Some say Christmas has become too commercial (well, Charlie Brown has been saying that since 1965). The Thanksgiving turkey is barely out the oven before we're bombarded with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and radio stations convert to 24-hour holiday music marathons. But that's ok by me -- even if we do get sidetracked from the true meaning of the season, whatever your belief, it's a time that hopefully we find ourselves coming together with friends and family. And for the movie and TV buff among us, we can check out those holiday moments from the big and small screen that strike a chord with us. With a happy 50th anniversary nod to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which airs tonight on CBS, my 10 favorite moments...
1. Ralphie Meets Santa
2. The Miser Brothers - They're Too Much!
From the Rankin-Bass catalog of stop animation, The Year Without A Santa Claus ages best, in no small part to the Heat Miser / Cold Miser brothers and their catchy song (which even was featured in the Batman and Robin film).
3. Peanuts Dance Party
Yes, the Charlie Brown Christmas features the heartfelt "meaning of Christmas" speech by Linus but do you anticipate any scene more than the Peanuts gang dancing to Schroeder's jazzy tune?
4. You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
How bad is the Grinch? His "theme" song tells it all, from Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (fun fact: it was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft who also voiced Kellogg's Tony the Tiger).
5. Bedford Falls Helps Out George Bailey
For the record, I'm impatient. So I get annoyed by how long it takes George Bailey to realize he is not dreaming or getting pranked by Clarence the angel-in-training in It's A Wonderful Life. Still, when the townsfolk come together and donate their hard-earned money to save George's bank, well, that IS the meaning of Christmas.
6. End Scene - Bad Santa & The Stuffed Elephant
Bad Santa is not for kids or even some adults. It is one raunchy, envelope-pushing black comedy. And just when you think the title character, played by Billy Bob Thornton, has no redeeming qualities, he surprises you in the final scene of the film.
7. Santa! I Know Him!
It's a scene from Elf that lasts but a few seconds, but when Will Ferrell expresses extreme jubilation once the department store announces Santa's arrival, it still works as the catalyst to one of the film's funniest moments.
8. Soldiers vs. Bogeymen
It may not officially be a holiday film, but the Laurel and Hardy Babes in Toyland-based March of the Wooden Soldiers features a climatic battle between the life-size soldiers and the evil bogeymen.
9. The Island of Misfit Toys
The classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is filled with many memorable moments and characters, including these playful oddities which eventually find their way inside Santa's sack of toys. Hey, what was wrong with the doll, by the way?
10. Tonto, Frankenstein and Tarzan
This 30-second Saturday Night Live skit featured Tonto, Tarzan and Frankenstein singing a barely recognizable Away In A Manger. This spot-on parody captured the holiday greetings from staff that played on our local station WPIX New York as well as many other local stations across the country.
Honorable Mention: The Yule Log
Speaking of WPIX in New York City, the channel's annual tradition, that began in the 1960s, was to broadcast this burning log against the soundtrack of popular holiday music. Like Grandma's fruitcake, it wasn't really the Christmas season without it (fun fact: it was originally filmed in Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor).
I'm sure there are others I would have liked to add (sorry, Frosty), but there you go. What's your favorite?
© 2014. Tom Quash
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