A Holiday Showcase: Discovering Underrated Christmas Pictures

One thing that irks concerning many present-day seasonal films is their overly self-awareness – the over-the-top decorations, the predictable soundtrack tunes, and the clichéd dialogue about the essence of the season. Maybe because the category was not ossified into tradition, films from the 1940s often explore Yuletide from far more inventive and not as obsessive angles.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue

A favorite discovery from delving into 1940s Christmas fare is It Happened on Fifth Avenue, a 1947 semi-romantic tale with a brilliant hook: a jovial hobo takes up residence in a unoccupied luxurious estate each year. One winter, he brings in new acquaintances to stay with him, among them a former GI and a runaway who turns out to be the heiress of the property's wealthy proprietor. Director Roy Del Ruth imbues the picture with a makeshift family warmth that most newer holiday movies strive to achieve. The film beautifully occupies the space between a thoughtful narrative on shelter and a delightful city fairytale.

The Tokyo Godfathers

The acclaimed director's 2003 feature Tokyo Godfathers is a engaging, heartbreaking, and thoughtful version on the Christmas narrative. Inspired by a western movie, it centers on a group of homeless people – an alcoholic, a trans woman, and a adolescent throwaway – who discover an discarded infant on the night before Christmas. Their mission to locate the infant's parents triggers a chain of hijinks involving yakuza, foreigners, and apparently serendipitous encounters. The animation doubles down on the wonder of chance frequently found in holiday tales, presenting it with a cinematic animation that sidesteps saccharine emotion.

Introducing John Doe

Although Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life rightly receives plenty of attention, his earlier picture Meet John Doe is a compelling holiday film in its own right. With Gary Cooper as a down-on-his-luck everyman and Barbara Stanwyck as a resourceful writer, the film kicks off with a fictional missive from a man threatening to leap from a rooftop on December 24th in frustration. The people's embrace compels the journalist to recruit a man to play the invented "John Doe," who later becomes a popular symbol for community. The narrative acts as both an heartwarming tale and a pointed skewering of wealthy publishers trying to exploit public feeling for personal ambitions.

A Silent Partner

Whereas holiday horror films are now commonplace, the Christmas thriller remains a somewhat rare style. This makes the 1978 feature The Silent Partner a unique discovery. With a wonderfully menacing Christopher Plummer as a thieving Santa Claus and Elliott Gould as a mild-mannered bank clerk, the story pits two varieties of morally ambiguous individuals against each other in a well-crafted and surprising yarn. Largely unseen upon its first debut, it deserves rediscovery for those who enjoy their festive films with a dark edge.

Almost Christmas

For those who prefer their Christmas gatherings dysfunctional, Almost Christmas is a hoot. Boasting a star-studded ensemble that features Danny Glover, Mo'Nique, and JB Smoove, the story examines the dynamics of a clan compelled to endure five days under one house during the Christmas season. Hidden issues bubble to the surface, resulting in moments of over-the-top comedy, such as a showdown where a firearm is brandished. Of course, the narrative finds a heartwarming resolution, providing all the entertainment of a seasonal catastrophe without any of the real-life aftermath.

The Film Go

Doug Liman's 1999 feature Go is a Christmas-set tale that serves as a teen-oriented interpretation on interconnected stories. While some of its humor may feel product of the 90s upon revisiting, the film nonetheless boasts many elements to appreciate. These include a cool role from Sarah Polley to a memorable performance by Timothy Olyphant as a charming pusher who fittingly dons a Santa hat. It captures a very brand of late-90s cinematic attitude set against a holiday scene.

Morgan's Creek Miracle

The famed director's 1940s film The Miracle of Morgan's Creek skips traditional holiday sentimentality in exchange for cheeky fun. The movie follows Betty Hutton's Trudy Kockenlocker, who ends up with child after a hazy night but cannot identify the man responsible. The bulk of the fun comes from her situation and the efforts of Eddie Bracken's simping Norval Jones to marry her. While not obviously a Christmas film at the outset, the plot culminates on the holiday, revealing that Sturges has created a clever interpretation of the nativity, packed with his signature sharp humor.

Better Off Dead Movie

This 1985 teen movie starring John Cusack, Better Off Dead, is a prime artifact of its time. Cusack's