Ever since I researched 1940s Hollywood for Stars in the Night, I’ve been a bigger fan than ever of classic movies. Growing up, my favorite movies were from the 30s and 40s…that hasn’t changed. There’s something I love about the simplicity of that time that shines through in movies that make me laugh and feel. So today I thought I’d share a few of my favorites and writing lessons from each.
White Christmas: I adore this relatively simple story set during the post WWII years. I love the theme of honoring those we admire…even at great cost to ourselves. The ending scene with the general makes me tear up every time. And hearing Bing Crosby croon White Christmas? And Danny Kaye is the perfect comedic foil. Sing with me “Sisters, Sisters….” Perfection! My family adores this movie.
- The writing tip? Slapstick comedy of Danny Kaye paired with a story of making assumptions about intent, this story makes you feel. And that’s what readers want: an emotional experience. What can you do to add emotional layers to your story.
Holiday Inn: This is more than a Christmas movie because it features 13 Irving Berlin songs that are set around the holidays. Fred Astaire’s fire cracker dance has always been a favorite of mine, but I love the theme of letting a loved one go so they can chase their dream. Happy sigh.
- Writing Tip: Add Fred Astaire to Bing Cosby and the movie is unstoppable. But it’s the backdrop of music that adds life. What are you doing to add the senses to your scenes?
It Happened on 5th Avenue: I shocked some folks last year, because I’d never seen this movie. Oh my! They were all right. I love it! It’s the story of a rich girl who stumbles on some homeless men who are living in her father’s seasonally abandoned mansion in NYC. She joins them and their friends, and before long her dad and mom have joined them — while pretending to be people other than they are. This is a story of realizing the hold things and money can have on us and turning instead to the value of people. A beautiful story.
- Writing tip: How can you take characters that people have pigeon-holed and flip their presumptions? Can you put them in uncomfortable positions and watch the sparks fly?
It’s a Wonderful Life: I have to admit that I watched this so many times growing up, it lost some of its appeal. But my husband loves this movie, and it’s growing on me again. Who hasn’t felt like their dreams died and in the process their life didn’t matter. I love the way this story shows the long-lasting impact we can have on people without realizing it. The imagining what life would be like without us. It’s a definite keeper and one to watch each year for the reminders that we do matter — even when we feel like our story has no meaning or value.
- Writing tip: Your characters will have blindspots just like George Bailey does about what they add to the world around them. Have you highlighted those? Can those become plot points?
Christmas in Connecticut
: Here’s another classic that we’ve recently discovered and enjoy as a family. A woman in post WWII America is desperate to keep her job as a domestic column writer. Her readers think she knows everything about cooking and child-rearing. But she isn’t married, has no child, and doesn’t cook. It’s not a problem until her editor decides to join her for a perfect Christmas. Then the fun begins. This is a comedy that the whole family can enjoy.
- Writing Tip: How can your characters get caught in a web of seemingly white lies? Can they extricate themselves from it? On the romance side, is there a third person to make a love triangle with all the plot opportunities that entails?
So these are a few of the classic Christmas movies that my family loves to watch. I’d love to know which ones are part of your traditions. Is there a favorite holiday go-to movie in your family? Leave a comment and use the form below to enter to win one.
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Comments 61
My favorite Cristmas movie will always be White Christmas, although I haven’t seen It Happened on 5th Avenue OR Christmas in Connecticut so I will have to watch those, who knows, I might find a new favourite.
White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie! I would like to see Holiday Inn.
White Christmas forever!! But of course I’ll always love Rudolph, Friosty, Charlie Brown, and the Grinch too. Christmas in Connecticut has been on my watch list forever, I just haven’t gotten around to seeing it yet.
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It took me too long to try Christmas in Connecticut, but we enjoy it!
We love & watch all 5 of these! Also Miracle on 34th Street & Charlie Brown’s Christmas. ♥♥♥
My favorite Christmas movie is one that came out several years ago and seldom shown on TV now called “The Christmas Visitor”. Having a daughter who went to her heavenly home at 17, it’s a very emotional movie to me. We always wish we had that one more time. Love movies in general, but especially Christmas movies, to have an emotional impact or speak to the heart.
I would love to have “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I never tire of seeing it, but it’s one of the classics that I don’t personally own. Which means, I’m at the mercy of finding it on TV when they decide to play it. I’d love to be able to watch it when I want to.
Thank you for the fabulous opportunity to win a Christmas movie!
Be safe, stay healthy and have a little adventure – even if through the pages of a good book.
