Christmas Movies

 I spoke with my friend Ed Hoffman, host of Speaking of Art, and we compared Christmas movies.
Notes are as follows.

Well, today is a couple days before Christmas. I was thinking of doing a replay of an interview I did with Bill Federer a couple years ago where we talked about the interesting history of Saint Nicholas and the development of Santa Claus (even his helper Black Pete). And we also talked about Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas and gaining a stunning win for the Patriots against the tyranny of King George. But you can listen to that in the podcasts. On Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple etc. I’ll post it on Facebook.

While there’s still a battle for liberty going on, there is a battle for men’s souls. Has been. That’s part of the political battle.
This countries founding was predicated on Biblical principles, which means spiritual principles as found in the Old and New testaments. We were never meant to be a theocracy, but if you’re going to get influenced by great ideas, you’ll find the good ones in the Bible.

I thought it would be fun today to examine some classic Christmas movies that deal with the influence of Christmas and Christmas themes on the major protagonist.
Here with me today to explain the meaning of the word protagonist is the host of Speaking of Art, Ed Hoffman.

Movies like this would include It’s a Wonderful Life, The Bishops Wife, Remember the Night, Ben Hur (a stretch, but bear with me) and Miracle on 34^th Street among others. Certainly, any version of A Christmas Carol counts.

Even the Bill Murray version called Scrooged counts. 
Ben Hur opens with a nativity scene and in the middle of the movie, Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) meets Balthazar, one of the wise men says he is still seeking Jesus. 

Now, given that Die Hard is set at Christmas time, I’m not going to argue it’s inclusion in a list of Christmas movies.
But I want to talk about movies that bring a life change due to the influence of Christmas as I said earlier.

But I was struck by the two classic Christmas films It’s a Wonderful Life in 1946 and The Bishop’s Wife (with David Niven, Cary Grant, and Loretta Young) a year later.
Both movies have A Man in Trouble, A Beautiful Wife, A visit by an Angel, A young George Bailey (Bobbie Anderson) and Zuzu (Karolyn Grimes).
Yet for all their similarities, they are very different.

Clarence versus Dudley.

Clarence is sort of bumbling.
Dudley is a warrior who has seen it all. He has his wings. He speaks and it happens.
George remembers Clarence. Nobody will remember Dudley.
Who names an angel Clarence. Or Dudley?
Clarence is a human who died. That’s not how it works.
Dudley is a creature who was there at the beginning. Almost jaded.
Dudley blesses Sylvester the cab driver. 
He helps the professor (who looks and talks like Rick Deitering), come to faith.

George Bailey versus the Bishop. (Bishops can have a wife?)

Bishop Henry Brougham wanted to build a huge impressive cathedral.
            George never sought to be rich, he wanted to build huge impressive things. 

Each is in a different financial bind at Christmas. Each prays for guidance.
            That’s what they get. Dudley points that out to Henry.

·        Jimmy Stewart/ George Bailey is a dark character.

o   He yells at his kids, he berates people,

o   He threatens Uncle Billy.

o   He gets selfish. 

o   Jimmy was a war hero who presumably had survivors’ guilt and PTSD and his career is on the ropes.

o   He may have felt the same desperation as George.

·        David Niven/ Bishop Henry has grown cold and materialistic

         o   Bishop Henry has grown cold and and distant, intent on building a huge edifice thinking that is his                         purpose, ignoring his purpose as a husband and pastor.

         o   Niven was a trained commando in WW2 although he was mostly assigned to propaganda and                                intelligence activities.

  “I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne.
I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war.”

Each angel shows them how they missed the intention of their purpose.

More in the broadcast. We talked about A Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street

Merry Christmas to you!

Your American Heritage 12 23 2023