A Holiday Showcase: Discovering Underrated Holiday Pictures

One thing that irks concerning numerous modern holiday films is their overly self-consciousness – the gaudy decor, the formulaic score tunes, and the stilted dialogue about the essence of the festive period. It could be because the genre was not hardened into formula, pictures from the 1940s often explore the holidays from increasingly imaginative and not as obsessive viewpoints.

The Affair on Fifth Avenue

One delightful find from exploring 1940s Christmas comedies is It Happened on Fifth Avenue, a 1947 semi-romantic tale with a great concept: a jovial drifter takes up residence in a empty posh mansion each year. That season, he welcomes new acquaintances to stay with him, including a former GI and a teenager who turns out to be the heiress of the mansion's rich landlord. Filmmaker Roy Del Ruth gives the picture with a found-family heart that numerous contemporary Christmas movies have to labor to achieve. It expertly walks the line between a class-conscious narrative on shelter and a charming urban romance.

Godfathers in Tokyo

The late filmmaker's 2003 tragicomedy Tokyo Godfathers is a entertaining, poignant, and profound take on the Christmas story. Drawing from a classic Hollywood picture, it follows a trio of homeless souls – an alcoholic, a trans woman, and a teenage throwaway – who come across an left-behind baby on Christmas Eve. Their quest to reunite the infant's parents sets off a series of unexpected events involving crime lords, immigrants, and ostensibly magical coincidences. The movie embraces the magic of chance typically found in holiday stories, presenting it with a cinematic animation that sidesteps overly sweet emotion.

The John Doe Story

While Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life justifiably receives much attention, his earlier picture Meet John Doe is a powerful Christmas film in its own right. With Gary Cooper as a handsome "forgotten man" and Barbara Stanwyck as a plucky journalist, the story kicks off with a fictional note from a man vowing to jump from a rooftop on Christmas Eve in frustration. The nation's reaction forces the reporter to recruit a man to impersonate the invented "John Doe," who subsequently becomes a popular symbol for kindness. The narrative functions as both an heartwarming story and a sharp critique of wealthy businessmen attempting to manipulate grassroots feeling for personal ends.

The Silent Partner

Whereas Christmas horror films are now commonplace, the holiday crime caper remains a relatively underpopulated style. This makes the 1978 film The Silent Partner a novel discovery. Featuring a superbly sinister Christopher Plummer as a bank-robbing Santa Claus and Elliott Gould as a unassuming bank employee, the movie sets two varieties of amoral oddballs against each other in a well-crafted and surprising yarn. Mainly unseen upon its original debut, it is worthy of a fresh look for those who enjoy their festive entertainment with a cold atmosphere.

Christmas Almost

For those who enjoy their family get-togethers chaotic, Almost Christmas is a riot. With a stellar ensemble that features Danny Glover, Mo'Nique, and JB Smoove, the movie examines the strain of a family gathered to endure five days under one home during the Christmas season. Private dramas bubble to the forefront, culminating in scenes of extreme farce, such as a confrontation where a weapon is produced. Of course, the film finds a satisfying resolution, offering all the entertainment of a seasonal disaster without any of the actual aftermath.

Go Movie

The director's 1999 film Go is a Christmas-themed tale that is a teen-oriented interpretation on interconnected stories. While some of its edginess may feel product of the 90s upon rewatch, the picture nevertheless offers several aspects to appreciate. These include a cool performance from Sarah Polley to a memorable performance by Timothy Olyphant as a charming drug dealer who appropriately dons a Santa hat. It captures a specific kind of fin-de-siècle film attitude set against a Christmas backdrop.

Miracle at Morgan's Creek

Preston Sturges's 1940s comedy The Miracle of Morgan's Creek skips traditional Christmas sentimentality in favor for irreverent fun. The story centers on Betty Hutton's character, who finds herself pregnant after a wild night but cannot identify the man responsible. Much of the fun comes from her situation and the efforts of Eddie Bracken's hapless Norval Jones to help her. While not immediately a holiday film at the outset, the plot winds up on the Christmas, making clear that Sturges has created a playful version of the birth narrative, filled with his signature witty edge.

The Film Better Off Dead

This 1985 adolescent comedy starring John Cusack, Better Off Dead, is a textbook specimen of its era. Cusack's