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Oh, Kay. That sounds like a sweet movie. And I’m so sorry about your daughter!
Of the movies you’ve listed I’ve only seen It’s a Wonderful Life so I would be happy to win any of the others! One of the classics I enjoy is Miracle on 34th Street.
We just watched White Christmas yesterday. My favorite is the original Miracle on 34th Street. I’ve never seen Christmas in CN or It Happened on 5th Avenue, so either of these would be fun to watch.
My favorite Christmas movie is It’s A Wonderful Life, and I’d like to see It Happened on 5th Avenue. It is the only one I haven’t seen yet.
This film era includes many of my favorites, too. I’ve seen each of these multiple times, except Christmas in Connecticut. I keep forgetting about it. I also love “Shop Around the Corner” (Jimmy Stewart…*swoon*) and the original “Miracle on 34th Street”. Thanks for sharing!! 🥰📚🎄📽🎬
Klaus released on Netflix last year easily become a Christmas favorite! But I would love to watch Miracle on 5th Ave 🙂 Thank you for the chance!
I’ve always loved White Christmas, but I haven’t seen Christmas in Connecticut or It Happened on 5th Avenue!
Although I haven’t seen It Happened in 5th Avenue and Christmas in Connecticut, I must say I need to see them now that I read your newsletter and the description of them. While White Christmas I have seen it with my sister and mom and I must say is their favorite movie of all times. I pick It’s A Wonderful Life. Is a movie I must watch at least once during the Holiday season. Although I have to admit I love it so much I own the DVD and (VHS old school there) and I will watch it during the year at least once or twice especially when I have much on my plate. That is my True favorite movie of all time.
I’d love to see Christmas in Connecticut.
My favorites are White Christmas, The Polar Express and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Would love to win a copy of It Happened on Fifth Ave.
I love the movie White Christmas! I would like to see Christmas In Connecticut. Mind you all of these movies are great!
My favorites are White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, and the original Miracle on 34th Street (with a very young Natalie Wood). I would love to see It Happened on 5th Avenue because I haven’t seen that one yet!
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol is my favorite Christmas movie. It was one of my Dad’s favorites and it was tradition to watch it every Christmas! I would like It Happened on 5th Avenue or Christmas In Connecticut.
I’d love to see Christmas in Connecticut or White Christmas. All of the movies on your list look good.
I like Home Alone for a more recent movie. I’d like to see It Happened on 5th Avenue. I can’t remember ever seeing that one.
Elf, Holiday Inn
my favorite Christmas movie is : Christmas Vacation and I would love to see Holiday Inn
We watch the Bishop’s Wife every Christmas 🙂 I would enjoy watching It Happened on 5th Avenue or Christmas in Connecticut. I own the other two but have not seen these two in several years. Thanks for this opportunity and have a blessed Christmas!
My very favorite is Miracle on 34th Street. I have the colorized version of the original movie. I also love Charlie Brown and Linus when he recites scripture of the true meaning of Christmas.
I’d be honored to receive any of these four Christmas movies.
I love It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (original) and Charlie Brown Christmas. I have never watched It Happened on 5th Avenue, so I will do that this year! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Have not heard of “It Happened on Fifth Avenue”! Will have to check that out. I recall singing the “Sisters” song with my sister while watching “White Christmas” years ago. And we saw “Wonderful Life” on the big screen last year. We’d seen that one a zillion times, but watching it on the big screen was like seeing it for the first time. Truly a powerful performance by Jimmy Stewart, his first after the war.
So, while I love White Christmas, Holiday Inn, and Charlie Brown Christmas (my uncle is Charlie Brown! No, really!), I don’t watch them each year. Our family tradition is to watch Disney’s Prep and Landing animated tv specials! Very cute and funny, and somehow it took over as the family favorite!
I love “It’s a Wonderful Life” because of the lessons it teaches us about how precious life is.
I enjoy both the new and older versions of Miracle on 34th Street. I also love White Christmas, so romantic, love the costumes.
Holiday Inn – THANKS for a nice GIveaway!
My favorite Christmas movie is Christmas for a Dollar starring Nancy Stafford and A Charlie Brown Christmas. I don’t think I’ve seen It Happened on 5th Avenue, but I love all of the classic movies, too!
I love While you were sleeping!
Hello Cara, I have never seen It Happened on 5th Avenue or Christmas in Connecticut! Thanks for the giveaway, I will look those movies up for sure.
