The King's Speech: A Review

A King’s Courage in Overcoming Adversity Embodies the Spirit of a Nation

“Some have greatness thrust upon them,” Shakespeare once observed. His words are an apt description of Prince Albert’s journey to become King George VI of England. The King’s Speech follows Albert's struggles to overcome a debilitating speech handicap in order to lead his nation through the dark days of World War II.

Prince Albert (called Bertie by his family) never expected nor wanted the throne of England. His older brother Edward, charismatic and confident, was first in line to the throne and seemed the perfect choice to lead the nation. Albert suffered from shyness and his crippling stammer only made it worse. Even before the possibility that Edward might abdicate the throne, Albert tried to find someone who could cure his stutter.

It seemed a fruitless search. After visiting nine therapists, Albert had nearly given up all hope. But his wife, Elizabeth, would stop at nothing to help her husband. She discovered an Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue, of questionable methods and even more questionable qualifications, but who turned out to be just the friend the future king needed.

This inspiring story won The King’s Speech twelve Oscar nominations. But, of course, a good story does not always make a great film. However, The King’s Speech was in good hands with director Tom Hooper. A pro at the historical drama genre, Hooper directed the popular John Adams miniseries and won an Emmy for Elizabeth I.

David Seidler wrote the screenplay that bristles with a dry English humor. When Logue asks Bertie if he knows any jokes, the Prince replies, “Timing isn’t my strong suit.” Yet, the subtle humor does not overpower the story. Seidler wrote a script that engages all of his sympathies – he too suffered from a stutter as a child.

The film also benefits from the strong rapport between Colin Firth (who plays Prince Albert) and Geoffrey Rush (as Lionel Logue). Logue insists on calling the Prince by his Christian name, in defiance of royal etiquette. Logue knows that in order to truly help the Prince, Albert must trust him. Albert must see Logue not as his doctor, but as his friend. Helena Bonham Carter turns in an equally fine performance as Albert’s wife, never wavering in her love and support for her husband.

The King’s Speech is a classic underdog story where an unlikely hero is faced with nearly insurmountable odds. It is said that Prince Albert wept when he learned that his brother Edward had abdicated the throne in order to marry the American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. Albert knew that he would be humiliated as King if he could not conquer his stammer. The introduction of the radio meant that he must speak publicly to the people. Without Logue’s help, perhaps Prince Albert would also have abdicated the throne.

However, Albert’s tenacity and courage to conquer his defect prove that he was more than worthy to lead a nation. Indeed, through his friendship with Logue, Albert truly came to know and respect the common Englishman, a class of people the royalty rarely rubbed shoulders with.

At one point, he angrily asks Logue, “If I am king, where is my power? Can I declare war? Form a government? Levy a tax? No! And yet I am the seat of all authority because they think that when I speak, I speak for them.” By the time the film reaches its climatic scene, we know that King George VI does speak for all English people – for the commoner and for the aristocrat and for all who have conquered adversity. His is a story of triumph.

The movie ends with England’s declaration of war against Germany. And, thus, The King’s Speech is elevated to a parable for the indomitable will of the English people. Though the darkness of Nazi Germany nearly overwhelmed their small island, they too would stand firm and triumph.

Watch the trailer here.

[The King's Speech is rated R for language. There are several scenes where Albert swears during his therapy. However, many viewers were shocked to learn that the film had earned an R rating (it is quite tame compared to some PG-13 movies I've seen, though I would not recommend the film for children). Interestingly enough, however, executive producer Harvey Weinstein is considering recutting the movie in order to gain a PG-13 rating. It may be re-released in theaters later this February. Read more about that here.]

Posted by Nicole Bianchi at 8:02 PM |

The Social Network: A Review

“You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.”

David Fincher’s highly anticipated film, The Social Network, has been advertised as a story about the origins of Facebook, the social networking website that now boasts over 500 million users. But at its heart it is a story about the origins of the site’s creator – the brilliant, arrogant, and entrepreneurial Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg).

Based on Ben Mezrich’s 2009 bestseller The Accidental Billionaires, the movie is fast paced and carried by sharp, witty dialogue. Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay prevents this story from being just another film about a down-on-his-luck-genius who becomes an accidental, overnight billionaire. Rather there is something about the storyline that is exciting, energetic, and suspenseful. The rise to fame is never easy and the view from the top can be lonely.

