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The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to carol it (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
Oh, where to begin…
I remember watching this movie on Channel 11 (before it was known as WTTW) many, many, years ago. It would air on Christmas Eve. I’d gather ’round the TV with my siblings. We’d watch, enjoying the movie and each other’s company. When the movie was over, we’d wait for our parents to take us to Midnight Mass. There was no better way to enjoy the holiday.
At such a young age, I didn’t quite understand the meaning, much less the purpose, of the film. It was just good entertainment, appropriate to the evening. In time, I’ve learned what a special story Frank Capra was trying to tell.
The film is about a man, George Bailey, who has grown up in the small town of Bedford Falls. As a boy, he has great aspirations to learn by traveling around the world. Those aspirations never die, but they get pushed aside while growing up in his small town. The death of his father, managing his father’s business, marriage, children, and war all make him wonder if he’ll ever leave Bedford Falls.
George is a giving man. He always puts the needs of others ahead of his own. Eventually, these needs get the better of him and he has one wish: to never have lived.
Thanks to the guidance of his guardian angel, George learns what would happen to this small town, to his friends, and to his family members if, in fact, he had never been born.
Capra tells us all, through George’s character, how we matter in this world; how our lives affect so many others. We may think we’re small and meaningless, but we’ll never be alone if we give each other the gift of friendship; and, with friendship, we can lasso just about any challenges in life.
If you don’t get a little choked up in the final scene, well then, you should get yourself a job working for ol’ man Potter. Enjoy!
Fun facts and information:
First of all, it’s time to give credit to Donna Reed’s character for bringing the town together to save George from his debts. Done.
The two characters, Ernie and Bert were the inspiration for Sesame Street’s Muppets by the same name.
All the snow is fake. The movie was filmed in the summer.
The film cost $3.2 million to make and earned $3.3 million. It signaled the end of Capra’s Liberty Films. Read it in this book (page 349). It was a box office failure. Go figure.
Jimmy Stewart blamed Donna Reed for the film’s failure. It was later resolved amicably.
The scene where Uncle Billy, who’s had one too many drinks, walks off camera had some crashing sound effects due to an error by the filming crew. The director thought it was a wonderful fit, congratulated the crew, and kept the scene intact. Sound effects and all.
Memorable moment: The whole darn movie is one memorable scene after another but if I had to pick just ONE, it would have to be the scene when George reads the dedication in the book given to him by Clarence. Great book. Great words of wisdom.
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
My many thanks to all of you who tuned in for some or all of these past twelve days. It’s been fun. As always, thanks PhiloDave for letting me practice my blogging skills. After tomorrow, I’ll be taking a break to enjoy the actual 12 Days of Christmas.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to stuff it in the stocking (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
“I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!”
“You’ll shot your eye out.” Oh, could you blame young Ralphie for wanting such a simple toy for Christmas? Didn’t we all have similar Christmas wishes?
Scene after scene, this movie reminds me of all the holiday adventures we experience as children, and how these adventures become a blur as the responsibilities of adulthood set in.
I’ve watched this movie often and I can relate to all of the leading characters in one way or another. There’s the grumbling father who appears to be oblivious to his boys’ wishes; so focused on his furnace and lamp, but he delivers in the end. There’s the nurturing mother who does her best to take care of her boys, and protect them from harm, thus keeping daddy from killing Ralphie; the main character of the story.
Ralphie Parker is a child self-absorbed in his youthful adventures with his brother and friends while avoiding trouble with the school bully. He deals with the decisions of adults in his life through his imagination that comes to life in a series of scenes throughout the movie. They are all well-captured from a child’s point of view. Funny and oh, so true. “It was… SOAP… poisoning!”. Tell me you didn’t have similar thoughts about your parents? If you said no, stick a bar of soap in your mouth for lying to yourself. HA!
This movie may be a story about a young boy and his Christmas wish, but it’s also a reminder of the challenges we face and how with a lens of humor, we can look back, amuse ourselves, and come to the realization that without family, there is no true Christmas. Oh yeah, and for children, that one special toy doesn’t hurt their memories either.
Fun facts and information:
When the school bully is introduced, the accompanying music is from Peter and The Wolf. If you’re not familiar with the piece, it is the Wolf’s theme that is played. Ingenious. Take a listen.
The movie is based on the book, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. The author is the narrator in the movie.
