A Seasonal Showcase: Discovering Hidden Gem Holiday Movies

One thing that annoys me about numerous contemporary holiday features is their overly meta-commentary – the over-the-top decorations, the formulaic soundtrack tunes, and the canned dialogue about the essence of the holidays. Maybe because the genre hadn't yet solidified into formula, movies from the 1940s often approach Christmas from increasingly imaginative and not as obsessive perspectives.

The Affair on Fifth Avenue

An favorite discovery from sifting through 1940s Christmas comedies is It Happened on Fifth Avenue, a 1947 semi-romantic tale with a great concept: a jovial drifter spends the winter in a empty posh estate each year. One winter, he welcomes fellow down-on-their-luck individuals to live with him, including a veteran and a runaway who is secretly the daughter of the mansion's affluent proprietor. Filmmaker Roy Del Ruth gives the film with a makeshift family warmth that most newer seasonal stories have to labor to attain. The film expertly walks the line between a socially aware story on housing and a whimsical urban fairytale.

Tokyo Godfathers

The acclaimed director's 2003 tragicomedy Tokyo Godfathers is a entertaining, poignant, and profound interpretation on the festive story. Inspired by a John Wayne picture, it centers on a group of down-and-out people – an drinker, a trans character, and a teenage throwaway – who find an discarded newborn on a snowy December night. Their journey to locate the infant's parents triggers a series of misadventures involving gangsters, foreigners, and apparently serendipitous coincidences. The movie embraces the magic of chance typically found in holiday flicks, delivering it with a stylish visual style that steers clear of cloying emotion.

The John Doe Story

Although Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life rightly earns plenty of attention, his earlier picture Meet John Doe is a powerful seasonal film in its own right. Starring Gary Cooper as a down-on-his-luck everyman and Barbara Stanwyck as a plucky writer, the film starts with a fake note from a man threatening to leap from a ledge on the holiday in frustration. The public's response leads the journalist to hire a man to portray the mythical "John Doe," who subsequently becomes a popular icon for community. The film serves as both an inspiring fable and a brutal critique of wealthy publishers attempting to manipulate public feeling for political gain.

Silent Partner

While holiday horror movies are now a dime a dozen, the holiday crime caper remains a strangely underpopulated style. This makes the 1978 film The Silent Partner a fresh surprise. Starring a superbly menacing Christopher Plummer as a criminal Santa Claus and Elliott Gould as a mild-mannered bank employee, the story pits two types of amoral characters against each other in a stylish and surprising tale. Mostly unseen upon its first release, it deserves rediscovery for those who like their holiday stories with a chilling edge.

Christmas Almost

For those who enjoy their family reunions messy, Almost Christmas is a hoot. Boasting a stellar ensemble that includes Danny Glover, Mo'Nique, and JB Smoove, the film explores the tensions of a family forced to share five days under one roof during the festive period. Private problems come to the surface, leading to moments of over-the-top humor, such as a confrontation where a shotgun is pulled out. Of course, the film arrives at a heartwarming ending, giving all the fun of a family disaster without any of the real-life cleanup.

Go Movie

Doug Liman's 1999 movie Go is a Yuletide-themed story that is a young-adult interpretation on crisscrossing narratives. Although some of its comedy may feel of its time upon a modern viewing, the film nonetheless contains several elements to enjoy. These include a composed performance from Sarah Polley to a standout appearance by Timothy Olyphant as a dangerous drug dealer who amusingly wears a Santa hat. It captures a specific style of late-90s movie attitude set against a holiday scene.

Morgan's Creek Miracle

The famed director's 1940s farce The Miracle of Morgan's Creek rejects typical holiday cheer in return for bawdy comedy. The movie follows Betty Hutton's character, who finds herself expecting after a drunken night but cannot identify the man responsible. Much of the comedy arises from her condition and the efforts of Eddie Bracken's lovestruck Norval Jones to marry her. Although not explicitly a holiday movie at the start, the narrative winds up on the festive day, revealing that Sturges has crafted a clever version of the nativity, packed with his characteristic witty humor.

Better Off Dead

This 1985 teen comedy featuring John Cusack, Better Off Dead, is a prime artifact of its decade. Cusack's