And so my Christmas viewings come to a close. It was 25 Years ago that I started my December Christmas watchings. Before I tended to watch what was on TV, although I would watch the BEN-HUR (1959) Nativity Prologue several Christmas Eves. December 1994, I decided to take the step of watching videos of KING OF KINGS, BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (the Nativity Prologue), MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, JESUS OF NAZARETH (the Infancy Narrative part), MST3K’S “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.” I also viewed THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS “The First Christmas” episode on The Learning Channel. As the years passed, my viewings grew and grew.
THE SCOOBY DOO AND SCRAPPY DOO SHOW (1979) “The Sorcerer’s a Menace” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. Warner DVD.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF FLASH GORDON (1979) “The Desert Hawk” 40TH ANNIVERSARY. BCI Eclipse DVD.
THE TRANSFORMERS (1984) “Fire on the Mountain” 35TH ANNIVERSARY After seemingly killed in “Fire in the Sky”, Skyfire is revived to help the Autobots fight the Decepticons at a Mexican Temple. Shout DVD.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1995) “The Final Victor.” Final episode of the Anime series, set on Christmas Eve. Bandai DVD.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING ENDLESS WALTZ (1996) Finale to the MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING Series. This was made into two versions: a three-part OVA series and a feature-length film (I viewed the first two episodes "Falling Stars" & "Operation Meteor" and then the remainder on the feature edit). I first saw this on Cartoon Network in November 2000, and then on December 23, where its Christmas setting felt like an appropriate film to watch on the Holiday. Bandai DVD.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1979) “Ted Knight/Desmond Child and Rogue” 40TH ANNIVERSARY Airing December 22, 1979, the last Christmas episode of the original cast (well, as original minus Dan Akroyd and John Belushi), not to mention the last SNL episode of the 1970s. The highlight of this episode is the controversial Nerds Nativity (Todd and Lisa- referred to as physically correct for the part- playing the Holy Family for a School pageant) which almost didn’t get aired that night. There is also a running gag of promos featuring Gary Coleman in everything. Universal DVD.
KING OF KINGS (1961) With the exception of DAY OF TRIUMPH, this was the first onscreen Jesus film during the Biblical Epic franchise of the 1950s (although Jeffrey Hunter’s Hearthrob status led to many calling it I WAS A TEENAGE JESUS, never mind Hunter was in his early 30s), and I know it was my first Jesus film. I first saw it- actually Part Two- on Cinemax as soon as I got home from school for XMAS vacation December 21 1989. I saw more of it on December 23 1990 and then the whole thing on Good Friday 1991, falling for Miklos Rosza’s epic score. Since then it’s been a Christmas film for me, usually viewed on December 22-23. Warner Blu-Ray.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1932) Disney Sequel to SANTA’S WORKSHOP, with Santa Claus delivering his toys to one household. This and WORKSHOP were viewed on a collection called A WALT DISNEY CHRISTMAS VHS. Aside from a reissue title credits, this is uncut with a scene involving blackface.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1941) Tom and Jerry’s third Animated short, with the aggressive duo making a truce. I first saw this on a TV compilation TOM AND JERRY CHRISTMAS in 1990. Warner DVD.
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY (1931) MGM short of Jackie Cooper having a Christmas Party with his friends (and their friends and hanger-ons), served by Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, Marion Davies, Charlotte Greenwood, Cliff Edwards, Lionel Barrymore, Anita Page, Marie Dressler, Wallace Beery, Polly Moran, and Jimmy Durante. Saw parts of this on docus before, but viewed the whole package on Turner Classic Movies- this was the first week of its programming to my home- on December 23, 1996. Warner DVD.
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942) Film Adaptation of Broadway Play with Monty Woosley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, and Jimmy Durante. Usually I watch this on TCM Christmas Eve/Day, but I thought ‘What the heck!’ and viewed it on DVD. Warner DVD.
JESUS OF NAZARETH (1977) “Part One” Since 1994, I view the Infancy Narrative part of the TV-Miniseries, with Olivia Hussey, Cyril Cusack, Benerti, Peter Ustinov, and Fernando Rey, James Earl Jones, and Donald Pleasance as the Wise Men. Import BluRay.
THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE AND FRIENDS (1959) “Jet Rocket Fuel Formula Parts 11 & 12” 60TH ANNIVERSARY. Includes FRACTURED FAIRY TALES “Beauty and the Beast” (the first time the series veers way off from the conventional storyline, unlike the previous episodes) and Mr. Peabody and Sherman meet Franz Schubert. Sony Wonder DVD.
THE BOX OF DELIGHTS (1984) “Leave Us Not Little Nor Yet Dark” 35TH ANNIVERSARY Conclusion of the John Masefield Novel adaptation, as Kay Harker rescues Cole Hawlings and makes sure that Tarchester Cathedral has its 1000th Christmas Mass. BBC PAL DVD.
BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST (1925) It has been 30 years since I saw this Silent epic. Christmas Eve 1989 when TNT had a silent film marathon called “Silent Night.” (here is a link to the promos at 0.00 and 2.22
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHdzQrw20cI) I saw bits of it on broadcast, with scenes that remained in my thoughts- the Technicolor Nativity (a color silent!), Roman guards tearing through the Hur Gates, the dead slave abandoned in the desert, Simonidies denying Judah, Iras telling Messala about Judah, the Chariot Race (where I thought Messala was Ben-Hur), the wraith-like lepers going “Unclean!”. I saw more of it that next Christmas “Silent Night” broadcast in 1990, and then the whole film on TNT in March 1992 as part of the network’s MGM marathon from MGM: THE LION ROARS (Here is the link
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuK-sLVTajU). Since 1994, I have watched the film every Christmas Eve. I viewed 98% of this film on my Warner DVD, but the final climax- Via Dolorosa and the Crucifixion- I viewed on said 1992 VHS recording, because it possesses a shot of Christ’s nailed hand- a scene absent in present prints.
TAILOR TINKER SOLDIER SPY (1979) 40TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Six-Part BBC TV Serial based on John La Carre’s Spy Novel with Alec Guinness, Michael Jayston, Bernard Hepton, Alexander Knox, and Ian Richardson. BBC DVD.
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MISS MARPLE (1984) “The Body in the Library” 35TH ANNIVERSARY. First episode (a three-parter) in the first TV Series adaptation of Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth, with Joan Hickson. BBC Video DVD.
DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939) 80TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Marlene Deitrich’s comeback picture, a western full of catfights and girl power. Interesting to see James Stewart and Samuel S. Hinds on opposing sides, considering their more wholesome relationship in
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. First saw this on American Movie Classics back on 1991. Universal DVD.
FROM HAND TO MOUTH (1919) 100TH ANNIVERSARY. Harold Lloyd’s first film with future wife Marion Davies. New Line Cinema DVD.
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS (1969) “The Royal Philharmonic Goes to the Bathroom” 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Paramount VHS.
ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (1969) 50TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Maxwell Anderson’s play on Henry VIII’s decisive relationship with Anne Boleyn, starring Richard Burton, Geneiveve Bujold, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos, Irene Papas, Peter Jeffrey, William Squire, and Michael Hordern (Elizabeth Taylor has a cameo as a courtier walking into Catherine of Aragon’s prayer room). This would begin a few years of Tudor dramas on Cinema and Television (Universal Studios, Producer Hal Wallis, and Director Charles Jarrott would try to repeat the success for MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS). Next month (and year) will see another major Henry VIII production…but that will be next week. I first saw the beginning and end of this film on Encore back in 1994. The rest was at my History Class in 1996 (I recall one of my classmates likened Irene Papas to the Wicked Witch of the West), through a VHS recording from the Disney Channel (it was unfinished recording- missing the first ten minutes- so I offered to record another broadcast for my history teacher). Universal DVD.
SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949) 70TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Back then, the three films I associated with Cecil B. DeMille was CLEOPATRA, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, and this forerunner of the Muscleman epic with Victor Mature, our internet Founding Mother Hedy Lamarr, George Sanders, Henry Wilcoxon, and the early-20s Angela Lansbury (playing Thirtysomething Lamarr’s OLDER sister). One notes blueprint to the future COMMANDMENTS: Storyteller Francis MacDonald getting abused by the conquerors, Olivia Deering as a character named Miriam, an order to kill the first borns, etc. First saw the temple collapse years ago, then saw the complete film for Christmas in 1991 (as a two-tape, even though it was 133 minutes). Paramount DVD.
THE RETURN OF THE KING: A TALE OF HOBBITS (1979) 40TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Rankin-Bass’ sequel to THE HOBBIT covers the final chapter of THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy (I figure they adapted RETURN seeing how Ralph Bakshi had already adapted THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE TWO TOWERS) with the return of John Huston (as Gandalf), Orson Bean (reprising Bilbo while playing Frodo), Don Messick, Paul Frees, Glenn Yarbrough, as well as Roddy MacDowall (as Samwise), Casey Kasem, William Conrad, Theodor Bikel, and John Stephenson. Although Peter Jackson is the better film, there are aspects of this adaptation I felt were better handled- How the Ring manipulates its possessor, Eowyn’s speech to the Witch King, the depiction of Grond, the battering ram. These Rankin Bass films were my first experience with Tolkein. I would see RETURN several times in my childhood, although I believe my first full lucid viewing was on the Disney Channel in August 1991. VHS.