Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season

by Jeremy Arnold, Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movies presents a bucket list of the best and most beloved holiday films of all time, complete with spirited commentary, behind-the-scenes stories, and photos spanning eight decades of Christmastime favorites.

Nothing brings the spirit of the season into our hearts quite like a great holiday movie. "Christmas films" come in many shapes and sizes and exist across many genres. Some, like It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, are perennials, while others, such as Die Hard, have only gradually become yuletide favorites. But they all have one thing in common: they use themes evoked by the holiday period – nostalgia, joy, togetherness, dysfunction, commercialism, or cynicism – as a force in their storytelling.

Turner Classic Movies: Christmas in the Movies showcases the very best among this uniquely spirited strain of cinema. Each film is profiled on what makes it a "Christmas movie," along with behind-the-scenes stories of its production, reception, and legacy. Complemented by a trove of color and black-and-white photos, Turner Classic Movies: Christmas in the Movies is a glorious salute to a collection of the most treasured films of all time.

Among the 30 films included: The Shop Around the Corner, Holiday Inn, Meet Me in St. Louis, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Little Women, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction, Film, Holiday, Media Tie In, Reference, History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2018

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great photos and brief write-ups of our childhood Christmas films (primarily late 30's to late 40's).

My favorite is "Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck and S.Z. “Cuddles” Sakall, as Uncle Felix; a great character actor from the 1930-50’s (He was in Casablanca!). They have a great humorous and snarky dialog together in this film. He knows her secret and wants to protect her and not marry the stuffy architect played by, Reginald Gardiner. He wants her to marry the soldier she's supposed to be 'cooking for,' played by handsome Dennis Morgan. Fun Christmas movie you must see.

This is a wonderful book and super Christmas Gift for anyone who loves these films!
Merry Christmas!

I'm adding this physical book to my Christmas list now!

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the photos and brief overviews of the movies in this book but I am also really curious about the target reader for this book and what was the overall goal. From what I can call, it could be aiming at one of several things:

— A nostalgic overview of (mostly golden age) Hollywood Christmas movies for people who know and love them. But then why not include info on how or where to watch them (a danger with having the book published by TCM which has no stake in other networks)? And why is so much of the info given on each movie devoted to plot summary?

— A helpful guide for people who love classic Christmas movies hoping to find suggestions for hidden gems. But again, no help is given on how to find them (Is the Holly and the Ivy even available on DVD?) And I’d say 3/4 of the book is about well known movies.

— A thoughtful exploration of how Hollywood’s exploration of Christmas has changed over the decades, why we love Christmas movies and what makes a particular Christmas movie a classic. How can we explain why some great movies never achieved classic status? Why are ironic, funny movies likely to become classics today, compared to the heartwarming sentimental movies that rose to beloved status in the 1940s?

The last is what I had really been hoping for. And the introductory essay has some terrific insights. I would have loved loved loved more of this. I wanted this smart author to give me more of his insights and provide more behind-the-scenes information. Instead of aw-shucks-wasn’t-that-sweet sidebars with “holiday moments” we love from each movie (OK but I can come up with those myself), give us something unusual to look for, some insight we might not have thought of.

I felt like thus was mostly a book of movie plot summaries, a few fun facts and some nice photos of each movies. That’s OK but it could have been so much more.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

TCM is always a great source for discovering films. This Christmas movie book is filled with holiday standards as well as some hidden gems that I hope to seek out.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book that highlights 30 Christmas movies, most of which are classics, but a few which you may never have heard of, but will surely be searching for this December.

This book, like the movies it profiles, brings smiles as it reminds us of our extended Christmas families - the Baileys, the Griswolds, the Cratchits, etc. - and the time we share with them every year. There are a few tidbits included in the summaries of these classics that may surprise even those of us who have seen the movies dozens of times. For example, I never knew that Rosemary Clooney dubbed Vera-Ellen's vocals in their duet, "Sisters" in the movie White Christmas, essentially doing a duet with herself. And who knew that Cary Grant and David Niven switched roles in The Bishop's Wife (a smart move by Samuel Goldwyn, which upset Grant at the time)?