What ever happened to Ralphie? Click here for a news segment from ABC
Did you know the movie will be playing all day on Christmas Day? Here’s the schedule from TBS
Would you like to visit Ralphie Parker’s House? Click here for info (No, I’ve not had an opportunity to visit. Yet.)
Did you know you could own your own Leg Lamp? Click here for info
Memorable moment: The closing scene with mom and dad in the living room enjoying the evening in front of their Christmas tree while their children sleep, embracing their new toys and happy dreams.
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to leave a note to Santa (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
We’re down to the final three beloved Christmas movies at Camp Realist. If you’ve not had an opportunity to watch the previous selections, don’t worry. You’re still on Santa’s nice list. However, I do highly recommend this movie. The original B/W from 1947. Not the colorized version or the remake from 1994; worthy but not acceptable. This holiday movie tells the story of a young girl (the charming Natalie Wood, 2 months shy of her 9th birthday) and her mother, who have experienced their share of hardships before meeting a lawyer and a jolly old man. They all come together to address the question: Does Santa Claus really exist?
It’s a warm nostalgic movie. Hard to believe it was released in the month of May. Check out the clothes, furniture, and stores, and listen to the dialogue. A classic from Twentieth Century Fox. Enjoy!
Memorable line: “Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.”
BTW, The trailer was rather unique for its time. Check out all the stars that make appearances.
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list. My companion lists this as No. 1
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to leave it under the tree (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
I can still hear the music from CBS announcing the special presentation of this holiday special. Sorry, I’ll pass on the Dolly Madison treats (main sponsors of the Peanuts specials).
In this selection, poor Charlie Brown is simply searching for the meaning of Christmas. At times I feel his pain. Lucy and company are no help; not even his dog. Regardless, good ol’ Chuck sticks to his guns and in the end he is rewarded by his moral and ethical decision to save a tree with more branches than needle leaves.
The older I get, the more I appreciate the humor and philosophy of Charles Shultz as presented through his comic strips and animated specials. If you’re feelin’ blue ’round this time of year, this could be just what you need. Enjoy!
Memorable moment: The intro skating scene with Vince Guaraldi’s music.
Hard to explain. Just enjoyable.
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to leave it under the tree (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
This here is a story based on a children’s book. According to my partner, the movie is better than the book. Similar to a previous selection, this story is about a boy who’s lost his father. He and his mother move to the country after the tragedy and in the process of becoming acclimated with his new life, he strikes up a relationship with a grumpy man. Both the boy and the man (along with the mother) learn some lessons from each other just in time for Christmas Day. Good viewing for the whole family. Enjoy!
Memorable line: “Pish posh!”
High-five to my movie (and literature) companion who is assisting me with the list.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to leave it under the tree (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
Alrighty folks, less than a week to go. Today’s selection takes us (or at least me) back to the days when stop-motion animation was the ultimate gift to holiday specials on TV. This here’s the story of Kris Kringle and how he came to be known as Santa Claus. Other stories have come since but I recall this was the first attempt to answer all of our innocent questions about this gift-givin’ fellow. If you’re still scratchin’ your head AFTER watchin’ this special, don’t blame me. Send a postcard to the North Pole.
Enjoy!
Favorite line: Sing it wit me. “Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walkin’ out the do-o-r…”
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to leave it under the tree (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
This one here goes out to the Child Development peeps across the District. Of course, it goes out to all peeps, but those with the innocence of a child will truly enjoy this tale.
Some of you may be familiar with the story and there are several movies based on the book. So, just to clarify, this selection is the 2009 version with the velvety voice of Jane Seymour. Per my movie partner, this is a tender story that doesn’t quite follow the book (inspired, as they says) but it’s still about a boy and his beloved rabbit.
What’s it gots to do with the holidays? Well, the child just wants his father home for Christmas. Will dad be there? What about the rabbit? Oh, you’ve got to watch the end…
Warning: Keep some tissues close at hand.
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
If you’ve got a better or more appropriate selection, feel free to leave it under the tree (in other words, comments are welcomed). May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
In honor of today’s holiday party at HWC, I give you this wonderful, action-packed, holiday party movie. YEAH BABY! Who’d a thought you could mix a little ho, ho, ho, with boom, boom, boom and walk away feelin’ like this was the ultimate kaboomin’ Christmas movie ya ever did see? This one ain’t for the kiddies, so send them off to bed before you get that surround sound goin’. Yeah, it’s full of profanities, but what makes this movie work is that the language is in keepin’ with the action and this movie mocks itself through all the blow-ups you’ll see, and f-bombs you’ll hear.
