The Top Five Christmas Movie Musicals

Entertainment and Media - Movies

By: ponchomeg 03-Nov-2010

Browsing Entertainment and Media Lists

Introduction:

Musicals offer up a certain kind of magic that is perfect for the holiday season. But when musicals involve Christmas, there's even more magic to be had. Here are the top five Christmas movie musicals to enjoy!

White Christmas (1954)

This is a classic musical that includes dancing, romance, and the great songs "Sisters," "Snow," "Counting Blessings Instead of Sheep," and "White Christmas." And did I mention soldiers? After leaving the Army following World War II, former military men Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) team up and become a top song-and-dance act. When they meet a pair of beautiful sisters, Betty Haynes(Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes(Vera Ellen), who also have a song-and-dance act, they become enthralled. And when Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find out that their former commander, General Waverly, is the lodge owner... and that the lodge is in trouble! A series of romantic mix-ups, memorable songs and dances, and tender moments follow as they try to help the beloved General. (I personally love watching this one right before I go to sleep on Christmas Eve.)

Scrooge (1970)

"Scrooge" is the musical re-telling of the classic Charles Dicken's story "A Christmas Carol," in which an old, lonely, selfish miser named Ebenezer Scrooge (Albert Finney) learns that there is more to life, and to Christmas, through his encounters with three Christmas spirits on Christmas Eve. Included are the songs "I Hate People," "Father Christmas," "Happiness," "I Like Life," "Thank You Very Much," the touching "I'll Begin Again," and many more.

Mrs. Santa Claus (TV 1996)

In this fun, made for tv, movie musical, Mrs. Santa Claus (Angela Lansbury) is feeling neglected by her husband, Santa Claus, during the pre-Christmas rush. So she decides to take the reindeer and the sleigh out for a little drive; only to end up stranded in Manhattan's Lower East Side in the early 1900s. Will she make it home in time for Christmas? Filled with magical Christmas scenery, great songs, beautiful costumes, and Angela Lansbury, "Mrs. Santa Claus" is a great musical for the holiday season.

Rent (2005) or Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008)

Whether you choose the movie version or the stage version, "Rent" is a great musical to watch during the holiday season. Not only does most of the story take place on two Christmas Eves in New York, but "Rent" also teaches us a lot about friendship, diversity, love, forgiveness, struggle, and living for "no day but today," which are all great things to think about during the holiday season. Jonathan Larson's "Rent" is based on Puccini's opera "La Boheme," and is the story of a group of Bohemians struggling to get by while still trying to live life on their own terms and follow their dreams. The story centers around roommates Roger and Mark and their circle of friends, former friends, loves, and former lovers, who are all dealing with issues from poverty to drug abuse to AIDS. With amazing songs like "One Song Glory," "Light My Candle," "Out Tonight," "Another Day," "Christmas Bells," "I'll Cover You," "Take Me or Leave Me," "Without You," and the inspirational "Seasons of Love," Rent is a musical to enjoy over and over, at Christmas time and all year round.

Holiday Inn (1942)

"Holiday Inn," is not entirely a "Christmas movie," because it actually features lots of holidays; but it sure is great for Christmas time. In it, Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) and Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), are friends and entertainers working at a club in New York City with Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale). Jim loves Lila and has plans of retiring and marrying her, but he is surprised to find out that Lila really loves Ted and intends on marrying him instead. So Jim moves out to Midville, Connecticut, and after a year of lonliness, decides to turn his farmhouse into a night club that is only open on holidays: The Holiday Inn. Jim later hires former flower shop girl Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), as an entertainer at the Holiday Inn and is smitten with her. Meanwhile, after Lila breaks their engagement, a depressed and drunk Ted comes to Jim's Holiday Inn and meets Linda. And we all wonder... will history repeat itself? Will Linda choose Ted or Jim? You'll have to watch to find out! With music for many holidays of the year, this film is great all year round, but with the Academy Award winning song "White Christmas," being featured, it is perfect for Christmas time.

Final Thoughts

Another great Christmas movie musical is the Disney animated movie "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas." It really has a nice story, good music, and some great voices include Paige O'Hara, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Jerry Orbach.