As someone who loves classic Christmas feature films, I was truly surprised to find nine titles among the thirty listed in the book that I'd never seen (and a couple of those that I'd never even heard of). I look forward to tracking them down. As with any list, this one has selections I don't care much for (as much as I truly love Jimmy Stewart, I have a hard time watching The Shop Around the Corner and find Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks much more enjoyable in the remake You've Got Mail), and omissions (for me, Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland, and the original Yours, Mine, and Ours which is not technically a holiday movie, but has a wonderful Christmas scene), but that's part of the fun of these lists. In any case, each summary will surely bring warm, nostalgic feelings to readers as they look ahead to a snowy December evening with a crackling fire, a cup of cocoa, and some classic Christmas films.

[Stephanie]

I suspect all the movies are very white but curious to read this all the same. 🤔

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in the Movies was published by Turner Classic Movies and provides an overview of the "Christmas movies" that the author (Jeremy Arnold) deems noteworthy. It's important to understand that Mr. Arnold's criteria for determining whether a film is a "Christmas movie" centers on the idea that "the Christmas season is not just a backdrop but plays a meaningful role in the storytelling".

Fair enough. My friends and I discuss this every December and it's interesting to see how each of us develops her/his list of Christmas movies. Of course, the most famous example of this argument is Die Hard. Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Bruce Willis says no; Jeremy Arnold says yes (and Mr. Arnold's reasoning is pretty convincing).

So, the list of 30 might take one by surprise. I give Mr. Arnold a lot of credit for including not only the classics like White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street, but also more modern classics like Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Apartment is included, as is The Lion in Winter (both of whose inclusion I heartily agree). There are also a few movies of which I've never heard.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is that Mr. Arnold chose only one version of A Christmas Carol (the 1951 version with Alastair Sim), arguing that it was the best of the lot. In this case, he did mention some of the other versions (including a well-deserved shout-out to The Muppet Christmas Carol).

I have encountered Jeremy Arnold's work before in his The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter. That book didn't impress me… looking back, I didn't even bother to review it in Goodreads. This book is better, although it includes some silly factual errors that a competent proofreader and editor should have caught.

[Note to Jeremy Arnold: Bing Crosby appeared in blackface in Holiday Inn, not Fred Astaire.]

All of that said, this is a book that I will retain in my collection. It provides valuable insight into the movies it describes. And maybe I'm keeping it because someone has finally convinced me that Die Hard could very possibly be considered a "Christmas movie".

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two thirds of this book and it gave me some new ideas for movies to watch that I have not seen before or considered as Christmas movies. I am an old movie fan(1930’s-1950’s),so the choices in the last third of the book did not interest me.
The descriptions of the movies and movie trivia were quite interesting.
I would recommend this book for those who are looking for some movies to add to their annual holiday viewing. None of them however, have much to do with the real reason for the season. Still there are some enjoyable films that can add some fun to the holidays.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun book if you love Christmas movies, especially some of the old classics. I’ve seen all of these movies except a couple, some that I watch nearly every year, and some that I saw one time years ago. I’m not ready for the holiday season to end yet!

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season is a fun way to relive cherished family memories. Since most people have a family either now or were part of one as a child, either skimming this book or reading it from cover to cover can cause a case of the warm fuzzies.

[Lady Megan Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little companion book to the season of Christmas movie viewing! Fun to read and full of good info that’s nice to know and share. A bit disappointed with some omissions (It Happened on 5th Avenue! Fitzwilly! Going My Way! The Bells St. Mary’s!) but a good collection overall.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great every of holiday movies with context for the development, release, and longevity in popular culture.

[D'Arcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely to read in the weeks leading up to Christmas. I enjoyed learning some interesting trivia about old favorites and it introduced me to some I hadn't seen yet that I've added to my watchlist.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think movies! Think classic! Think Christmas! Jeremy Arnold’s TCM Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season is the ultimate guide to Christmas movies and nostalgia! I loved it! As a classic movie lover, this book is a must read for me, and I hope many others. The author puts these divine Christmas movies in chronological order beginning with Miracle on Main Street (1939) to Love Actually (2003). Of course, I immediately looked for my favorite A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim, a British actor, who I believe is the perfect Scrooge. I watch it every year. It is perfect! Many others are included in this delightful book. Holiday Inn (1942);It’s a Wonderful Life (1946); Miracle on 34th Street (1947); 3 Godfathers (1948); White Christmas (1954); A Christmas Story (1983); Home Alone (1990) and many others. The author has a short narrative about each movie and “Holiday Moment” which focuses on a a special Christmas scene which the author discusses. Poignant memories just flew back to me. I can not rate this book high enough for how
‘ warm and fuzzy’ it made me feel. 5+ stars.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the part about Judy Garland and the origin of the song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” It was originally much darker!

