 | SOUNDTRACKING Musical Holiday Movies! Soundtracking is a weekly column featuring indie, alternative, and all around amazing music - published by music correspondent Laura Cushing on Gather.com. Soundtracking includes interviews, CD reviews, band and concert news, music trivia, playlists and much more!
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This week on Soundtracking: Musical Holiday Movies!
When I was growing up, one of my favorite things about the holiday season was all the Christmas specials on televison. Some of the animated classics had been around since long before I was born, and some new ones seemed to appear every year. When I had children of my own, I was pleased to see that many of these old classics were still around. There's also been a few modern movies that've come along since then to add to the holiday viewing list.
Here are some of my favorite holiday movies that feature great music:
1. White Christmas (1954):
My mom remembers when this movie first came out - the year she got married. We've seen it so many times now that my mom and I pretty much know the whole thing by heart - but we still watch it every year. My favorite part is the 'Sisters' musical number. When you watch the clip below, I'm sure you'll see why. This movie was the first filmed in Vista Vision, and features a lush musical score by Irving Berlin.
IMDB summary:
After leaving the Army after W.W.II, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Betty and Judy) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General.
Watch musical scenes from the movie:
- White Christmas
- Sisters
- The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing
- Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep
- Gee, I Wish I Was Back In the Army
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966):
This is the original version - the one that has the green animated Grinch and his poor little dog and all the Whoos in Whooville. I had the Dr. Seuss book when I was small, and I loved this movie from the very first time I saw it. What's not to love about a grumpy ol' Grinch getting in the Christmas spirit? The 2001 remake starring Jim Carrey was pretty good too, but I don't think it quite beats the classic.
Wikipedia summary:
The Grinch, a bitter, cave-dwelling creature with a heart "two sizes too small," lives on snowy Mount Crumpit, a steep, 10,000 foot high mountain just north of Whoville, home of the merry and warm-hearted Whos. His only companion is Max, his faithful but dim dog. From his perch high atop Mount Crumpit, the Grinch can hear the noisy Christmas festivities that take place in Whoville. (The Whos of this book may or may not be the minuscule Whos of Horton Hears a Who; In the Broadway musical Seussical, the Grinch's Whos and Horton's are one and the same, the Grinch being microscopic and living on the dust speck as well. In the live-action movie, Whoville is located in a snowflake.) Envious of the Whos' happiness, he makes plans to descend on the town and, by means of burglary, deprive them of their Christmas presents and decorations and thus "prevent Christmas from coming". However, he learns in the end that despite his success in stealing all the Christmas presents and decorations from the Whos, Christmas comes just the same. He then realizes that Christmas is more than just gifts and presents. His heart grows three sizes larger, he returns all the presents and trimmings, and is warmly welcomed into the community of the Whos.
Watch musical scenes from the movie:
3. The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974):
One of many Rankin-Bass stop animation classics of the era, this one featuring the infamous Heat and Snow Miser. When I rewatched these as an adult, I was surprised to discover a few things I had missed as a child - one, that these often involve very strange and convoluted plots and two that almost all of these contained a delightfully cracktastic mixture of pagan, secular, and religious iconography.
IMDB summary:
Mrs. Claus tells us about the time Santa had a bad cold and decided to take a vacation from Christmas. Two of his elves, Jingle Bells and Jangle Bells decided to go out (with Vixen) to find children to convince Santa that the Christmas spirit is still important to everybody else. But they have to get past Heat Miser and Snow Miser first, before they land in Southtown, USA, where it never snows for Christmas. But the Miser Brothers can't agree to let it snow in Southtown. But Mrs. Santa knows their mom--Mother Nature.
Watch musical scenes from the movie:
4. Eight Crazy Nights (2002):
A lot of people really don't like this movie - but there's something about the absurdity of it that reminds me of those ol' Rankin and Bass specials. Crude-but-entertaining humor, and a touching and irreverent story about a drunk guy with a criminal record who hates the holidays turning over a new leaf and finding love and happiness. The songs are pretty funny, and probably the best part of the film. The eight crazy nights of the title refers to Chanukah, and a line in the Chanukah song that appears in the movie.
