Christmas in July: Day Fourteen - Movies

'Tis the Season! Today marks the beginning of Christmas in July movies on Hallmark Channel.

As with everything else Christmas, I love Christmas movies. I especially like the movies on Hallmark Channel because they are easy for me to stitch to. I record them all and then when I'm working on Christmas stitching I start one and stitch away. This provides me with almost two hours of stitching time and movies that are easy to listen to as well as watch.

The current run of Christmas in July movies is scheduled for July 14-23, 2017. Then the Countdown to Christmas movies will begin on the Hallmark Channel on October 27, 2017. There will also be Christmas movies on the Hallmark Mysteries and Movies channel, but since I don't receive that channel I'm not sure what the information is.

I own lots of Christmas DVDs also. Of course I love "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street". I also enjoy "Prancer", "One Magic Christmas", and "Family Stone". Come to think of it I really like "Christmas With the Kranks" and "The Family Man". One of my favorite Christmas movies isn't really a Christmas movie at all - "Meet Me in St. Louis". This movie has a terrific Christmas scene and gave us one of my favorite Christmas songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" sung by Judy Garland.

So there you have it. I will be planted in front of my TV for the next week or so overdosing on Christmas movies and stitching Christmas stockings!

December Third - The Movies

I love Christmas movies. In fact I have so many favorites, that I can't narrow it down to an all-time favorite! Of course I like the classics: It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, A Christmas Carol, Meet Me in St Louis (I know it's not really a Christmas movie, but that's where I categorize it). And then there's Prancer, One Magic Christmas, The Preacher's Wife, The Family Stone, The Family Man. And who can forget Love the Coopers, Home Alone, The Holiday, The Christmas Story. Plus all of the Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel... {{sigh}}

So... what's your all-time favorite Christmas movie?

The (almost) Twelve Days of Christmas: C H R I S T Movie

I love holiday movies! I can watch them over and over, no matter what time of year it is. It's really hard for me to narrow it down to my favorites, because the reality is that they are all my favorites. But if I had to choose, here are my five top favorite holiday movies in no particular order. I practically have the dialogue memorized on all of these!

Made for TV Movie: The Gathering

I'm not sure if I'm suffering from baby anticipation (new grandson arriving soon) and projecting it as Christmas anticipation, or if I'm really in the throes of Christmas Fever. But I am really in the holiday spirit! I recently watched "The Gathering". It was a made for TV movie from back in the day when such movies were all the rage. I saw it when it was originally aired and finally bought the DVD a year or so ago.

If you can get past the corny dialogue, the out dated decor and dress, and the dreary snow scenes, it's a good movie. Not great, but good. I really like it because it's about redemption of family relationships. I won't give the ending away, but it's worth a look. You will see a lot of familiar faces in the cast, some of whom are no longer with us.

Movies: Miracle on 34th Street

  

 I had an overwhelming desire to watch a Christmas DVD yesterday, so I chose "Miracle on 34th Street". It is one of my all time favorites for many reasons. Chief among them: Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood. Both of them were talented actresses. One with a long and noteworthy career, the other one with a career cut short by tragedy. Beyond the two of them though, is the story. As the movie ages, I love the vintage sets, costumes, and culture. It's set in a simpler time than our lives today, yet the age old complaint of the busy-ness of life and the commercialization of Christmas was as timely then as it is today. I own the b/w version and although I've seen the colorized version, I don't care for it. 

I'm in the Christmas Spirit for some reason early this year (I think it's because we'll have a new grandson to celebrate with!) and an afternoon of "Miracle on 34th Street" was perfect for me!

Christmas in July: Movies

Ahhh, Christmas movies. I love them. Well, I love some of them. I've compiled a list of some of the favorite Christmas movies in our family. Some of them may not seem like they would fit in this category, but to us they do. It's hard for me to choose a favorite Christmas movie. My top five favorites are: Meet Me in St Louis, The Family Stone, The Preacher's Wife, Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, The Family Man, The Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim, Patrick Stewart, George C. Scott), The Holiday, One Magic Christmas... oh wait, that's more than five. You see?! It's hard to chose!

Some of you may wonder why we include Meet Me in St Louis, Die Hard, and Donovan's Reef in the Christmas movie category. Well, I'll tell you why. I don't really know why. I've always thought of MMinSL as a Christmas movie, even thought the only Christmas-y thing about it is more than halfway through the plot. As for Die Hard, duh... it takes place at Christmas and there's Christmas music playing! haha Donovan's Reef is a John Wayne movie that my husband has always told me is the only Christmas movie the Duke ever made. I personally don't like the movie, but I will admit it takes place around the Christmas season.

The movies shown here are not in any particular order. They are movies that we watch every single year. Ok, I'll be honest, they're movies I watch all throughout the year and sometimes twice at Christmas! Since this is Christmas in July, you can be sure that I'll be watching them throughout this month!

As always, I'd like to hear about your favorite Christmas movies. Please share!