Films about the holiday season deck the halls perennially, but some years catch Christmas magic in a bottle.
Two in particular top the cinematic tree: 1947 and 2003.
He elaborates, That gets interesting because Christmastime can mean different things to different people.
Credit: Everett Collection (4)
It means love and togetherness and compassion, but it also means cynicism and despair and loneliness.
The blend of those two extremes is why he feelsIts a Wonderful Lifeis the perfect Christmas movie.
But it does not shy away from the darker aspects of the season, so it feels very honest.
Arnold also notes the film was particularly timely in its themes involving a national housing shortage.
Now, you have millions of soldiers coming back home, and everyone was sort of uprooted.
It was very topical at the time.
But he cites its realism as the real reason behind its magic.
You don’t see any magic.
You don’t see elves.
Theres also potent links betweenMiracleand some of the banner titles from its sister year, 2003.
Things get complicated when Dudley falls for Julia.
The project had a dysfunctional start with Grant and Niven originally cast in opposite roles.
Producer Samuel Goldwyn actually shut down production, hired a new director, and swapped the actors parts.
It realistically makes the audience believe that Cary Grant is an angel, which is important.
You don’t really know what’s going to happen, but it just emanates holiday spirit.
And it has a lot of warmth to it.
But why were both these years a breeding ground for holiday chestnuts?
Post-World War II was a time of families rebuilding.
This led to Hollywood starting to treat Christmastime as representing the family unit.
Just about every Christmas movie has to do with family dysfunction or reconciliation the family coming back together.
Could the ordeal of COVID-19 precipitate another banner year for cinematic Christmas cheer?
A lot of people cannot go home for the holidays this year, Arnold reflects.
Well, we do need a little Christmas.
To read more on holiday film favorites,order the December issueofEntertainment Weeklyor find it on newsstands now.