IMDB summary:
Adam Sandler invites you to share some holiday cheer in the new, no-holds-barred musical comedy Adam Sandler's 8 Crazy Nights. Davey Stone, a 33-year old party animal, finds himself in trouble with the law after his wild ways go too far. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the judge gives Davey one last chance at redemption - spend the holiday performing community service as the assistant referee for the youth basketball league or go to jail. Davey thinks he's gotten off easy until he meets Whitey Duvall, the eccentric, elf-like head referee. The mismatch between Whitey's good heart and never-ending optimism and Davey's constant troublemaking soon have them both wondering if going to jail wouldn't have been easier! In this new, full-length animated feature about basketball, old girlfriends, holiday spirits, and the mall, Adam Sandler voices the three lead characters of Whitey, Davey, and Whitey's fraternal twin sister Eleanore!
Watch musical scenes from the movie:
5. A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004)
I love adaptations of A Christmas Carol. The book was written in 1843, and was first adapted as a silent film in 1908 by Thomas Edison. Since then, it has been produced for film, television, and theater many many times. This 2004 musical version was a television movie based on the 1994 stage musical. It was produced by Hallmark - and normally, I avoid everything produced by them like the tearjerking melodramatic trash it is - but they managed to do quite well with this one.
Wikipedia summary:
A Christmas Carol, also known as A Christmas Carol: The Musical, is a 2004 television movie adaptation of a 1994 stage musical of the same name, with songs written by Alan Menken (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics). The musical is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous 1843 novella of the same name, produced by Hallmark Entertainment for NBC. It was directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and features Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge, Jason Alexander as Jacob Marley, Jesse L. Martin as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Emily.
Musical Moments:
There are so many great Christmas classics that I could be listing these all week! Here's some other musical holiday moments on video to check out. They're from movies, television specials, etc. Some are good, and others are well... entertaining in a special way. Click each link to be taken to the video on YouTube.
- One Foot In Front of The Other
- Silver and Gold
- Holly Jolly Christmas
- Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
Shrek's 12 Days of Christmas- Christmas Traditions (Garfield)
- Goodness Makes the Badness Go Away (Smurfs)
- Star Wars Christmas Special - Leia Sings
- We Are Santa's Elves
- Ding Dong M'Kay (South Park)
- Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo (South Park)
In a previous article, Soundtracking asked 'What are some of your favorite Christmas musical movies'?
Here are some of your answers! White Christmas is a clear winner.
Charlie Brown Christmas,, I love it mainly because I love the peanuts, and mainly becuase my nephew was named after Linus, and when we were younger we both would sit down and watch it, those memories are so special to me.. -- Stephanie S.
My favorite Christmas Musical is the one with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye (White Christmas). --Cheryl R
I still like all of them but I am tired of them at this point in my life - We never had a musical that everyone would be willing to watch so I don't have a favorite or I am still waiting to discover it. -- Donna Hammett-Tooker
White Christmas. It's a well made classic! --Laura C
I love so many holiday movies, for musical one, I'd have to say White Christmas. I love the way they all came together to help out a former military officer/friend. Those were the days, when people were willing to lend a hand and be so giving. -- Rebekka S
My favorite movie is "It's a wonderful Life" -- Susan *
White Christmas. I just does something for my heart! Kind of naustalgic. --Beverly T
My favorite is White Christmas because it represents everything Christmas means to me- hope, love, belonging. --Sophie S.
