It's that time of year again! Christmas is right around the corner. It's time to get cozy with a warm cup of hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie. With new Christmas movies being released every year, sometimes the older Christmas movies are lost in the dust.
If you are a fan of Old Hollywood, you definitely need to check these movies out if you haven't already. Here are Christmas movies that are important to add to your holiday movie queue if classical-era films are your thing.
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
George Bailey, a man who is good to his core, is about to get arrested on Christmas Eve. He made a genuine mistake and is being taken advantage of. On the brink of suicide, his guardian angel materializes and shows George how different the world would be without him.
After George sees his impact, he is brought back to his life. This movie shows how, if you lead in love, love will always surround you. Released in 1946, this film embodies the Christmas spirit. It is filmed in black and white, giving it the charm of Old Hollywood.
Christmas In Connecticut (1945)
Elizabeth Lane, played by Barbara Stanwyck, is a food writer. She is single living in a Manhattan apartment, but her food column would say differently. Her fans, and even her publisher, think that she is lives in Connecticut on a farm with her husband and baby. Her publisher insists that she host a Christmas celebration at her farm for a returning war hero who read all of her articles during his recovery.
The harmless chaos of this film will keep you laughing the entire time. This lighthearted film has an idyllic backdrop of a cozy farm. Any fan of Old Hollywood will love this film. Also shot in black and white, this film was released in 1945.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
The first Rankin/Bass Christmas special, this movie was released in 1964. It's a classic tale of Rudolph and how he saved Christmas. It's narrated by Burl Ives, who plays Sam the Snowman. The stop motion animation is truly a staple of the era and can bring anyone back to their childhood.
The story has its ups and downs, but its old school charm will keep you watching. Old Hollywood fans will love the soundtrack, animation, and story of this film. It almost feels wrong to watch it without commercials!
White Christmas (1954)
Two men, one a performer, and one an aspiring performer, hit the road after the end of WWII. They meet two performing sisters, and, in an attempt to find love, they all end up on an overnight train to Vermont for the holidays. When they arrive, they are met with many surprises. Old faces, warm weather, and much more.
This movie, released in 1954, was the first VistaVision film. It has Christmas charm woven into each scene, each song, and each moment. It is the essential Old Hollywood Christmas film.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charles M. Schulz and Vince Guaraldi came together to create the legacy that is A Charlie Brown Christmas. This TV Special is 25 minutes of Christmas. It follows the Peanuts characters as Charlie is struggling to find the real meaning of Christmas. But, with some help from Linus and the gang, he finds it.
Sticking together Schulz's charming cartoon animation and Guaraldi's mesmerizing jazz score, this special is a hit amongst all ages. Old Hollywood fans will appreciate the animation as well as the allure of the enchanting soundtrack. Sadly, this year, A Charlie Brown Christmas will not be broadcast on cable TV, and people are not happy about it.
Holiday Inn (1942)
The song White Christmas is one of the quintessential Christmas songs. Many people may make the mistake of thinking that it was written for Irving Berlin's White Christmas, but it actually was written for this movie. Irving Berlin actually wrote 12 original songs for this film.
This award-winning romantic comedy stars Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Bing Crosby plays Jim Hardy, a man who leaves a big NYC gig to open an inn that is open only on national holidays. Each holiday has a performance and celebration that goes along with it. If you love Old Hollywood, you'll love Holiday Inn!
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
Everyone struggles with when to tell their children that Santa is not real. But, in this Christmas classic, a department store Santa claims to be the real Santa Claus, and the kind, honest, multi-lingual Santa Claus stirs up public noise.
This 1947 film warms the hearts of Christmas lovers to this day. It stars a young Natalie Wood and is a staple if you love Old Hollywood and Christmas movies.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
This Christmas movie is another animated TV Special. Based on the book by Dr. Seuss, it was narrated by horror movie extraordinaire Boris Karloff, strangely enough, and his voice echoes. This movie's colorful animation and soundtrack featuring Christmas classics You're a Mean One Mister Grinch and Welcome Christmas will bring you back to the good ol' days.
This movie was released in 1966, and it still holds up today. Old Hollywood fans will love to hear Boris Karloff's voice preserved as he narrates the story of The Grinch.
Meet Me In St. Louis (1945)
This film is not necessarily a Christmas movie. It follows the Smith Family who live in St. Louis. After they are told they must move to New York City for their father's work, they are all heartbroken. No one wants to leave their friends, relationships, or plans for the future.
The reason why it is on this list despite its lack of holiday themes is due to its rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland. This song and scene are so iconic that it earns this movie a spot on this list.
Little Women (1994)
This 1994 film is based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott by the same title. The story is about four sisters in mid-19th-century Massachusetts. The sisters have different dreams, but the same childhood in common. The movie follows their struggles, romances, friendships, financial burdens, and many more of the intricacies of a family.
Its beautiful placement in a quaint home, and its winter scenes earn it a place on this list. Although it came out much more recently than some of the films on this list, this period piece feels like an old film in all the charming ways possible.