The 1940’s is packed full of old time Christmas classics. From Holiday Inn to Miracle on 34st Street, we settle down and reminiscence over our top ten festive flicks from the 40s.
Watching the same Christmas movies can become a little tiring (there’s only so many times you can watch Home Alone without wanting to scream at Kevin!) so this year, try something a little different, pop in one of these classics and even better yet..watch them in black and white!
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1. Holiday Inn (1942) Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Virginia Dale.
An absolute must for over Christmas time, this is the classic story of Jim Hardy, Ted Hanover and Lila Dixon who have a musical act popular in New York City. Jim decides on christmas Eve to pack it all in and move to Connecticut with Lila by his side. Not all goes to plan as Lila decides she is not ready to quit acting and wants to be Ted’s dancing partner.
Jim continues with his plan, however the following year (on Christmas Eve) he starts new plans to turn his farm into an entertainment venue called the “Holiday Inn”.
Packed full of romance, comedy and of course some very well known songs such as “White Christmas” there is little wonder why it won three huge awards.
2. The Shop Around The Corner (1940) Starring: James Stewart, Margaret Sullivan, and Frank Morgan.
This romantic comedy produced by Ernst Lubitch is our Christmas version of You’ve Got Mail, but instead of a book shop it is a gift shop.
This magical story all begins with two employees Alfred and Klara (the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks of the story) who can barely stand to be around one another, however little do they know they are falling in love with each other as anonymous correspondents through their letters.
We can hear you all “Awwww”
3. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan and Sydney Greenstreet.
This was one movie none of UnderTheChristmasTree’s team had ever seen…we can hear your gasps! However once we had, it has become a new classic to watch ever year. Created by Warner Brothers Pictures, the film is around one hour and forty minutes long and is in black and white.
Elizabeth Lane is a successful writer of love, marriage and food column for popular Smart Housekeeping magazine. Her readers believe Elizabeth is the do it all housewife – but how wrong they can be? The truth is that she doesn’t do any of those things, in fact she’s hopeless and lives on her own in a modest Manhattan apartment.
Her boss, who is none the wiser, has invited himself and a war hero to her farm at Christmas. Will Elizabeth’s plan to not get found out be pulled off? You can only hazzard a guess!
4. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers and Lionel Barrymore.
Can you hear the sound of bells? If so an angel has just got its wings! This heartfelt classic will have you laughing, crying and feeling very cheesy all at once!
The story begins when a depairingly disheartened business man (George Bailey) decides suicide is his only and final option (don’t worry it does pick up!) however when Clarence (an angel who is trying to earn his wings) shows him what life would have been like if he never existed and what would have happened if he handn’t given up his dreams in order to help others.
Get the popcorn at the ready as you will not want to move from the sofa while watching this top movie!
5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Starring: Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne and Natalie Wood
Do you believe? We do!! Miracle on 34th Street will have you rooting for Santa. The story begins when business woman Doris Walker asks a nice old man to take the place of a drunken bum in New York’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. The old man believes he is Santa Claus and has even Susan (Doris’s daughter) believeing too. He is then institutionalized as insane, however Fred (a young lawyer who likes Doris) helps to defend him.
You won’t be able to find someone who doesn’t love this romatic, heart warming flick.
6. Christmas Holiday (1944) Starring: Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, and Richard Whorf.
Based on the Christmas novel Christmas Holiday, the film is about a woman who marries an aristocrat who inherits his family’s stake of violence and threats. After he is arrested (phew!)she runs away changing everything about herself, including her name.
If you are looking for a forties movie with a little adventure and Gene Kelly this one gets our thumbs up.
7. Disney Fantasia (1940) Starring: Mickey Mouse!
Now, even though we know this is not a Christmas film, you and the whole family can enjoy this over December. This animated film, produced by Walt Disney, features Mickey Mouse as an aspiring magician who over steps his limits.
With a couple of mini movies such as “The Rite of Spring” and Night on Bald Mountain” you can gurantee a fun night in on those cold and breezy nights.
8. Casablanca (1942) Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid
Casablanca, is not a festive movie, however with that said, this is a beloved wartime movie with romance and intrigue throughout – great for a cosy night in.
The story of is of Rick Blaine, a world-weary ex-freedom fighter who runs a nightclub in Casablanca during the early part of WWII. A great haven for refugees looking to purchase illicit letters of transit, which will allow them to escape to America. Rick is approached by a rebel Victor Laszlo and his wife Ilsa (Rick’s true love who desrted him when Nazi’s invaded Paris) needs help to escape to American, but will Ilsa leave Rick or will she stay in Casablanca?
If the grandparents are around, this is one to keep them entertained.
9. The Bishop’s Wife (1947) starring: Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven.
Bishop Henry Brougham, has worked for months on plans for a new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for by a wealthy, stubborn widow. As the task starts to make him lose sight of his family, Dudley (an angel) decides to help Henry in his own way, but all he can think is he is there to replace him in family and church.
One of those ‘I already know the ending’ movies, however still an ideal choice when sitting as a family.
10. It Happened On Fifth Avenue (1947) Starring: Don Defore and Ann Harding.
If you haven’t seen this then make sure to put it onto your list as it will have you smiling from start to finish. The story of a homeless New Yorker who moves into a mansion with friends, but before he realises it he is living with the actual homeowners.
Get the glistening fire on, pour a cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course) and cuddle up on the sofa with our top 10 Christmas movies of the 1940’s.
What forties movie is your number one? Do you still watch any of these today? Get involved in UnderTheChristmasTree’s ByGone Christmases series by commenting below.