White Christmas (love Rosemary Clooney) -- Debby C
I think it's called "The Land of Misfit Toys." It was a sequel to Rudolph. This little movie is wonderful, it shows children, and adults, that there is a place for everyone. -- Tara T
While I prefer to watch the half hour Christmas cartoon specials, memories of my childhood, my favorite Christmas movie would probably be "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart. This film was inspired by my hometown of Seneca Falls, New York, which is also the birthplace of the women's rights movement and home of the National Woman's Hall of Fame. Frances Ford Copalla visited the townand modeled much in the movie after Seneca Falls, right down to the name of the frictional town in the motion picture, Bedford Falls. Even the bridge in the movie is fashioned after a bridge in Seneca Falls which is located right outside the back door of the house I used to live in before I recently relocated to Rochester. The story behind the bridge in Seneca Falls...an American sailor of Italian decent jumped off the bridge into the icy waters of the Seneca-Cayuga Canal to save the life of a woman who had leaped off the bridge in an attempt to take her own life. While the woman was saved, the sailor lost his life in the rescue attempt. A plaque is on the bridge recognizing his heroism. Every Christmas, Seneca Falls holds an "It's A Wonderful Life" festival and 'turns' into Bedford Falls for a weekend including a visit by the actress who played Stewart's youngest daughter, ZuZu. She is the only member of the cast still alive. -- Rob Appell
White Christmas" and "Holiday Inn" are traditional favorites for me. -- Garden Witch,
The half-hour clay animation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Back in the days before DVD and even before VHS, it was such a special treat to see this on television every year. -- Angela B.
What is your favorite Christmas movie? Leave a comment and let us know!
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| Laura Cushing, Music Correspondent - Soundtracking | ||||
Laura's column, 'Soundtracking' is published every Saturday in Gather Essentials:Music. Soundtracking is your guide to indie and alternative music -- featuring musician interviews, CD reviews, MP3 mixes, and discussions. Laura Cushing is a 37 year old writer from the New Jersey Pines. In addition to music journalism, she writes fiction and poetry. Keep up with Laura's music series by joining her network, or subscribing to her content. | ||||
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Comments: 49
(But never underappreciate a good piece of tearjerking melodramatic trash -- haha!)
I like all the old shows Like Miracle on 57th st. Still can't name a favorite. They all were good.
My most favorite Christmas is How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
I have loved this special as a child and still, I am a huge fan!
10 4 u
Grinch was terrific, too.
Muppet's Christmas Carol is my favorite. The songs are awesome.
This is a wonderful page full of wonderful things. Thank you for for a brilliant array of fun songs.
I'm fond of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. Particularly the sequence where the undertaker, laundress and pawn shop owner do the song about how incredibly evil they are.
Paul Williams' work on The Muppet's Christmas Carol is an enternal favorite in my family.
WARNING: NOT FOR KIDS - LANGUAGE & PARTIAL NUDITY.
The music is awesome!
Thanks for the invite
Karl, thanks for mentioning "Polar Express". It was shown on TV just a few nights ago and (for once) I saw it in it's entirety. And my heart stopped beating, too, when Dad said, "Hmmm, it must be broken". As I recall, this film didn't do too well in the box office. But I'll add it to my holiday favorites list. Right behind Holiday Inn, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, and It's a Wonderful Life.
Favorite holiday movie scene and song? Bing singing to Rosemary over a cold sandwich and a glass of milk "Count Your Blessings". Bar none. (But "Sisters" is unforgettable!)
Jose
Review Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Songs
with Bing Crosby (I think). I remember the setting too! Thanks
for the memories Jan! Besides this movie 'White Christmas' and
'Miracle of 34th Street' are my favorites. Merry Christmas and A
Happy New Year to y'all.
having problems doing so. As I was watching this videos clip I
started remembering the first time I saw this. My Momma, Dad
and all my siblings were there in our parlor watching this movie
on our 6 inch TV!! Of course seeing this again after many years
brought tears of joy to mine eyes. Thank you so much Laura!!
Check out my semi-finalist chapter in the Borders/Court TV Search for the Next Great Crime Novelist competition. THE HARD BOUNCE – CHAPTER 2
Non-musicals? The Nativity Story, anyone? I(t's a Wonderful Life isn't a Christmas movie, it's just set in that season.) What about "A Charlie Brown Christmas"? And the Patrick Stewart "A Christmas Carol".
Best of all, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The TV special, not the (ugh!) movie. "And he, the Grinch himself, carved the roast beast!" *sigh*
Now I’m dropping by to see ya
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