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t watch 30 Christmas movies in one day. But you can experience them all in one afternoon with this book. I enjoyed the format and compact size. It'll make for a nice gift for the holidays or even something to display on top of a mantle. Nothing ground-breaking here. More for the nostalgia and ritual of celebrating the holiday.

More details on my blog: https://www.outofthepastblog.com/2018...

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to watch Christmas movies and have seen many. But I found this book quite disappointing. Of the 30 "classic movies" featured, 21 were over 50 years old. And many weren't actually Christmas movies, but stories that took place partially during the Christmas season. There are so many good movies out there, I don't understand why these were chosen.

[C.J. Bunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published online at BORG.com.

If Turner Classic Movies says that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then the discussion is over finally, right?

It’s that time of year again and Turner Classic Movies is back showing some of the best Christmas movies from across the decades. This year host Ben Mankiewicz is interviewing author Jeremy Arnold before and after the screening of movies Arnold has selected to feature in his new book, TCM: Christmas in the Movies–30 Classics to Celebrate the Season. And yes, Arnold’s list includes Die Hard. So as the British say, “end of.” Most readers and movie fans will likely agree with at least twenty of the selections discussed in the book, and the rest are there ready for some good discussions with friends over some egg nog this holiday season.

It’s also likely this bucket list of movies has several films that even avid movie watchers may have missed. I set up my DVR to pick up a few in the book I hadn’t seen yet and was surprised at how superb a selection Holiday Affair is. It stars Janet Leigh, Robert Mitchum, Wendell Corey, Henry Morgan, plus young Gordon Gebert in what must be the best-ever performance by a child actor in a Christmas movie. This is exactly the kind of value you get with a book like Christmas in the Movies–this movie will now be added to my own favorite Christmas movie list. For each entry Arnold discusses the actors, plot, audience reception and the impact of the film, and why it’s a good Christmas season film for audiences today.

Along with Die Hard, which is smartly defended by Arnold, you’ll find the usual suspects like Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, A Christmas Story, and Elf, plus some lesser known gems, like Remember the Night, the first of four films that would pair Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, plus Ginger Rogers and Joseph Cotten in I’ll Be Seeing You, and Humphrey Bogart in We’re No Angels. Arnold picks up genre films Gremlins and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and even a few Westerns, including 3 Godfathers starring John Wayne.

These aren’t all your typical happy holiday films. Arnold sees as a theme of many films set during Christmas the dysfunctional family–a component of more Christmas classics than you might think. Repeating players and themes include Jimmy Stewart, Barbara Stanwyck, Edith Head, Michael Curtiz, John Hughes, writer/directors, the impact of war, and ghostly spirits.

Add Arnold’s list of 30 movies to the Rankin/Bass television specials, A Muppet Christmas Carol (mentioned in Arnold’s discussion of 1951’s Scrooge), A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and–whether you’re actively watching or just have the TV on in the background as you go about celebrating this year–your holiday season of television will be completely covered. Check out the TCM website for December holiday movie listings here.

There’s something for everyone in TCM: Christmas in the Movies–30 Classics to Celebrate the Season, and it’s a great prompt to add some classics you haven’t seen to your December television watch list. Full of color and black and white photo stills, movie posters, and more, TCM: Christmas in the Movies–30 Classics to Celebrate the Season is available from Running Press now.

[John Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I had envisioned myself writing someday. As a fan of holiday films, I have always thought that I had the market cornered on most, if not all, classic holiday films and some holiday-themed classic TV shows as well. This terrific "coffee table" edition from TCM written by Jeremy Arnold, proved that there are a few hidden 'pickle ornaments' hiding in the pine needles that I did not know of. Arnold, by the way, clarifies in the preface, that his list of thirty, albeit subjective and not ranked, but documented by era/dates, 'what exactly qualifies for his list' - films that are about Christmas, are themed by holiday traditions and the season, or simply take place during the holiday season. Before I even OPENED THIS BOOK, I decided that I would not browse through it but, read each entry (each film gets a synopsis, and "fun facts" element) it from the start, skipping the table of contents, page by page. I wanted to see if my all-time favorite holiday film would make it in the list of thirty and where and when it would show up. I was happy to find that "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1942) clocked in with a great write up on page 73. With that said, I took note of the few holiday films, that I have never seen: "Beyond Tomorrow"& "Trail of Robin Hood"- these will be put on my list of "to be seen" this year. Of course all the favorites are included and not just films made in the "Golden Age" of Hollywood - this book covers a few films from the and 90's and 2000's, including, "Little Woman" (1994) and "Love Actually" In addition, why are some films mentioned and others not? It always happens with volumes of lists. The two that come to mind that are not in the book, "Christmas In July" and "A Pocketful of Miracles" that I might have included, but it does not matter - everyone has his/her favorites and most are in the book. This is a fine book to give as a gift; to put out in the den next to a crackling fire as the snow is falling outdoors, or like for me, to read in early September with 80 degree temperatures and a cold iced tea.

