Final round in the Favorite Classic Christmas movie tourney is now underway

Here we are with the final round in the Favorite Classic Movie tourney. This round is based on the movie posters of the competing films. Vote on which ones you like the most. Matches will run through Monday evening. 

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Round 6 of Classic Christmas Movie Tourney is now underway

Ok here we go with round 6 of the Classic Christmas Movie Tourney with our participants 3rd favorite star in their chosen Christmas movie. Matches will run thru Thursday evening.

Round 5 of Choose Your Christmas Film Tourney now underway

Here we go with the next set of matches for our Christmas film tourney. Another round of stars in the chosen Christmas films going head to head. Matches will run through Sunday afternoon.

All Good Things Presents Choose Your Film Christmas Tourney...next round is now underway

After the first three matches focused on Christmas films, we move on with choosing your favorite stars from those same films. First round is now underway and polls will be up through Monday afternoon to vote on.

All Good Things Presents: Choose Your Film Tourney (Christmas Edition) Round 3

Here we go with round 3 of play between 8 Classic Christmas films. Vote for your favorites. Polls will be open thru Tuesday afternoon. By the way here are the standings after the first two rounds:

The Bishop's wife - 2 points
Miracle on 34th Street - 2 points 
It's a wonderful life -2 points
Christmas in Connecticut - 1 point
The Shop around the corner - 1 point
The Man Who Came To Dinner - 0 point
Meet me in St Louis - 0 point
White Christmas - 0 point

All Good Things Presents Choose Your Film: Christmas Edition

Here we go with the next round of matches spotlighting 8 favorite Christmas films. Polls will be open thru Friday evening. Good luck to everyone!

  

  

All Good Presents Choose Your Film: Christmas Edition (new tourney is now underway)

Once a month I will be hosting a classic movie competition ala the Lombard Cup but with a different theme each month and a select group of friends to participate in. The first theme is Christmas Movies! Choose a favorite Christmas film of yours, 3 stars from it that you like the most and a photo from the film. 5 matches total. There will be 8 of us competing with a chosen Christmas film. The first round will pair up two films for a total of 4 matches. These matches will run through Monday afternoon. Choose your favorites!

Christmas in Connecticut vs The Man Who Came To Dinner 
White Christmas vs The Bishop's wife 
It's a wonderful life vs Meet me in St Louis 
The Shop around the corner vs Miracle on 34th street

ALL GOOD THINGS in DECEMBER

Almost made it through another year and what a ride. In December I will bring back my daily holiday cheer pic series of classic film stars in holiday poses. There is also the screwball tourney I am doing between here and my sister blog Screwball Cinema, which should be fun. My guest for the month is Garbo. Alicia Garbo, a very good friend of mine I met on FB. She has a cool name right. And I won't be doing the classic movie goddess for the month as I won't have enough time to do her justice. But expect that series to return in January. And expect the occasional post about some of my favorite Christmas movies! Hope to see everyone here! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

ALL GOOD THINGS in December

Made it through another year as we hit the month of December on All Good Things. I have to say 2011 was a great year for All Good Things, what with all the tournaments and frequent guests stopping by. Meeting new friends. I plan to write all about 2011 in a yearly review in January. But for now let’s talk December. My guest will be Clara from Via Margutta 51, who is a big Audrey Hepburn fan. Which works out great because Audrey is my classic movie goddess for the month. I love it when things work out in such a good way. I will continue with my match play series which seems to be enjoyed by lots of people. I will have at least 4 matches scheduled including one that Ms. Hepburn will be involved in. Also expect some reviews of classic holiday movies such as Holiday Affair and Christmas In Connecticut. Oh and I will do a special post about the top 12 Classic Stars of the year, here on All Good Things. Kind of akin to Entertainment Weekly’s Top 12 Entertainers of The Year. My selections will be based on frequent posts about the chosen 12. So odds are Cary Grant and Carole Lombard will make the cut. And if I have time, I will do another fictional interview with a classic movie icon. The only hint I will give is that it is an actor, who broke out in the 50's with some incredible films and performances that decade. But he got his start in the late 30's. So that will round out the year for me on All Good Things as I get ready for 2012.

Poll Results - Favorite Barbara Stanwyck Christmas movie

It was a close vote but Christmas in Connecticut edged out Remember the Night as favorite Barbara Stanwyck Christmas movie. Connecticut received 10 votes while Night received 7 votes. Thanks to all those that voted.

Wonderful Photos from It's A Wonderful Life

Here are some great photos from that perennial holiday classic, It's A Wonderful Life.

My Favorite Christmas Movies

Here is my top ten favorite Christmas movies. There are a few modern movies that make my list and one animated film from Disney amid the classics. So with the help of Vera-Ellen, here's my top 10 Christmas movies. Merry Christmas to everyone!



10. REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940) The first of two Barbara Stanwyck films that made the list. Babs plays Lee Leander, a shoplifter, who gets arrested for trying to shoplift a bracelet. ADA John Sargeant (Fred MacMurray) is assigned to prosecute her. The trial begins just before Christmas, but rather than face a jury filled with the holiday spirit, he has the trial postponed. However, he generously posts her bail so she does not have to spend Christmas in jail. And so begins a wonderful holiday film as the two wind up spending time with his family and falling in love. One of the best of the classic romantic dramas that happens to be set during the holidays. Stanwyck and MacMurray have wonderful chemistry together. Remember the Night is a regular favorite that is played on TCM every December.



9. BACHELOR MOTHER (1939) Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) is a salesgirl at the department store John B. Merlin and Son in New York City who has just been told that since the Christmas season is ending she is going to be dismissed. During her lunch break, she sees a stranger leaving a baby on the steps of an orphanage. Fearing the baby is going to roll down the steps, Polly picks it up as the door is opened, and is mistakenly thought to be the mother. David Merlin (David Niven), the playboy son of the store's owner, J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn), is sympathetic to the "unwed mother" and arranges for her to get her job back. Mrs. Weiss (Ferike Boros), Polly's landlady, offers to take care of the boy when Polly is at work. Unable to convince anyone that she is not the mother, Polly gives up and starts raising the child. A showcase for Ginger Rogers to prove that she could do more than sing and dance. Remade in 1956 as Bundle of Joy with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

8. NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989) Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) and brood return for their third film and my favorite in the series. Instead of traveling somewhere, the Griswolds celebrate Christmas at home with visiting relatives. Comedy chaos ensues with situations like the search for the perfect Christmas tree to adorning the house with tons of lights to tangling with a squirrel trapped inside the house. I've seen this movie like 30 times and it's still funny as the first time I saw it. Chase is the master at the sly, sarcastic Clark who is just trying to give his family the perfect Christmas. And if takes kidnapping his boss who didn't give him a Christmas bonus, then so be it.





7. HOLIDAY INN (1942) Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire are pure magic in this delightful musical set at an inn that is open only on holidays. Christmas of course is one of the featured holidays and the duo get to work their magic. Aided by actresses Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale.

6. HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949) Robert Mitchum plays Steve Mason, a veteran and drifter, is employed as a clerk at Crowley's, a New York department store during the Christmas season. He suspects customer Connie Ennis, played by Janet Leigh, of being a comparative shopper for a rival store when she buys an expensive toy train set without asking a single question about it. That night, her son Timmy (Gordon Gebert) becomes excited when he sneaks a peek at what he thinks is his present, only to be disappointed when his mother sets him straight. When Connie returns the train the next day, Steve tells her that he should report her to the store detective, which would lead to her firing. After she explains that she is a war widow with a son to support, Steve refunds her money, a gesture that costs him his job. I love this movie. It's very under-rated and is in my book a classic holiday film. If you've never seen it, check it out. TCM is frequently airing during the holiday season.

5. THE HOLIDAY (2006) The wonderful modern romantic comedy set during the holiday season focuses on two women: Amanda (Cameron Diaz), a highly successful movie trailer editor in Los Angeles, and Iris (my girl Kate Winslet), a lovesick society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London. The story is set in motion when each of them suffers a heartache: Amanda discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, while the object of Iris' unrequited love announces his engagement at the office Christmas party. Seeking an escape, Iris proposes the home swap on the internet, posting an ad about her quaint cottage in Surrey in the British countryside. Her offer is eagerly accepted by Amanda, who lives in a luxurious home in L.A. but is stressed over her break-up. So a simple switch and things begin to change for the better for the two women. Solid support from Jack Black, Jude Law, and wily veteran Eli Wallach. This movie is great for couples and anyone who loves great romances.



4. LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955) On Christmas morning in 1909, in Norwalk, Connecticut, Jim Dear gives his wife Darling a cocker spaniel puppy that they name Lady. Lady enjoys a happy life with the couple and with a pair of dogs from the neighborhood, a Scottish Terrier named Jock and a bloodhound named Trusty. Meanwhile, across town by the railway, a stray silver mutt, referred to as the Tramp, lives life from moment to moment, be it begging for scraps from an Italian restaurant or protecting his fellow strays Peg (a Lhasa Apso) and Bull (an English bulldog) from the local dog catcher. Things get serious when Darlings have a baby and Lady is left out. Drama unfolds but things get sorted out by the end and a year later at the following Christmas, there is a much more festive mood at The Darling home with Tramp now a member f the family. This may not be the traditional Christmas movie, but it's still a wonderful film. Beautiful to look at and an emotional and heartfelt story. This is not only one of my favorite films from Disney, but one of my favorite films period.




3. THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942) During a cross-country lecture tour, notoriously acerbic radio personality Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) slips on the icy steps of the house of the Stanleys, a prominent Ohio family, and is forced to recuperate in their home during the Christmas holidays. The overbearing, self-centered celebrity soon comes to dominate the lives of the residents and everyone else who enters the household. He encourages young adults Richard and June Stanley to pursue their dreams, much to the dismay of their conventional father Ernest. Sheridan's assistant Maggie (a wonderfully subdued Bette Davis) tries to keep him in check. And Ann Sheridan is a riot as Sheridan's old friend and Broadway diva Lorraine. Jimmy Durante joins the fun as another of Sheridan's old buddies. The Man Who Came to Dinner is a joyous holiday film, bursting with comedy and fun. One of the best.
 
2. LOVE ACTUALLY (2003) delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress. The ensemble cast is composed predominantly of British actors such as Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Set in London, the film begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday, followed by an epilogue that takes place one month later. This is one of my favorite newer movies and it's perfect for the whole family.



1. CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) And finally my favorite Christmas movie is this charming and delightful film starring Barbara Stanwyck as columnist Elizabeth Lane, who is comparable to what Martha Stewart is today. Problem is, her life is all fake and she really doesn't know anything about cooking, decorating, or living on a farm. She is requested by her publisher (Sydney Greenstreet in a nice departure from film noir flicks) to entertain a war hero (Dennis Morgan) over the holidays. Soon Liz is put on the spot to deliver a home cooked meal and decorate the place with her legendary touch. Babs is awesome in this movie. She gives one of her best performances. And this is how you make a great holiday film. Funny, romantic, touching and beautfiful to look at. So that's why it's my favorite Christmas movie of all time. And I know I'm a guy, but is it me or did Babs know how to dress or what? Stunning clothes adorn her throughout the movie. Just another reason to love this movie.





Honorable mentions include:
SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954) with Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940) with James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan
I'LL BE SEEING YOU (1946) with Ginger Rogers and Joseph Cotten
SCROOGED (1988) with Bill Murray

White Christmas photos

Here are some photos from the timeless classic White Christmas (1954) starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney.

The 12 Days of Christmas Movies

Sally of Flying Down To Hollywood is hosting a blogging event, inviting eleven bloggers to join her in blogging about favorite Christmas movies. Only a few people have joined up so far, so if you head on over, you can still leave her a comment to let her know you want to participate. Thanks to Amanda of A Noodle in a Haystack for giving me the heads up. Well, my favorite Christmas movie of all time is Christmas in Connecticut but that pick was already taken. So I will go with another of my favorite films, the 1942 comedy The Man Who Came To Dinner.

It is a manic classic comedy set during Christmas with a lots of star power. When the world famous writer and lecturer Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) breaks his leg while visiting the home of a prominent Ohio family, he must stay there to recuperate. The family at first is ecstatic to have him stay until they realize what an over-bearing and pompous windbag he really his. Joining him is his personal assistant Maggie Cutler (a subdued Bette Davis). In between frustrating the head of the family, Sheridan, or Sherry as most everyone calls him, must also contend with a newspaper man who is trying to get an interview. The man and Maggie promptly fall in love and Maggie tells Sherry she is leaving him. That won't do so Sherry calls his favorite actress Lorraine Sheldon (a fabulous Ann Sheridan) to come there and break up the happy couple. There are laughs galore in this film and its at a pretty good clip too. Monty Woolley is outstanding in his role as Sherry. He may be hard to deal with it but in the end he will eventually start warming up to others. It's unusual seeing Ms. Davis in a role like this. I mean she has done comedy before and well, but here she is very low key. There are times she kinda fades into the background and is over powered by Ann Sheridan's character. Davis is still good here but I wish during her confrontation scene with Sheridan she was allowed to let loose. In the meantime Ann Sheridan has an absolute great time as Lorraine, trading wisecracks with Sherry and slinging insults to everyone else. Jimmy Durante pops by for a cameo towards the end and he gets a few laughs. The very funny Billie Burke is also on hand as the mother of the put upon family. The Man Who Came To Dinner is a solid comedy which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's not the traditional Christmas movie like Christmas In Connecticut or White Christmas but it's still a very good movie that just happens to take place during Christmas.

Holiday Cheer: 7/10
Like I said this film is not a traditional Christmas film but it does feature a festive atmosphere with all the decorations and people that come and go. Also when Bette and her would be suitor go to the lake and have a little snowball fun, how can you not love it.

Feel-Good Factor: 9/10
While some of the characters may be sarcastic and mean spirited such as Woolley and Sheridan, it's still a fun movie to watch. I mean, it's a comedy after all. And you will laugh quite a bit during it's runtime.

Overall: 9/10
The Man Who Came To Dinner is a treat for all those who watch it. It's Christmas setting makes it even more appealing to watch during the holidays, but it's such a great movie, you can watch it year round.