Film Festival: Christmas Fantasy If You Believe (1999) takes place in a book publishing house. Susan (Ally Walker) has lost her joy in life and is in danger of losing her job. At age 27 she is married to Peter, a tweed-wearing, pipe smoking class-conscious husband. By age 37, she is divorced and struggling in…
Christmas movies
Lisa’s Home Bijou: I’ll Be Seeing You
Film Festival: Christmas classics I’ll Be Seeing You (1944) is a World War II drama brought to the screen by David O. Selznick. It’s a Christmas story and a love story starring Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton, and Shirley Temple. Selznick bought the rights to the 1938 Broadway song I’ll be seeing you. The song was…
Elf modern Christmas fantasy: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Film Festival: Contemporary Christmas Elf (2003) follows the journey of a man searching for his birth father. The young man is Buddy (Will Ferrell), who was raised by elves at the North Pole. He finds his father in New York at Christmas in the Empire State Building. Along the way he finds love and helps…
Annotated Miracle on 34th Street: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) is a clever fantasy Christmas film. It’s been shown on TV so many times it doesn’t really need a review. I think it’s time for an annotation for younger viewers since the film is now 72 years old. Here’s my take on some of the sayings and culture in the…
Prancer a reindeer and his girl: Lisa’s Home Bijou
Film Festival: Contemporary Christmas Prancer (1989) takes place in a farming community in the mid West. It’s a heart-warming Christmas fantasy with a very realistic look. The film opens in a country school room with the children practicing O Little Town of Bethlehem. Jessica (Rebecca Harrell Tickell) is singing too loudly and enthusiastically. All the…