Every time my husband and I watch the movie, LOVE ACTUALLY, which by the way has become our Christmas Eve tradition, you can nearly hear a pin drop or the dog snoring when Jamie remarks to his girlfriend, who has just said she would marry him, "You learned English." She responds with, "Just in cases." That's our favorite moment in the movie followed by the ending when everyone at the airport is greeting their friends and loved ones while the Beach Boys sing, "God Only Knows."
I love Christmas, Christmas movies and Christmas songs but have you ever thought about how many times Christmas has been used as the backdrop for many films that are NOT really Christmas movies? Well, there are many and I tend to watch these movies all year long because I enjoy the movie and not just because Christmas is mentioned it.
Take the movie, SERENDIPITY, starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. It starts out at Christmas and ends at Christmas but in between is where the story grows. The true delight is that the romance occurs because of Christmas. Love that about it.
Many of my favorites are older films from days gone by such as BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE starring Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart. It's Christmas Eve, she's a witch, he's a publisher, she hates his girlfriend, he's enamoured of her, she wants revenge, and he ends up the poor victim. Of course, after she uses magic to steal him away from the vicious girlfriend, she falls in love and well, her New Year doesn't quite turn out the way she expected. Love this one!
And how about the most romantic, tear-jerker of them all - AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Is there anyone, anywhere, who hasn't wiped away a tear of joy when they embrace at the end? Come on, I know you're tearing up just thinking about it. Well, what time of year is it when he discovers she's crippled and that it was why she didn't meet him at the top of the Empire State building in June?? It's CHRISTMAS, of course!
There are so many more wonderful movies that use Christmas as a backdrop or as an intricate part of the story and I could probably go on for days talking about them. For example, Tom Hanks has starred in a couple that I can think of right away.
I hope this has inspired you to check out some that I've mentioned and perhaps seek out a few of your own forgotten favorites. Perhaps you'll share one of your favorites with us.
Enjoy the season and Happy Reading (and Movie Watching) Everyone!
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