The Social Network artfully jumps from flashbacks of Zuckerberg’s college years (when he invented Facebook in his Harvard dorm room) to an office where Zuckerberg testifies in depositions in two lawsuits. One involves the Winklevoss brothers (both played by Armie Hammer), who accuse Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for a social networking site. The other involves his best and only friend Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield). Saverin, Facebook’s former CFO, lent Zuckerberg money to start up the website, but was later frozen out. While the audience might sympathize with the claims of Saverin and the Winklevoss twins, Zuckerberg at one point exclaims, “If you were the inventors of Facebook, you would have invented Facebook.” Essentially, this is the story of a man who had a brilliant idea, made that idea a reality, and then found himself the victim of everyone who wanted a piece of his success.

While many of the scenes are lighthearted and there are a few laugh-out-loud moments, the film is actually quite serious and becomes a cautionary tale about the costs of fame. Though a brilliant computer programmer, Zuckerberg was fallible and made a few regrettable decisions along the way. At one point, he follows some bad advice and betrays his best friend for the sake of Facebook. By the end of the film, Zuckerberg may have 500 million Facebook friends, but he finds himself terribly alone. This is one of the subtle messages of the movie – thousands of virtual friends on the Internet cannot substitute for meaningful relationships in everyday life.

And, thus, the movie is a frank portrayal of our culture. Although it is a time of such great opportunity when a young twenty-six year old can become a billionaire, it is also a time of great depersonalization. Perhaps The Social Network has performed so well at the box-office because it is not infected by the culture’s depersonalization. It gives the audience three dimensional characters that we can understand and empathize with: the Winklevoss brothers who had good ideas but not enough drive to see them through; Eduardo Saverin who could not handle living life in the fast lane; Sean Parker (played by Justin Timberlake), the former co-founder of Napster, who jumped onboard the Facebook bandwagon and was destroyed by his own success. But most importantly it is about the creative genius of Mark Zuckerberg and a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an inventor.

Watch the trailer here.

Posted by Nicole Bianchi at 5:19 PM |

Finding Neverland: A Review

This Week’s Edition of Friday at the Movies: Spotlighting Films About Writing (Part II)

Missed last week's edition? Read Part I of this series (a review of Finding Forrester.)

Tonight's Spotlight: Finding Neverland (a review)

This review was originally written in March 2005 following the release of the film.

The story of Peter Pan has endeared itself to young and old alike. Many remember the theatrical adaptations or the bright colors and winsome songs of the Disney cartoon. But to understand the story of the boy who never grew up, one must read the original version written by the Scottish novelist and dramatist, J. M. Barrie. Tinged with childish longing, sorrow, and cruelty, this tale does not have the same feel as its adaptations. One may well wonder why it became a children’s classic. Yet, many parts are also filled with beauty and innocence.

Such is also Finding Neverland: a movie delving into concepts of happiness and sorrow -- the beauty of life and the tragedy of death.

Johnny Depp plays the eccentric novelist, J.M. Barrie, in a winning and believable role. However, as an article in The New Yorker observes, "Depp resembles Barrie in no way, except in his slenderness of form. We get a passable, soft stab at a Scottish burr but no mustache; we see more of the sweet side of Barrie." Indeed, this is not a film about Barrie's life (it barely touches the surface), but it is a well-done tribute and shows how Barrie came upon his inspiration for his most famous play, Peter Pan.

The movie begins in 1904 on the opening night of Barrie's play, Little Mary, which proves a terrible failure. However, the theater manager (played by Dustin Hoffman) is willing to give Barrie a second chance. Slightly scarred by the rejection of his previous attempt, Barrie professes, "I can do better."

Barrie seeks out the solace of Kensington Gardens to begin brainstorming ideas for a new play. Here he finds his inspiration in the form of the four young Llewelyn Davies boys (George, Jack, Michael, and Peter) and their recently widowed mother, Sylvia (played by Kate Winslet).

Barrie, throughout the film pictured as a child at heart, immediately befriends the family. He becomes a sort of surrogate father to the grieving children, enchanting them with afternoon games of Cowboys and Indians, knights and kings, and explorations of "darkest Africa."

