Tuesday, December 29, 2015

New Year Wishes, Gang!


Yep, your authors here at the CM blog wish you the best in the new year! And if you have a bit of bubbly, like Anne & John, make sure you have Jeeves drive you home.

Monday, December 21, 2015

A Very Merry Christmas to All


This video will get you in the Christmas spirit.  Yes, it will.  Merry Christmas!
Mog's Christmas

Thursday, December 17, 2015

What is Your Favorite Christmas Movie?

From guest blogger Debbie:

I’ve been pondering this question and I’m not sure I have an answer to it.  There are so many that top my list and each has its charm.

I love “A Christmas Story” 1983.  I’m a boomer, but not quite as old as the kids in this film would be now.  However I do still remember the lovely simplicity of this time.  The war was over, and kids didn’t worry about what was going on in the world.  The world was a much larger place.  American kids could spend their holidays worrying about what Santa would or wouldn’t bring.


I love all the versions of A Christmas Carol.   I guess my three favorites are the Alastair Sim version from 1951, the George C. Scott version from 1984 (the most dramatic with a Tiny Tim who was tiny and did look sick) and the Albert Finney musical version “Scrooge” from 1970 with a score by Leslie Bricusse (you just can’t beat a holiday musical).




And speaking of the holiday musical, what can beat Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosie Clooney and Vera-Ellen in “White Christmas” 1954.   The cast is great, the songs and dancing terrific and the whole thing in glorious Technicolor!   I love “Holiday Inn” 1942 as well, but it lacks the color.  I am a black and white movie fan, but not musicals.   Musicals should be in color and probably the most beautiful is “Meet Me In St. Louis”  1944.   Vincent Minelli’s vision of turn of the century America is glorious.  It also contains my favorite Christmas song, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”.




Of course I could hardly leave out “It’s A Wonderful Life” 1946.   Frank Capra and James Stewart made a great combination.


 I guess I’ll have to think about this some more.  In the mean time I will be watching all of these wonderful holiday films.  Let us know your favorites!

Saturday, December 05, 2015

Christmas Movies That Aren't Christmas Movies

From guest blogger Debbie:

Tis the season for Christmas films.  We all have our long list of favorite Christmas movies.  “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “White Christmas”, “Holiday Inn”, “ A Christmas Story”, “ A Christmas Carol” more than likely top every classic movie lover’s list.  But what about all those films that aren’t really about Christmas, but that Christmas plays a part in the story.  Here is a short list of some of my favorites…..

“The Thin Man”  1934   - William Powell & Myrna Loy

Nick and Nora’s Christmas party with Nora in that fabulous “candy cane” dress.  Christmas day with Nick shooting balloons off their tree.  Such fun!

“Lady In The Lake” 1947   -  Robert Montgomery and Audrey Trotter

The opening credits alone make you think you’re going to be watching a holiday film, not a murder mystery.

“ Since You Went Away” 1944 – Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotton, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple & Monty Woolley

 This wonderful wartime drama ends with Christmas and the hope that it brings.

 “Desk Set” 1957  -  Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

Office intrigue and fun surrounding the installation of a computer in a broadcasting reference department.  The film concludes at Christmastime.

“The Apartment” 1960 -  Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine & Fred MacMurray

This wonderful  film also ends at Christmas and New Years.

 So........if you run out of the usual films to watch this time of year, check out these.  Each one is a treasure.