THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984)

 

George C. Scott stars as miser Ebenezer Scrooge in this quality retelling of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol”.

The classic tale in which he is taught the true meaning of Christmas by three Spirits who visit him, revealing to him the truth about his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current catalogue of cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways.

Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold, death or redemption.

The Spirits are played by Angela Pleasence (Past), Edward Woodward (Present) and Michael Carter (Future)

The other key characters and portrayed by Frank Finlay (Marley), Lucy Gutteridge (Belle), David Warner and Susannah York (The Cratchit’s), Anthony Walters (Tiny Tim), Timothy Bateson  and Pat Rose  (The Fezziwig’s), Roger Rees  (Fred) and Joanne Whalley  (Fan).

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 15 - Christmas Dream

 

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.

Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my fifteenth selection.

 

"Christmas Dream" written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice with German lyrics by Andre Heller and Performed by Perry Como & The London Boy Singers

 

Watch me now, here I go, all I need’s a little snow!

Starts me off, sets the theme,

helps me dream my Christmas dream,

Every year I dream it, hoping things will change,

An end to the crying, the shouting, the dying,

And I hope you will dream it too!

It’s Christmas,

Remember?

We’ve got to remember!

 

So, light the light, I’m home tonight,

I need you to warm me, to calm me, to love me!

To help me to dream my Christmas dream!

 

Crazy things, said an’ done,

Every single day but one!

Every night should, I believe,

Be the same as Christmas Eve,

Nights should all be silent,

Days should all slow down,

An end to the hurry, the noise and the worry!

And I hope you believe that too!

It’s Christmas,

Remember?

Does no one remember?

 

The whole world needs, a Christmas dream,

We need it to warm us, to calm us, to love us . . .

To help us to dream our Christmas dream!

 

(Lüge dirigiert die Welt, Ehrlichkeit bringt selten Geld,

Jeder möcht' Sieger sein, wer verliert bleibt ganz allein;

Doch manch Will' ist möglich durch die Fantasie

Du stirbst um zu leben und nimmst um zu geben;)

Einmal im Jahr wird alles wahr

Zu Weihnacht vergiss nicht,

Vergiss es gewiss nicht.

 

The whole world needs, a Christmas dream,

We need it to warm us, to calm us, to love us . . .

We need it to warm us, to calm us, to love us . . .

We need it to warm us, to calm us, to love us . . .

To help us to dream our Christmas dream!

TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

 

At last I have some time to spare

No more work until the New Year

Its nearly Christmas so beware

The weather's bitter so have a care

Peace and goodwill and never fear

A wish for one and all for the coming year

HARBINGER OF YULE

 

The advent calendars

Are first to appear

Heralding the headlong rush

Toward Christmas cheer

On trees baubles reflect

Flickers of candlelight

From November’s end

Right up to twelfth night

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SOLSTICE: A CHRISTMAS STORY (1993)

 

Christmas Eve is a magical time, but for many people, the coldest, loneliest night of the year falls on Christmas Eve.

“Solstice: A Christmas Story” tells the story of one of those people, Nick Allman (Mike Kelley), a disillusioned young man, who has broken up with his girlfriend and has lost touch with the true spirit of the holidays.

The story is set in Chicago on Christmas Eve, and it follows Nick’s day from the moment his alarm goes off in the morning until beyond midnight as he encounters a variety of characters who help renew his belief in the festive season where everyone's expectations run high.

 

As a veteran devotee of Christmas movies, I watch more than my fare share and although this is by no means perfect, it is exceptional as it does something original with the material.

It is slow paced and has a very definite “film noir” feel about it with its use of Chicago's north side neighbourhood’s and has a very realistic feel, and at the end you are left, not with a happy ever after, but something much more precious, hope.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 14 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

 

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.

Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my fourteenth selection.

 

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane Performed by Katie Melua

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on, 
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years 
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now

MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS PIE

 

For the wealthy landowners

In medieval times

Food was plentiful

At Christmas time

And A few days before the holy day

The kitchen at the manor

Would begin their preparations

First a huge pasty case was made

For a special festive pie

Into the bottom of the huge pastry case

Went enormous amounts of forcemeat,

This was ground beef and lamb

Heavily seasoned with salt and pepper,

On this were placed boned and boiled hens,

Rabbits, Ducks and assorted game birds

Another layer of forcemeat was added

Then marrow, hard boiled egg yokes

Currants, prunes and dates

Spices such as cloves and saffron,

Mace and cinnamon

Finished off the ample filling

It was then covered

With the huge pastry lid and baked

And such a feast was had

The poor were less fortunate

Unless they had a goodly lord at the manor

But bad masters were

As plentiful as the feast

And so Christmas for the poor

Was often less than merry