Peter (movingly played by the young Freddie Highmore) appears to be the one most affected by his father's death. He has grown up too fast, losing the imagination of a child, unable to participate in the games of his brothers. Barrie helps him to regain the childhood he lost, encouraging him to write and pour out his thoughts on paper.

Barrie sees himself in Peter. When he was only six years old, his older brother, David, died in a skating accident. Barrie explains that his mother was terribly affected by this and would never speak or look at him. One day he dressed up in David's clothes and went to her. He says that after that day the boy James just disappeared. "I like to think he went to Neverland."

Barrie mourns over his lost childhood and that he grew up too quickly. He laments, "Boys should never be sent to bed. They wake up a day older."

But the film does not idolize childhood -- only the innocence and the romantic imagination of children. It is also a beautiful coming of age story. When one of the Davies boys shows concern for his mother, Barrie remarks, "The boy is gone. In the last thirty seconds, you just became a man."

Unfortunately, Barrie's friendship with the Davies means that he spends most of his time with the boys and with Sylvia, instead of trying to mend his crumbling marriage and damaging his reputation in the process. As his life begins to unravel, Barrie is struck by tragedy a second time. And it is clear that the success of his play Peter Pan can do little to ebb the despair he feels inside.

Yet, the film is not so much about tragedy as about not giving up in the face of failure, about inspiring others to pursue their dreams, about the power of friendship. Barrie, even at the rejection of his first play, persists in his novel idea for a new one, helped at every turn by the Davies family. In a touching scene, Barrie and Sylvia encourage Michael to fly a kite, even though he is the smallest and cannot run as fast as the others. And Barrie urges Peter to write a play, even though the boy states that his brothers write better than him.


Further, Finding Neverland shows that imagination can help mend grieving hearts and bring people closer together. However, it does not necessarily advocate escapism. A clear balance exists between being serious and pretending, as Barrie reminds Sylvia at one part in the film over a serious issue, "You can’t keep pretending."

The movie is not without its problems. Lacking a Christian worldview, it does not quite reach the excellence that it could have. There is never a reference to God and Neverland takes on the form of Heaven. It's quite simply Romantic Humanism. This is probably why the conclusion of the film feels a tad bit unsatisfying.

In spite of this, it is a fine piece of storytelling with strong acting, enchanting scenes, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. And, notwithstanding its obvious problems, it still conveys countless truths. Finding Neverland is about growing up but retaining the innocence and wonder of a child, about getting over grief, about understanding death, about comforting people and bringing happiness to others. But, most importantly, it is about the exuberant imagination of a brilliant storyteller. It is about J. M. Barrie.

He thought that he had found that innocence and wonder in the Davies boys. But he was wrong. As Peter exclaims at one part in the film, "I'm not Peter Pan. He is."

Watch the trailer here.

Posted by Nicole Bianchi at 10:02 PM |

Finding Forrester: A Review

This Week’s Edition of Friday at the Movies: Spotlighting Films About Writing

I’m reserving Fridays for writing about some of the movies that I love. This October I’ll be spotlighting five of my favorite films about writing. These are the movies that I turn to when I want to be inspired. I’ll be posting them in alphabetical order over the coming weeks.

Do you have a favorite movie about writing or about a famous writer? Please do share in the comment section below. I’m always looking for more movies to add to my list.

Tonight's Spotlight: Finding Forrester (a review)

"No thinking - that comes later. You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is -- to write, not to think!"

This is one of many writing tips that Jamal Wallace learns from his mentor, William Forrester, in the 2000 drama, Finding Forrester. Theirs is an unlikely friendship. Wallace (played by Rob Brown in his first film role) is an African-American teenager from the Bronx who spends most of his time on the basketball court. Forrester (played by Sean Connery) is a reclusive writer, hiding in an apartment, and using binoculars to spy on the neighborhood. Wallace's friends dare him to sneak into Forrester's apartment one night, but when Forrester finds him, he runs off and accidentally leaves his backpack behind. It turns out that Wallace is an exceptionally gifted writer; his backpack is filled with journals of his writing.

