As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time of year again. Unfortunately, there have been more bad movies made about the holiday season than any other subject. There been some decent ones too, but they are in the minority. How many times can you watch It’s a Wonderful Life without throwing up? In this case, it’s probably familiarity breeds contempt. After five or more versions of The Christmas Carol, I’m sorry but “I can’t stands no more.” Bad Santa is just bad. All three Santa Clause movies should have been revoked. The people who made Elf must have been 12-year old boys. Trading Places shouldn’t have. What kind of message does Home Alone send? Pretty scary. And, Santa’s Slay—I’m wordless.

I enjoyed watching the following:


Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Edmund Gwen stars as the loveable Santa who must stand trial to prove his existence—the nerve. John Payne and Margaret O’Brien are his loyal supporters.

White Christmas (1954): Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are war buddies who help out their former commanding officer to save his inn. They find time to court sisters Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

We’re No Angels (1955): Three escaped convicts, Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Rey and Peter Ustinov, end up trying to save their intended victim. The shopkeeper and his family are so endearing these hardened criminals cook-up a convoluted plan to raise money. While they’re at it, they also help romance by helping the daughter find love. My personal favorite.

The Dead (1987): John Houston directs daughter, Anjelica, in this adaption of James Joyce’s The Dubliners. The story centers around a Christmas dinner in the early 1900s. After dinner a husband and wife must come to terms with their issue-filled marriage. Isn’t that always the way?

The Bishop’s Wife (1947): An angelic Cary Grant becomes an unwitting rival between David Niven and Loretta Young. Niven, the bishop, is trying to raise money to build a new cathedral. This obsession causes a strain on his marriage. Will the angel save the day? You can always bet on Grant.

March of the Wooden Soldiers: Babes in Toyland (1934): Who better than Laurel and Hardy to get it right? This delightful film has them trying to rescue the widow Mrs. Peep and her daughter Bo-Peep. There are at least three versions of this story. Start with the first and best.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945): Barbara Stanwyck stars as the Martha Stewart of her era. Unfortunately, it’s all a sham to promote her job as a columnist for a woman’s magazine. Her publisher, Sydney Greenstreet, comes up with another scheme: Invite war veteran, Dennis Morgan, to Christmas dinner. You can guess what’s going to happen, but it’s enjoyable all the same.

Holiday Inn (1942): Der Bingle, Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire team up in this Irving Berlin story of a three-way romance. Marjorie Reynolds is the love interest. The story centers around Crosby as owner of a country inn only open on holidays.

I’ll Be Seeing You (1944): Prison inmate Ginger Rogers on a furlough for the holidays meets Joseph Cotton on a train. They are attracted to each other, but Rogers is afraid of what he would think if he knew her secret. It turns out that Cotton has a few secrets of his own. What will become of them? Oh my. Shirley Temple co-stars. Now you know. What could possibly go wrong in a Shirley Temple film?

The Lemon Drop Kid (1951): Bob Hope is at his best in this Runyon-like tale of a small-time crook who cheats a big-time crook. Forced to come up with $10,000 before Christmas, Hope engages the talents of his girlfriend, Marilyn Maxwell, and his gang to devise a plan. They do and it involves Santa suits. The song, “Silver Bells,” came from this delightful movie.

A Midnight Clear (1992): It’s France 1944. An American Intelligence unit meets a German platoon. The Germans prefer surrendering to the Americans rather than facing possible death in the waning days of the war. The two groups spend Christmas together.

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.

“Murder is always a mistake. One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.” —Oscar Wilde

Crime and Punishment. This classic 19th Century novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky has inspired 25 films. Its theme has probably inspired many more. The cat-and-mouse game between the culprit and the detective is standard fare for today’s movies. The act of murder and the psychology surrounding it continue to fascinate film goers. Here are some films that fascinated me:

Murder Most Foul (1964): In this Agatha Christie story, Dame Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple stars as a holdout on a jury. Her probing questions and exquisite eye will set the record straight.

Murder, My Sweet (1944): Dick Powell stars as Phillip Marlowe in this Raymond Chandler adaption. Powell is hired to find a gangster’s moll who may know where some money might be. Claire Trevor also stars.

Dial M for Murder (1954): Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings are the mélange a trois in this Hitchcock offering. Milland plans the perfect murder, or does he? If you must watch the later version, please watch this one first.

Murder, Inc. (1960): During Prohibition a group of gangsters in Brooklyn formed the organization Murder, Inc. What chance does a lonely police officer have? Henry Morgan certainly tries. Watch for a young Peter Falk.

Murder in the First (1995): Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman and Christian Slater star in this prison film set at Alcatraz in the 30s. The question: Does prolonged solitary confinement promote extreme violence?

Little Murders (1971): Alan Arkin directs this very dark comedy starring Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, and Donald Sutherland. The movie is set in New York. The quirky story is by Jules Feiffer.

Murder by Death (1976): I told you about this one last month. It’s worth mentioning again. The funniest movie about murder there is.

Murder by Decree (1979): Christopher Plummer stars as super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. He’s supported by a great cast consisting of Donald Sutherland, John Gielgud and James Mason. Plummer is trying to find Jack the Ripper. Will the great man fail?

Witness to Murder (1954): How would you feel if you witnessed a murder and no one believed you? Barbara Stanwyck finds herself in this position. George Sanders and Gary Merrill costar.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959): This is a tour de force for James Stewart as an attorney defending Ben Gazzara. Lee Remick is Gazzara’s wife. A great movie.

A Murder of Crows (1999): I admit that I chose this film because I love the title. The movie’s not bad. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tom Berenger and Eric Stoltz make up the cast. Plagiarism is the game.

Murder on the Orient Express (1974): Albert Finney as Poirot has his work cut out for him as a slew of characters are suspects in the murder of Richard Widmark. Widmark has a true knack for making enemies. The all-star cast includes Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Vanessa Redgrave. Sidney Lumet directed.

Murder by Numbers (2002): A light-weight murder mystery starring Sandra Bullock as a police detective. Ben Chaplin is her partner in this cat-and- mouse-themed tale. Hard to believe Bullock in a serious profession.

Sunset Murder Case (1938): The famous stripper Sally Rand stars as, guess what, an exotic dancer. She wants to find her father’s murderer. This film was originally titled Sunset Strip Case, but the censors forced the change. Pretty tame title, I think.

Slight Case of Murder (1999): William H. Macy plays a movie critic of questionable morals afraid of consequences of his lover’s accidental death. Enter sleazy private eye James Cromwell with thoughts of blackmail. Poor Adam Arkin, as the law, has to deal with this web of deceit.

Murder Cruise (1940): Crafty Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) follows a murderer aboard a cruise ship. No question the culprit will be caught.

(It has come to my attention that a crime is being committed: Tom Cruise is being considered to play Jack Reacher. Reacher is a recurring character in the popular Lee Child books. He has gravitas and height, 6feet 5 inches. Cruise has neither. Cruise can barely play Cruise. I am outraged at this casting. Anyone else?)