How many favorites am I allowed to list? 🙂 The two I always have to watch every year are White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s something about vintage movies that makes me silly with joy. I wish I had a copy of It Happened on Fifth Avenue, as that’s another favorite. My parents have a copy, so I watch it with them every Christmas, but someday I’d love to have my own copy to enjoy throughout the year. Merry Christmas, Cara!
I have never heard of Christmas in Connecticut! Sounds like a great story.
It’s a Wonderful Life is my very favorite Christmas movie, but I certainly watch White Christmas every year, too. 😀 I’ve never seen It Happened on 5th Avenue, so that’s the one I would choose to watch.
Faves: White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, many more. I’m not familiar with Christmas in Connecticut – I’d like to win that one – it sounds fun.
I haven’t seen Christmas in Connecticut or It Happened on 5th Avenue but they sound amazing! Some recent favorites (from the 90’s) are Miracle on 34th Street and All I Want for Christmas.
My Favorite Christmas Movie is White Christmas always Loved watching these movies ! Merry Christmas To All!
My favorite is Rudolph and believe it or not I’ve never seen It’s a Wonderful Life!
White Christmas is my favorite. We always watched it during the holidays when I was young. I still love watching it – great dance and music.
I love these movies. I don’t know if I’ve seen It happened on 5th Ave. Would love to see that one!
I love White Christmas the best…..Have not seen It’s a Wonderful Life in years so I’d love to see that again. Bought a Christmas movie at Amazon recently that I’d never seen before… “We’re No Angels” with Humphrey Bogart. It is different, but has a definite charm to it.
I so enjoy watching the Christmas classics…White Christmas, Holiday Inn, and It’s A Wonderful Life. We own all of these! I also really enjoy fun Christmas comedies like Christmas with the Kranks, Fred Claus, and Elf.
I have never seen It Happened on 5th Avenue. It sounds wonderful! Thank you for the chance to win one of these movies. ~ Merry Christmas!
I have never seen nor heard of “It Happened on 5th Avenue” but I’m going to hunt for it. Sounds delightful. The other 3 are some of my favorites as well. We watched White Christmas today as a matter of fact. Introduced my 17 yr old granddaughter to it. She hooted all the way through it. Joy!!!! Thanks also for opportunity to win a movie. Sweet of you.
My favorite Christmas movie is Prancer. The one with Sam Elliot. 😁 I must admit that I think the only one I’ve read from your list is It’s a Wonderful Life. The others all sound very interesting so I’d be happy to win anyone of them.
I love all of those 4 movies, but I think my favorite of the 4 is Holiday Inn.
My favorite Christmas movies are It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, and A Christmas Story. I think I would like to see Christmas in Connecticut. That’s one I haven’t seen yet and it sounds funny.
I love White Christmas and Holiday Inn. I’ve never seen It happened on 5th Avenue. Would be neat to win that one.
Favorite movie is Miracle on 34th Street! love to see White Christmas!
If it can be counted as a Christmas movie, my favorite is While You Were Sleeping. I would love to see It Happened on 5th Avenue or Christmas in Connecticut. I’ve seen White Christmas and Holiday Inn, but it’s been years since I’ve watched them. I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life many times.
I love White Christmas and the classics!
Thanks for sharing these movies. They are all ones my daughter and I watch every year! She is 20 and loves old movies. You might even say she is obsessed with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. I think White Christmas is probably my favorite. Merry Christmas!
One of my favorite Christmas movies is The Christmas Card. I love Christmas movies! The Gift of Love is another favorite! And, of course, Christmas Shoes, The Ultimate Gift, and any Hallmark one! 😜 Christmas in Connecticut sounds fun! 😊
A Christmas Carol (1984) starring George C. Scott is probably my favorite Christmas movie. I have seen most of these movies you have listed and have really enjoyed them. It’s a Wonderful Life is the only one I own. Christmas in Connecticut would be my choice for another great film to watch each Christmas.
Christmas in Connecticut is one of my favorites. Although, I love all the old movies.
I love How the Grinch Stole Christmas and White Christmas. Those are on the must watch list every year. I’ve never seen It Happened on 5th Avenue so that is the one I’d like to see. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Miracle on 34th Street is my favorite. Vintage movies are the best.
I don’t own It Happened on 5th Avenue, but I own the rest and love them! It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think Holiday Inn squeaks out ahead of the others, but just barely! I also love some of the Christmas movies that aired when I was a child like The Night they Saved Christmas.
I have never watched “It Happened on 5th Avenue.” I definitely need to start introducing my daughter to the classic movies!