ZuZu's Petals

I have been remiss, as the last two weekend days have been jam packed with Christmas errands and such, so, today, on Christmas Eve, I will share my favorite, the one I absolutely must see.
CHRISTMAS EVE: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
I don't even remember the first time I saw this, but I was an adult. In fact, the first time I saw the story, it was not this movie. It was a made for TV movie starring Marlo Thomas and Wayne Rogers called It Happened One Christmas.(Note to Self: Find a copy of that version someday) If you've never seen It's a Wonderful Life, and I'm sure there are not many who haven't at least caught bits and pieces when switching channels in the wee hours of Christmas Eve, you owe it to yourself to watch it from start to finish. It has been remade in all shapes and forms. Every sitcom and TV drama has done an episode based on this movie where the hero or heroine sees what his world would have been like if he'd never been born. Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, the all-around great guy that everybody loves in a fictional town called Bedford Falls. Through circumstances beyond his control, he finds himself in extreme financial trouble, and is contemplating suicide when an angel, Clarence, comes to his rescue. As they begin to talk, Clarence grants George the wish of having never been born, and George is able to see just what would have happened. I won't spoil things for you by telling the ending, but this has always been one of my favorite quotes: "Remember, George. No man is a failure who has friends." This is THE classic Christmas film, and as many times as I've seen it, I never fail to cry at the end. Because even through all of my trials and disappointments, I really do have a wonderful life.

"SANTA! I know him!"

DAY 4: ELF

What makes a movie a classic? Well, I used to think classic films had to be old and only in Black and white, but I've come to believe that a classic is any film that is watched over and over again and delights the viewer each time. Elf is one of those movies! Elf was released in 2003, and I actually saw this one for the first time in the theater, rare, as I hardly ever go to the movies anymore. I went with my girls, ages 11 and 8 at the time, for a Christmas treat. The movie stars Will Farrell as a "human raised by elves" who sets out on a quest to find his human father after he discovers by accident that he is not "biologically" an elf. If you know Will Farrell from Saturday Night Live and movies like Talladega Nights and Step Brothers, and those characters weren't exactly your cup of tea, don't shy away from Elf. Farrell is so innocent and sweet in his portrayal of Buddy. His childlike discovery of everything in the "real" world is touching and endearing! Don't get me wrong, this movie is not short on laughs. There were moments in the theater where I was openly guffawing. The elevator scene in the Empire State Building struck me so funny, and I laughed so long, that I'm sure I was disturbing the patrons around me. The supporting cast around Farrell is wonderful, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, and James Caan. A true sign of a classic for me is the fact that I will quote it randomly when situations bring those lines to mind. I can't tell you how many times scenes from this film bring a smile to my face. Make this a new classic for your tradition and always remember, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" 

Let's go to the movies!

Christmas Eve is a week from today. I have a ton of stuff to do, and it will all get done even if I am still driving around next Monday for the last, final thing I need. Because life has been so hectic, I have not been able to do something I love at this time of year, watch my collection of Christmas movies. I have caught a some bits and pieces of a few standards on television, and actually made a point to sit down to watch one, but there are some that I never miss, and so I thought in this last week I would pass on a pick a day to you. So, pop a big bowl of popcorn and settle in front of the TV and try to see some of these before the holiday is over.

DAY 1: SCROOGE

It is no secret that there are countless renditions of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" out there on film. They run the gamut from Silent film to Cartoon animation. This 1970 musical version starring Albert Finney in the title role is one of, if not the best! I first saw this in the theater at the age of 7. I had been invited to a classmate's Christmas birthday party, and we were all taken to the movie. I remember sitting in the theater alongside my other second grade friends with a scarf I had worn to the party strategically placed near my eyes so I could cover them during the particularly scary scenes. As I grew older, I would catch it on television occasionally, and then the invention of the VCR and videotape. I was able to find a copy several years ago on VHS. I hope I can soon find one on DVD as I am sure my VHS will wear thin with time, and this is one I want to preserve. The score is amazing with songs like Father Christmas, December the 25th, and Thank You Very Much, but what makes this version of the classic tale so enthralling is Albert Finney's portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge. When this film was released he was only 34. You would never believe the Scrooge you are watching is a man in his early 30's. I remember watching the film years later and realizing that the actor playing the dashing young Ebeneezer in Fezziwig's shop was actually Albert Finney, the same actor playing Scrooge. He won the Golden Globe that year, and deservedly so. 

If you've never seen it, you are missing out. Don't write this one off as just another rendition of "A Christmas Carol". It's not. And after you've seen it, don't blame me if you find yourself singing, Thank You Very Much while you're wrapping your Christmas presents.