I admit it, I’m a sucker for “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s the first movie I set up to tape as soon as the holiday season arrives, and the only one I’ll watch more than once. I do indulge in “Rudolph” and “Frosty” (the original Animatronic versions), but they’re not on my have-to-see list like the original Frank Capra version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

I’m not sure why that movie is on my must-see list. There are plenty of other movies I love, plenty of others that scream Christmas, but this one…

It just seems to grab me in a way none of the others do. Maybe it’s Zuzu’s petals. Maybe it’s the way the whole town comes together at the end, and how it just grabs my heart. Maybe it’s the simple love story between George and Mary, the kind of elemental romance that every romance in the world must be based upon.

Or maybe it’s the lessons in the movie. The basic good versus evil, home is where your heart is, and finding gratitude and happiness in what you have and where you are, rather than always looking for the greener grass elsewhere. Not to mention the message about coming together to support the ones you love. One of my all-time favorite scenes is the one when Officer Bert and cab driver Ernie create a honeymoon “retreat” in the abandoned house (which looks an awful lot like the first house my husband and I bought, LOL), and do their best to bring poor, hard-working George a night to remember with his beautiful bride—after the bridal couple had to abandon their original honeymoon plans. Those are true friends, and that town is the kind we all wish we could live in, isn’t it?

So this Christmas season, I’ll be cozying up with a glass of wine, a thick blanket and my daughter (who also loves this movie) to watch George and Mary fall in love all over again, and to see Bedford Falls come together for one of their own. Once again, we’ll count our blessings, and our gratitude for the special people in our lives.

After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about, after all?

Tell me, what’s your favorite, can’t miss holiday movie?

Shirley

5 Comments:

 Melissa McClone said...

I really like Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire!

December 17, 2008 at 7:55 AM  

 Shirley said...

Melissa,

I can't remember if I've seen that one -- I'll have to DVR it. I saw that Rudolph, etc., are all out on DVD this year. I think I'll pick them up for the kids' stockings :-)

Shirley

December 17, 2008 at 11:39 AM  

 Brandy said...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Holiday Inn and A Christmas Carol, The Grinh (the original cartoon) are my favorite holiday movies. *G*

December 17, 2008 at 12:43 PM  

 EllenToo said...

I'm not a movie watcher but I do like Rudolph and Charlie Brown's Christmas movies. Obviously I never grew up.

December 17, 2008 at 10:20 PM  

 Myrna Mackenzie said...

Shirley, It's a Wonderful Life gets me every time, too. When George gets so upset with Mary and then ends up kissing her--and saying her name over and over again, I just melt. And Clarence? What a sweetie!

Melissa, wasn't Holiday Inn the one where Bing Crosby introduced White Christmas?

I still have a soft spot for A Christmas Carol (in all its many incarnations) and a surprising fondness for an old Barbra Stanwyk movie Christmas in Connecticut and its cute if improbable plot.

December 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM  

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