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a blurb about this brand-new book in Book Page magazine, and it looked like something I might enjoy. (I love books about books and books about movies.) I put it on hold awhile back, but I didn't get it until last week. No worries. It's more of a book about movies than strictly a holiday book. For example, some of the movies written about (which happen to have some holidays tie-ins) are THE LION IN WINTER, DIE HARD, and that wonderful Billy Wilder classic, THE APARTMENT. Not what you'd think of when you consider holiday movies! There are some basic holiday movies, which I've seen many times, such as IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, MIRACLE ON 34th STREET, A CHRISTMAS STORY, WHITE CHRISTMAS, etc. but there are also quite a few oldies that I haven't seen before. (You can bet that I've added them to my list of movies to check out.) There are some great photos in this book, and the stories behind the movies are wonderful. I learned so much about how these movies were made--from casting to directors to musical scoring--and how well received the movies were when they first came out, as well as how known and loved they are today. Some are not known well at all, but others are hugely popular. Reading about some of these old movies (with some of my favorites, such as Barbara Stanwyck, Humphrey Bogart, Fred MacMurray, etc.) makes me realize that are still a lot of great oldies I have yet to discover.

[Ann Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often wonder about the recency of the featured films and I realized maybe good Christmas movies were made decades before. the spirit of Christmas usually symbolized Family gathering and intimate dinner as is with Asian culture. Now western movies often portray Christmas for grandiose proposals and a time for lovers. Of course, nothing is religious which is still bizarre. The movies didn't only portray rainbow and unicorns but also a cross-genre of horror, melodrama and action. The movie review is heavily research which I am always fascinated with Films, its pre-production and post production which wasn't as highlighted during the movie screening. There are a lot of foreign actors and films that it was fun being introduced in a way. Sometimes it can get in the way of the controversies back in the day but this is a delightful Promotion of the Films by highlighting what makes it phenomenal instead of merely basing it through the boy office. Like classics, these seasonal films were once loved every Christmas. Because of the wealth of nowadays. It's sad that we just settle over superfluous and cliché plotlines.

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was watching a movie on TCM and afterwards they mentioned "Christmas in the Movies". I must admit I love older classic movies though some newer ones are really good, but they don't have the feel to me as the real classics. I enjoyed all the movies up to and including Billy Wilder's Apartment. I have seen almost all of these and reading on my Fire Device, the studio pictures are outstanding. Now the movies mentioned after there are several I have seen but only a couple I really enjoyed "Home Alone" when it came out and it is pretty cute, I could watch it again but not yearly. "Die Hard" was good and "The Nightmare Before Christmas", I enjoyed also. The rest are not my cup of tea. The know "The Christmas Story" is popular but I must admit, it is not for me. "Gremlins" no thank you but it is nice others can love these movies.

My ultimate favorite is "It is a Wonderful Life".

I highlighted many interesting facts on the stories which if you go to my highlight section, you might enjoy. There are a couple of movies that should have been included, Cary Grants and Deborah Kerr's Love Affair and Ginger Rogers and David Niven's Bachelor Mother.

This is surely a keepsake for the wonderful pictures and I will certainly see the movies that I have not seen yet.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the SeasonThe most amazing thing about this book is not only are there movies in it that I've never seen, there are some I've never even heard of. It takes a lot to stump me with Christmas. But this book managed to do it with some of their movies. The pictures and the fun little facts about the movies were great to read. This won't be a long review, I have some movies I have to go look for. :-)

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim at the library because I love TCM, but I was kind of disappointed in it. I like the fact that I learned about some new movies and will definitely make a note of them to watch next Christmas. Some of the movies are definitely not Christmas movies but I can kinda see why they were included. But I wish that the only movies included were older films that are shown on TCM. However I do love Elf and A Christmas Story! That being said I admit that I really only skimmed the book and didn't really read it thoroughly but I did enjoy looking at the pictures. This is definitely a great book for movie lovers like myself and even though I was a little disappointed, I do recommend it and I'm going to see if I can find other TCM books.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun read.

