Christmas movies

Cast: Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans, Kenneth More, Michael Medwin, Michael Medwin, Laurence Naismith, David Collings, Anton Rodgers, Suzanne Neve Director: Ronald Neame Synopsis: In 1860, the stingy and cranky Ebenezer Scrooge that hates Christmas; loathes people and defends the decrease of the surplus of poor population runs his bank exploiting his employee Bob Cratchit and clients, giving a bitter treatment to his own nephew and acquaintances. However, in the Christmas Eve, he is visited by the doomed ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley that tells him that three spirits would visit him that night. The first one, the spirit of past Christmas, recalls his miserable youth when he lost his only love due to his greed; the spirit of the present Christmas shows him the poor situation of Bob's family and how joyful life may be; and the spirit of future Christmas shows his fate. Scrooge finds that life is good and time is too short and suddenly you are not there anymore, changing his behavior toward Christmas, Bob, his nephew and people in general.

Cast: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Al Bain, Mary Wickes, John Brascia, Ann Whitfield, Leon Alton, Barrie Chase, Joe Ploski, Bess Flowers Director: Michael Curtiz Synopsis: After World War II, song and dance men Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, form a successful partnership eventually becoming top Broadway producers. Bob agrees to take in a nightclub act by the Haynes sisters, Betty and Judy, as a favor, so he thinks, for their brother who served with Bob and Phil in the war. Phil has always been trying to get Bob interested in a girl, usually one in the show but when he realizes that Bob is smitten with Betty, he arranges to accompany them to their show at a small Vermont Inn. Imagine their surprise when they learn that their old commanding officer, Major General Tom Waverley, is the owner. He's sunk his savings and his pension into the venture but it has yet to snow and it looks like he's on the verge of bankruptcy. They come up with a plan to help the General out but a series of misunderstandings leads to a rift between Bob and Betty leaving it Phil and Judy to try and get them back together.

Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel, Louise Beavers, Irving Bacon, Marek Windheim, James Bell, John Gallaudet, Shelby Bacon, Joan Arnold Director: Mark Sandrich Synopsis: Lovely Linda Mason has crooner Jim Hardy head over heels, but suave stepper Ted Hanover wants her for his new dance partner after femme fatale Lila Dixon gives him the brush. Jim's supper club, Holiday Inn, is the setting for the chase by Hanover and manager Danny Reed. The music's the thing.

Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Talbott, John Baer, Leo G. Carroll, Lea Penman, John Smith, Joe Ploski Director: Michael Curtiz Synopsis: Joseph (Humphrey Bogart), Albert (Aldo Ray), and Jules (Peter Ustinov) are three prisoners who have just escaped from Devil's Island prison. During their escape, they arrive at a small family store to steal clothes and some money that will allow them to flee the island by boat. While waiting for the right moment to embark, the fugitives convince the owner to repair the roof of his house so they can go unnoticed.

Cast: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Edie Adams, Jack Kruschen, Joan Shawlee, Hope Holiday, David Lewis, Naomi Stevens, Johnny Seven, Joyce Jameson, Willard Waterman, David White Director: Billy Wilder Synopsis: C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is an office clerk who curries favor with the executives in his office by giving them the key to his small apartment for the odd afternoon dalliance. Among them is his callous boss, J.D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), who Baxter eventually learns is using his place to sleep with Miss Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the sweet elevator operator the clerk has loved from afar. When Sheldrake coldly dumps the vulnerable young woman, she tries to commit suicide, but is saved by the intervention of Baxter.

Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart, Elissa Landi, Paul Fix, Jessie Ralph, Joseph Calleia, Alan Marshal, Ernie Alexander, Sam Levene, Penny Singleton, William Law, George Zucco, Teddy Hart, George Guhl, Ward Bond Director: W.S. Van Dyke Synopsis: Now back in San Francisco after their holiday in New York, Nick and Nora find themselves trying to solve another mystery. It's New Year's Eve and they are summoned to dinner at Nora's elderly, and very aristocratic, family. There they find that cousin Thelma's husband Charles has been missing for three days. Nick reluctantly agrees to look for him but the case takes a twist when Charles is shot and Thelma is accused of murder. Several other murders occur but eventually Nick gathers everyone into the same room to reveal the identity of the killer.

Cast: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Monty Woolley, James Gleason, Gladys Cooper, Elsa Lanchester, Sara Haden, Karolyn Grimes, Tito Vuolo, Regis Toomey, Sarah Edwards, Margaret McWade, Anne O'Neal, Ben Erway, Erville Alderson Director: Henry Koster Synopsis: The Christmas spirit seems to dominate everything, but it has no place in the home of Bishop Henry Brougham. In his struggle to raise funds to build a new cathedral, the young clergyman has neglected his loving wife Julia to such an extent that now only a miracle can save their marriage. But the powerful angel sent from heaven will not be content with giving Henry an immortal lesson in romance.

Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner, S.Z. Sakall, Robert Shayne, Una O'Connor, Frank Jenks Director: Peter Godfrey Synopsis: Journalist Elizabeth Lane is one of the country's most famous food writers. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. But this is all lies. In reality she is an umarried New Yorker who can't even boil an egg. The recipes come from her good friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor will spend his Christmas on *her* farm. Miss Lane knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, but what can she do?

Cast: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Paul Gleason, Reginald Veljohnson, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, De'voreaux White, Robert Davi, Grand L. Bush, Wilhelm von Homburg, James Shigeta Director: John McTiernan Synopsis: Tough New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) finds himself in a tight situation when an office building in Los Angeles is taken over by terrorists. Apart from himself, everyone else in the building - including his wife - is held at gunpoint while their captors spell out their demands. The F.B.I. are called in to survey the situation, but John McClane has other plans for the terrorists.

Cast: Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Peter Billingsley, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, Tedde Moore, Yano Anaya, Zack Ward, Jeff Gillen Director: Bob Clark Synopsis: The main story involves nine-year-old Ralphie, who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas -- and is waging an all-out campaign to convince his reluctant parents that the toy will be safe in his hands. Meanwhile, Ralphie prepares for the big day with his rather idiosyncratic family. For example, his brother has a strange relationship with food, and his dad is obsessed with a crossword puzzle contest. But the most important question of all is...when Christmas Day arrives, will Ralphie be the proud (and careful) owner of a Red Ryder BB Gun?