Now that you’ve had a chance to listen to radio productions of both It’s A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, how about A Christmas Carol?
This version was produced by the BBC and it features Sir Ralph Richardson in the roles of both Scrooge and the storyteller!
From 1965, here is A Christmas Carol!
I’ve spent so much time talking about how much I love It’s A Wonderful Life that I’m running the risk of overlooking my second favorite Christmas film of all time, 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street!
So, now that you’ve had a chance to enjoy the radio version of It’s A Wonderful Life and the behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of that classic film, why not sit back and listen to Lux Radio Theater’s production of Miracle on 34th Street!?
This was originally broadcast on December 22nd, 1947 and it features the cast from the film — Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, and Maureen O’Hara!
And remember — Santa Claus is real! The U.S. Post Office says so!
Well, today’s the biggest day of the year! Today, people across the world will be wishing each other a happy holiday. Here at the Shattered Lens Bunker, we’ve got a lot planned for today but, before anything else, I want to wish a Merry Christmas to one of my favorite counties, Canada! Not only have countless Lifetime films been shot in Canada but it’s also the native land of some of my favorite filmmakers and performers!
And did I mention that Canada is also the home of … Degrassi!?
So, allow me to star this day by saying, “Merry Christmas, Canada! And thank you for everything!”
At this very moment, NBC is broadcasting the classic 1946 film, It’s A Wonderful Life! They show it every Christmas Eve and every year, I watch.
Why?
Because I love this movie so much that I could watch it a million times and then a million times more! There is no movie that makes me happier than It’s A Wonderful Life. There is no movie that brings tears to my mismatched eyes as quickly as It’s A Wonderful Life. I love this film so much that I even watch it outside of December. If I’m depressed, this is the movie that I’m going to watch.
And who can blame me? The scene below is one that I love but, to be honest, there’s not a single scene in It’s A Wonderful Life that I don’t love. I even love those scenes with old Sam Wainwright going, “Hee haw!” Sam may have been a jackass but he was a good guy underneath it all.
(Plus, he made a fortune in plastics! Money can excuse all sorts of obnoxious behavior!)
As for the scene below, it’s the final ten minutes of It’s A Wonderful Life. To me, nothing exemplifies the joy of the holidays better than Jimmy Stewart running down the snow-filled streets of Bedford Falls and shouting “Merry Christmas” to everyone, even mean old Mr. Potter. (“And a happy new year to you — IN JAIL!”) This is a great scene and wonderfully acted by James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Ward Bond, and everyone else in the film!
And here it is!
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films
Bad Santa (2003, dir by Terry Zwigoff)
Elf (2003, dir by Jon Favreau)
The Polar Express (2004, dir by Robert Zemeckis)
Four Christmases (2008, dir by Seth Gordon)
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films
Home Alone (1990, dir by Chris Columbus)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, dir by Henry Selick)
The Santa Clause (1994, dir by John Pasquin)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999, dir by Stanley Kubrick)
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films
A Christmas Story (1983, dir by Bob Clark)
Brazil (1985, dir by Terry Gilliam)
Die Hard (1988, dir by John McTiernan)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, dir by Jeremiah Chechik)
Is there a Santa Claus?
Well, if you’ve ever seen the original 1947 Miracle on 34th Street than you already know the answer. There is a Santa Claus and he looks exactly like Edmund Gwenn!
In this scene, Kris Kringle is on trial. He swears that he is Santa Claus. The prosecution claims that not only isn’t he Santa Claus but Santa doesn’t exist at all. Fortunately, it’s the U.S. Post Service to the rescue!
Miracle on 34th Street is true Christmas classic and I hope you enjoy this holiday scene that I love.
(The remake with Richard Attenborough is also pretty good, as long as you can ignore the fact that Mara Wilson grew up to be one of the most annoying people on the planet.)
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films
Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972, dir by Theodore Gershuny)
Black Christmas (1974, dir by Bob Clark)
The Silent Partner (1978, dir by Daryl Duke)
Christmas Evil (1980, dir by Lewis Jackson)
We celebrate the 5th year anniversary of the site and as part of our yearly holiday ritual over here at Through the Shattered Lens, I present to all of you readers, visitors and passer-byes the greatest holiday film ever created since forever.
It is a film full of joy and happiness. Of giving and sharing with loved ones that which matters most. This is a film that best describes what Through the Shattered Lens stands for and works towards.
It even has a scene straight out of a Disney classic.
So, from all of us at Through the Shattered Lens….
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!
Through the Shattered Lens 