

Of course, I adore "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," who doesn't? But one of my favorite, less shown, Rankin-Bass production is called "Nestor the Long-Earred Christmas Donkey." Nestor was born with abnormally long ears and was taunted by the other animals in the stable until he was banished. Through hardship and loss, Nestor triumphs and grows and is in the right place at the right time when a poor carpenter, Joseph, and his pregnant wife, Mary, need a donkey for her to ride to Bethlehem.



Most people will cite "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street" as their favorite movies, but my two favorites are a little more obscure.

First, there's "Christmas in Connecticut." Barbara Stanwyck stars as a Martha Stewart-ish magazine feature writer who talks about her farm in Connecticut and cooking. However, her being the perfect housewife is all a lie. Now, she must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning WWII hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas. I can't say enough how much I adore this movie.



And my other movie that I have to watch not just on Christmas, but seriously...any holiday. It's called "Holiday Inn" and it stars Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire and it's just a barrel of fun from beginning to end. Crosby and Astaire are performance partners who have always fallen for the same girl. Crosby's character decides to hang up his crooning and buy a farm in Connecticut. When it turns out to be boring, he decides to open it up every holiday for dinner, dancing, and music. Once again, they compete for the love of the same lady. You'll recognize the origin of such traditional Irving Berlin hits as "White Christmas," and "Easter Parade." If you've never seen this movie, it's a must.



So...what are you favorite holiday picks? What movie, special, or cartoon can you not go through the holidays not seeing?

Hugs,
Marley = )

CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, available this holiday as an ebook download!