Paul Sassone

Even traditions must be observed in a traditional manner.

Thus, in our house, once Thanksgiving is over, we immediately begin our traditional celebration of Christmas.

And that means we start watching Christmas movies. We kick off (traditionally) on Thanksgiving night by watching “Miracle on 34th Street.” This is a warm and amiable transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

“Miracle on 34th Street begins on Thanksgiving  at Macy’s parade and segues into a story about Santa Claus and Christmas.

In recent years, though, this tradition has sparked a minor controversy. I am fond of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” with Steve Martin and John Candy as two business travelers having one devil of a time trying to get back home to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving.

My wife thinks the movie is just OK and doesn’t want to launch the Christmas season by watching it on Thanksgiving. She wants to stick with the traditional tradition. We have solved the problem by a treaty whereby we can watch “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” any night except Thanksgiving night.

Ah, peace on earth.

That controversy aside, we are pretty much in agreement on the movies we will watch between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The list is pretty traditional. Your list and ours probably contain many of the same movies.

Of course, we watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  Who doesn’t?

And we watch three versions of “A Christmas Carol.”  The two older films with Reginald Owen and Alastair Sim as Scrooge are very enjoyable. They are the versions we all grew up watching on Family Classics.

But for my money the best “Christmas Carol” is that with George C. Scott giving a powerhouse performance as Scrooge. He is surrounded by a cast of wonderful English actors. Scott is frigidly formidable as a miser and deeply moving as a reformed and repentant  man.

What else do we watch? Let’s see.

“A Christmas Story.”

“Christmas Vacation.”

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”

“The Bishop’s Wife.”

“Going My Way.”

“We’re No Angels.” Yes, there actually is a Christmas movie starring Humphrey Bogart.

“3 Godfathers.” Yes, there actually is a Christmas movie starring John Wayne.

“Christmas in Connecticut.” Be sure to watch the Barbara Stanwyck version not the remake.

“Holiday Inn.”

“White Christmas.” My wife likes this one. I don’t. But in the holiday spirit of compromise and peace on earth we watch this one every year.

“Trading Places.” Is this a Christmas movie? Part of it takes place at Christmas. And the movie is very, very funny. So, it’s  a traditional Christmas movie around here.

“A House Without a Christmas Tree.”

“Prancer.”

“Elf,” if for no other reason than Bob Newhart as an elf and James Caan not shooting anyone.

I hesitate to add this one. But I am going to include the masterpiece, “Night of the Hunter.” While often violent and scary, this great film ends on Christmas morning with a deeply moving scene affirming love for and caring of children.

What am I leaving out?

There are some TV show we watch again and again.

There is the Honeymooners Christmas show, the Simpson’s Christmas shows. And there are two Sherlock Holmes shows that are Christmas themed — “The Blue
Carbuncle” and ‘The Cardboard Box.”

Are there Christmas movies or TV shows I’m leaving out?

Let me know by sending an email to editor@chronicleillinois.com

I’m always ready to expand on traditions.

Happy viewing.

–Christmas is a good time to watch holiday-themed films–