I found this book delightful. I loved reading about all the holiday films, as a lover of Christmas films I felt I had to read this book. I’m sure in the thirty films this book highlights somebody’s favorite was left out. I questioned a few omissions myself, but overall I thought the thirty they did pick were a good variety of films spanning from the nineteen thirties to the early two thousands. The pictures were lovely, the snippets and facts about the films were interesting, and the layout of the book was solid. It was never dull for me. I loved it. It’s also a great read for folks if their interested in discovering some classic Christmas movies that aren’t as well know today.

[Julia Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Christmas nut. I absolutely love Christmas and one of the ways in which a person can tell I love Christmas is that I own over 100 Christmas movies. I have long collected them, from old classics to new releases, from children’s to sing-a-longs, so I am always on the lookout for more. This book pulls together a list of 30 movies that Jeremy Arnold deems classic and thus worthy of watching them every year. The book is very fun with photos and trivia on each movie. He also states why he chose it in a section on each movie about the Christmas Moment in the movie. A great gift book and a very fun read!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great details about a lot of great Christmas and holiday themed movies. I have seen a lot of them but not all. New goal to watch them all! White Christmas is my all time favorite movie so when I saw it was the main cover to book I knew I had to have it. Only thing I felt left out was in the information on White Christmas it says that Rosemary Clooney was used as Vera Ellen’s singing voice since she couldn’t sing but they actually used Trudy Stevens a lot for her singing voice. Credit due there! Also could of been a bit longer with many more great movies left out but hey maybe the author will do a 2nd book! If he does I would buy it! Love Christmas!

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirty Classics To Celebrate the Season, EBk-M, Kindle, @ 2018, read 12/24/20. Non-fiction, Christmas, Movies. Over the years, many movies became much loved classics, either because they were released
just before the holidays, or their subject matter had a major Christmas theme. This book reminded me of the old Christmas movies I loved, and introduced me to ones I never heard of, or ones I didn't realize were Holiday related.
This book gives snippets of the storyline, stars, producers and directors, writers and pictures of various scenes.
I enjoyed it, but I'm sure some humbugs would not!
3☆'s = Good.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so charming! I found a whole bunch of new Christmas movies to watch that I didn't realize were related to Christmas. I was familiar with basically the movies from the 1980s on, but there were so many in the 30's/40's/50s that I didn't know and I can't wait to watch. Some are classics in their own right (like The Apartment), but I was really interested in reading about those lesser-known films. And the book itself is really beautiful with lots of color photos. Arnold had a really charming writing style, and you can tell he picked those films out with care. It was a lot of fun to read.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy 5 stars from me! The format: Each movie has a release date, list of cast, introduction, explanation, behind-the-scenes details, pictures, and a “special holiday moment.” It’s an easy read. There is a heavy focus on older Christmas movies from the 40s, 50s and the 60s, with a few from more recent decades. (Except the 70s. Not one movie from the 70s lol. Maybe too busy with the counterculture to make good holiday movies?)

I will say, I came into this book pretty unfamiliar with older Christmas movies and their history. Those already heavily familiar may find they already know the info provided. That said, they managed to find a couple of facts about Elf that I never knew before and I have watched that movie every year for over a decade and have watched/read behind-the-scenes history as well!

The authors piqued my interest so much that I made note of some movies I want to check out. And even for the ones I don’t have an interest in viewing, I still loved reading about them, and found it quite relatable. It was so cool to learn how these movies have had a strong effect on the culture, music, and traditions of Christmas that we all experience to this day!

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to view some English speaking movies with Christmas themes, this is the book for you. Thirty films are presented, most of them produced in the 1940s. Each film description has a one line synopsis, list of actors and the characters they play. The descriptions also include the length of the film and whether it is black and white or color. I appreciated the discussion of the films and the holiday moment. The pictures taken from the film draw you in.

Now I know some classics I want to revisit and some I want to see for the first time this holiday season!