Christmas telly is a must. From Top of the Pops to Mary Poppins, there are just some traditions that are sacred. Plus, as this is the time of goodwill and all that jazz, Hollywood love it. Over the years, though, this love affair hasn’t always produced the best films. Some are so cheesy and schmaltzy they should come with a health warning. They get it right sometimes though.

It’s a Wonderful Life

This Christmas must was a flop when it came out in 1946. When the copyright expired in the 70s, TV stations started showing it at Christmas for free and it became the hit we know it to be today. This is a thoroughly modern tale; George Bailey is the nicest bloke you could meet, he loves his family and  constantly makes sacrifices for them and his neighbours. All he wants to do is see the world, but is thwarted by doing the right thing by people. Even though he strives to make people’s lives better, the world seems to crumble around him and he can’t take it anymore. Suicidal, he meets Clarence, a pretty crap angel who is on the case to save him.

What to love: Jimmy Stewart creating a lovable and believable nice guy who always comes last. Until the end that is.
Best Line: Too many people, too many! “Zuzu’s petals!” and “Attaboy Clarence” are personal faves.

A Miracle on 34th Street

A year later, Natalie Wood strolled on the screen and gave Shirley Temple a lesson in child acting. A Miracle on 34th Street is the story of a single mother, a career woman who is raising her child like small adult; no fairytales and there is no such thing as Santa. Then she meets a man who insists he’s the big man in the red suit. It’s interesting that Hollywood turned things around here; it’s the child who doesn’t believe and the adults who are willing to put their cynicism on hold. This is another film that has hardly aged in the 60 years since it first came out. Impressive.

What to love: Natalie Wood’s raised eyebrow and knowing looks as she thinks adults are tying to get one over on her. And who can forget the post arriving in court? You don’t get that with email.
Best Line: I believe… I believe… It’s silly, but I believe.

Scrooged
There have been more variations of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol than there are presents under the tree. Some people insist that the muppets is the best, but my money is on Scrooged. Maybe it’s my age (I saw it in the cinema when it came out) or maybe it’s the cool surrounding Bill Murray in his later life, but I’m with his Frank Cross all the way. He starts as a growling, glowering son of a **** with Murray obviously loving the chance to chew the scenery. He also manages to balance the schmatlz at the end. Genius stuff.

What to love: The guest starts; Tom Waits, Carol Kane, John Forsythe (from Dynasty), Alfre Woodard and the late great Robert Mitchum
Best Line: All day long I listen to people give me excuses why they can’t work. My legs hurt. My back aches. I’m only four.

The Santa Clause
This one skirts dangerously on the boundaries of Hollywood twee and cool yule. It’s saved by Tim Allen, who playes Scott Calvin. Scott is a workaholic who ignores his loving son and family. Then Santa crashes on his roof and he has to take over the reigns of Santa’s busy night.

What to love: Santa in the real world, complete with police arresting him for trying to break into houses through the chimney.
Best Line: Can we take a direct flight back to reality, or do we have to stop and change planes in Denver?

A Nightmare Before Christmas
Anyone who doesn’t think that Tim Burton is a genius, turn away now. Only the scraggy-haired one would have the balls and get the finance to make a film with that title.  In doing so, he created an emo hero in Jack Skellington. Jack is the pumpkin king of Halloweentown, but is bored with the same old Halloween stuff. The he finds a place called Cristmastown, and decides to change Christmas into another Halloween. He kidnaps Santa Claus, then takes it upon himself to deliver some alternative gifts to unsuspecting children.

What to love: Everything from the beautiful ugliness of Halloween town to the affect this film had on Hollywood. There would be mo ‘graphic novel’ adaptations without it.
Best Line: There’s children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they’re busy building toys / and absolutely no one’s dead!

Joyeux Noel
Jumping forward to 2005, the excellent Joyeux Noel tells the true story of the World War I Christmas ceasefires along the Western Front through the eyes of the Scottish, French and German soldiers. The tagline of the film sums it up, “Without an enemy there is no war”. This is a heart-warming but ultimately tear-jerking look at how people are the same no matter where they are from and at the uselessness of war.

What to love: The historical accuracy. The fact that these men stopped fighting for Christmas puts paid to any hollow ba-humbugs you might hear over the season.
Best Line: What are you waiting for? Shoot him, God damn it! Holidays are over!