Forrester is annoyed at Wallace for invading his privacy, but tosses the backpack and journals out the window (his comments are scrawled across the pages in red ink). Likewise, Wallace is annoyed at Forrester for reading his journals, but is also intrigued that someone has taken interest in his writing. He returns to the apartment with more of his work and slowly wins over the lonely and rather bitter old man.

Forrester is not the only one to discover Wallace's talent. Although Wallace has been underachieving at his inner city high school in an effort to fit in with his friends, he scores particularly high on the Stanford Achievement Test. This catches the eye of a selective private school (who are also impressed by his skill on the basketball court) and he is soon awarded a scholarship. In this new world and completely different culture, Wallace will find his friendship with Forrester particularly invaluable.

Directed by Gus Van Sant (of Good Will Hunting fame) and written by Mike Rich, Finding Forrester is a classic hollywood tale of unlikely friendship and the importance of following one's dreams. While this storyline might seem a tad cliche, it is rescued by Connery's convincing portrayal of a brilliant author who achieved the success many writers can only dream of, but ultimately found it a hollow victory. It could not bring him happiness.

Connery's and Brown's rapport drive the film, especially their conversations about writing. The film gives  a very unique image of the writer than one we are used to seeing. He is not to be shut up in a room all by himself, banging away on his typewriter. Rather, writing is a communal art, like music or dancing. It is to be shared and read aloud. Writers find their best ideas when brainstorming with others. (C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien certainly understood this when they formed The Inklings).

Though Forrester has much more experience than his young protégé, it is Wallace who utters one of the most mature and insightful lines in the movie, berating Forrester for hiding from the world, and having a locked file cabinet full of writing that nobody else can read. Forrester is squandering his gifts, burying them in the ground like the foolish servant in the Parable of the Talents. People are given gifts in order to use them to impact others, not to shut up their gifts in a drawer. Even if we write everyday, that writing will only be truly alive if others read it and are moved by our turn of phrase. One of the main purposes of writing (and of art in general) is to uplift and encourage the soul of man. Wallace accuses Forrester of being too scared to "walk out that door and do something for somebody else."

Ultimately, Finding Forrester tells a coming of age story about overcoming adversity -- having the tenacity to hone and develop one's individual talents. It certainly does not paint the road to success as trouble-free. Wallace soon comes into conflict with a teacher at his new school who refuses to believe that a student of Wallace's background could possess such a tremendous gift for writing. But Forrester teaches Wallace that it is better to exceed than simply measure up to the expectations of others. And in many ways the film exceeds our own expectations by taking a familiar plot-line and retelling it in a new and inspiring way.

Watch the trailer here.

Posted by Nicole Bianchi at 10:10 PM |

Classic Christmas Films

Celebrate the Christmas Spirit with Films that Evoke a Bygone Era

Many people are far too busy during Christmas and often forget what the holiday truly stands for. I know for my own part that I have been guilty of that. Of course, you may not even realize that you have forgotten. After all, you’re not busy buying presents for yourself, but for others. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Well, not quite. As David Niven observes in the film The Bishop's Wife,

All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's his birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that. Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

Indeed, many Christmas films have wonderful messages about the true meaning of the season and really help you to get past all the wrapping paper and commercialization of the holiday. That’s why I love watching them this time of year.

I’ve compiled a top ten list here of classic Christmas films. I hope that several of these are your favorites or, perhaps, you’ll find one to add to your own list. And if you have a suggestion of a wonderful movie that I have missed out on all these years, please do share!

10. White Christmas (1954)

Although the film suffers from over sentimentality and a paper thin plot, it is rescued by the performances of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as the leads and the wonderful song and dance numbers, all written by Irving Berlin. The movie follows the adventures of two war buddies, turned entertainers, as they help their former army commander save his failing Vermont country inn. Also features the talents of Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen as the love interests. This is a feel-good movie to brighten the holidays. In the words of the classic song, "May your days be merry and bright / And may all your Christmases be white." Watch the trailer here.

9. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

The story-line of this classic film has so endeared itself to the imaginations of the public that it was remade into two movies, the 1949 musical In the Good Old Summertime and the 1998 comedy You've Got Mail. The original movie is set in Budapest and follows the lives of an employer, Hugo Matuschek (Frank Morgan), and his clerks as they prepare for the holidays. Klara Novak (Margaret Sullivan) and Alfred Kralik (Jimmy Stewart) fall in love as they share correspondence, though they do not know the identity of their pen-pal. When Klara is hired at the shop where Kralik works, however, the two become bitter enemies. While the movie revolves around this Shakespearean comic plot, it is also tempered by a hint of sadness -- the driving theme is a fear of loneliness. This leads to a very serious and dramatic twist half-way through that nearly destroys the lives of everyone in the shop. Of course, everything is eventually put to rights and, in a particularly touching scene between Matuschek and the new errand boy, no one is left alone on Christmas Eve. The witty dialogue and excellent acting jobs by all, including the character actors, make this a must-see. Watch the trailer here.

8. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Susan Walker (Natalie Wood) doesn't believe in Santa Claus. Her mother, Doris (Maureen O'Hara), has taught her that fairy tales are silly. Meanwhile a very kind old gentleman, who calls himself Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn in an Academy Award winning role), is hired to be the Santa at Macy's New York City store, after taking the place of an intoxicated Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kris Kringle claims to be the real Santa and his good will and warmheartedness nearly win young Susan and her mother over. But through a series of very unfortunate events, Kringle is confined to a mental hospital and in order to be discharged has to prove his identity in a formal hearing before the New York Supreme Court. Other notable performances are John Payne as Fred Gailey, Kringle's attorney and Doris' love interest, and Gene Lockhart as the skeptical judge, Henry X. Harper. Gailey summarizes the heart of the film when he exclaims, "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles." Watch the trailer here.

7. The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

Monty Woolley stars as Sheridan Whiteside, a famous radio broadcaster who arrives in Mesalia, Ohio to give a lecture and reluctantly accepts an invitation to dine with Ernest and Daisy Stanley (played by Grant Mitchell and Billie Burke respectively). But just as he climbs the icy steps to enter their house, he slips and falls, injuring himself. Bedridden and then later confined to a wheelchair, the cynical Sheridan commandeers the house and servants as he recuperates over the Christmas holidays, overturning the peace of the Stanley household, and refusing to leave. When his secretary Maggie Cutler (Bette Davis) falls in love with the local newspaper man Bert Jefferson (Richard Travis), the egotistical Whiteside does all in his power to destroy the romance, calling on the talents of Lorraine Sheldon (Anne Sheridan) and Banjo (Jimmy Durante). Reginald Gardiner also turns in a fine performance as Beverly Carlton; he would later appear in Christmas in Connecticut as well. Indeed, the star studded cast is one of the reasons this movie has become a holiday classic, and the sharp, speedy dialogue only adds to the fun. This is the fear of one's holiday guests overstaying their visit taken to a most hilarious extent. Watch the trailer here.

6. Remember the Night (1940)

Lee Leander (Barbara Stanwyck) faces spending Christmas in jail after shoplifting a bracelet, but assistant district attorney John Sargent (Fred MacMurray) takes pity on her, posts her bail, and offers to drive her to her family in Indiana. Lee's mother cruelly turns her daughter away, however, so John invites Lee to his own family's home for Christmas. When the film was released, Frank Nugent wrote in his review for The New York Times, "It is a memorable film, in title and in quality, blessed with an honest script, good direction and sound performances...a drama stated in the simplest human terms of comedy and sentiment, tenderness and generosity...warm, pleasant and unusually entertaining." The film encapsulates the Christmas spirit as a story of redemption and the power of love. Watch the trailer here.

5. The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Cary Grant is Dudley, an angel sent to earth in answer to the prayers of Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven). The Bishop is trying to build a new cathedral, but has run into trouble about the funds and prays for "guidance." His obsession with the project has led him to neglect his beautiful, but unhappy wife Julia (Loretta Young) and daughter Debby (Karolyn Grimes, who would later play Zuzu in It's a Wonderful Life). While Brougham would very much like the angel to show him a way to get the needed money from the wealthy Mrs. Hamilton (Gladys Cooper), Dudley's guidance is much different. The angel touches the lives of all (including the disillusioned professor Wutheridge, played by Monty Woolley), reminding them of the true meaning of Christmas -- selflessness and loving kindness. A Christmas gem -- who would think Cary Grant could play an angel so convincingly? Watch the trailer here.

4. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Barbara Stanwyck stars in another Christmas movie as journalist Elizabeth Lane, who writes a column about her gourmet cooking and her life on a farm with her husband and infant son. The only trouble is Lane can't cook, lives in a small apartment in New York City, isn't married, and doesn't have a child. When her publisher, Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet), wants to send war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) to her farm for Christmas and decides to invite himself as well, Lane and her editor, Dudley Beecham (Robert Shayne) risk losing their jobs. But with the help of her friend Felix Bassenak (S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall), who owns a local restaurant, and John Sloan (Reginald Gardiner), her relentless suitor who owns a farm in Connecticut, everything looks like it may turn out "hunky dunky" (in the words of Felix). The screwball comedy is a delight to watch with strong performances by all. Connecticut really does seem the perfect place to spend Christmas. Watch the trailer here.

3. Holiday Inn (1942)

Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" was originally written for this film and soon became one of the best loved Christmas songs and the best selling single of all time. Bing Crosby plays Jim Hardy, a singer engaged to the lovely Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale), who plans to quite his job as an entertainer and buy a farm in Connecticut. Lila, however, would rather remain in showbusiness and leaves Hardy for his former partner, dancer Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire). Hardy, however, persists in his dream of farm life. Yet, disillusioned by the hard work, he decides to convert the farm into an inn that will only open during the holidays. The inn turns out to be a huge success, especially thanks to the talents of Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), who has been looking for a way to break into the entertainment industry. Hardy is soon falling in love with Linda, but one night Hanover shows up at the inn searching for a new dance partner. Lila left him for a millionaire. Will Hardy be jilted again and his inn forced to close? The beauty of this film is that it does not only revolve around Christmas, but has song and dance numbers for nearly every holiday from July 4th to Valentine's Day to Easter to Thanksgiving.  Watch the trailer here.

2. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

It seems incredible that this Christmas classic did rather miserably at the box office when first released. The American Film Institute now names it as number one on their list of the most inspirational American films of all time. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) dreams of leaving the small town of Bedford Falls. He reads National Geographic as a young boy and saves up his money to go to college and travel around the world. At one point, he exclaims, "I'm shakin' the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I'm gonna see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum. Then, I'm comin' back here to go to college and see what they know. And then I'm gonna build things. I'm gonna build airfields, I'm gonna build skyscrapers a hundred stories high, I'm gonna build bridges a mile long... " But George's dreams are shattered when his father suddenly dies, forcing him to take over the family business, the Bailey Building and Loan. George consistently sacrifices his dreams for the sake of others, settling down in Bedford Falls and marrying Mary Hatch (Donna Reed). But even this little world is shattered on Christmas Eve and George, believing his life has been a failure, nearly kills himself. He is rescued by an angel Clarence (Henry Travers) who gives George a glimpse of what Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never lived. Clarence comments, "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" Capra's classic is equal parts nostalgic, touching, humorous, and thought-provoking. Stewart delivers one of the finest performances of his career. Lionel Barrymore is at his best as the horribly evil Henry F. Potter. All can relate to the struggles of George Bailey, who ultimately understood that though his personal dreams were never realized, he really did have a wonderful life. Watch the trailer here.

1. Scrooge (1951)

Although there have been numerous film adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim's performance as Scrooge is often considered the best. The film presents Dickens' story with little changes or additions (and what additions there are work wonderfully for this version). Scrooge, a hard hearted old businessman, is haunted by three spirits on Christmas Eve who give him a chance to repent and forsake his miserly ways. Mervyn Johns delivers a convincing performance as Scrooge's clerk, Bob Cratchit, and young Glyn Dearman as Tiny Tim seems to mean every word he says when he declares, "God bless us, every one." The Spirit of Christmas Present emphasizes the true meaning of the holidays when he states, "We Spirits of Christmas do not live only one day of our year. We live the whole three-hundred and sixty-five. So is it true of the Child born in Bethlehem. He does not live in men's hearts one day of the year, but in all days of the year." Watch the trailer here.

Posted by Nicole Bianchi at 10:22 PM |