Don’t worry if you find yourself laughin’ throughout this one. It’s a hoot and a holler. Enjoy!
Memorable line : Yippee-ki-yay [bleeperbleeper]…
Did I mention this was goin’ to be an eclectic list of movies? A little somethin’ for everypeep! High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
You are more than welcome to provide an appropriate food (or snack) and drink that would be enjoyed best with the cinematic selection. Your comments are as welcomed as the ol’ toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff in Palos Park. May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
Maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for farm animals, or a soft spot for the simple pleasures in life that seem to evade us in this metropolis, but if you care to enjoy a nice Americana holiday movie, this here’s the one. It’s the story of a young girl who has her challenges in life but through it all is always willing to help others, including a lost reindeer. If you can’t get out of this busy city to a small rural town for the holidays, let this movie do it for you.
Memorable moment: The acting of young Rebecca Harrell as Jessica is so natural, you’d think she was born on the set. The few scenes with (Barney Miller’s) Abe Vagoda are equally charming.
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
Many of us already knew this, but until this week, many of us have not had opportunity to feel it, and to deal with the repercussions: the new catalog cannot be trusted regarding degree requirements. I am unsure what we as professors can do about this during this week other than to compile a list of errata as we see them. It seems difficult to do this systematically, but at least we can keep track of what we encounter.
I am in registration at this moment, and I was helping a student choose classes for her AAS in Computer Information Systems. We were looking for an English 101 class for her, but I noticed that there was no mention of an English requirement for this particular Associates degree. I advised her accordingly, but also mentioned to her that I have a suspicion she might need the English class anyway. Sure enough, one of the advisers had been listening to our conversation. After the student left, the adviser said she was likewise suspicious of the lack of English requirements. She quickly investigated the catalog alongside some of her über-advising material. Sure enough, we found the catalog to be in error.
Sure, district has called for corrections. But we needed these corrections last week, not in two months. I’m not sure where to turn for accurate information. The catalog is massive. How reliable is it? I have no method of verifying what is correct and what is not. Checking with the advisers every step of the way seems exceptionally burdensome, and demonstrates another reason why I am not qualified for this type of advising. Am I supposed to launch a miniature investigation every time I need to consult the catalog for degree requirements outside the AA? As far as I can see, the best advice at this point is to always be suspicious of this catalog.
PS: As a side note, if you are a student who plans to come in to register, or if you know a student who does, GET DOWN HERE! There is no line in 404, and the classes are wide open. Professors are sitting around with nothing to do except read Harold Lounge, discuss the various actions of District, and laugh at Districtisnotthebossofme’s hilarious videos. In three weeks, the lines will be enormous and frustrating, the classes will all be filled, and everyone you deal with will be irritable.
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
You are more than welcome to provide an appropriate food (or snack) and drink that would be enjoyed best with the cinematic selection. May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
This is a performance that is best enjoyed at the theater, but since the point of this countdown is to stay in the comforts of your warm home, then a videotaped performance will do. Per imdb.com this version is “The television adaptation of the Baryshnikov production.” It’s a real treat to watch the dances once Clara embarks on her journey because they’re short, sweet, and wonderful. To borrow the cliché, “A must-see for children of all ages!”. IMHO, the true star of the production is the composer Tchaikovsky.
Memorable moment: I am particularly fond of The Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
Going along with the example set by WIKILEAKS, the following information is being leaked through district faculty council. You might want to ask your local administration why they have not relayed it to us.
Julius Nadas,
secretary FC4
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
1. December 13-16, 2010: College Success Seminar Training is scheduled to take place at District. The request for College Success to be part of load is under review
2. December 18, 2010: All grades must be entered into PeopleSoft no later than Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Faculty who are experiencing issues should contact the CCC Help Desk by email or by phone 2600. Also, campus Registrars are available to be of assistance.
3. January 3, 2011, additional advisors and tutors will be hired for each college and will be paid for by an ICCB grant.
4. January 6, 2011: The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet at Harold Washington College.
5. January 10, 2011: Spring 2011 semester starts Monday; spring classes begin Tuesday, January 18, 2011.
6. January 2011: The Upgrade to Blackboard 9.0 will be available.
7. February 15, 2011: Initial deadline date for I.A.I. five-year Course Review process. College administrators, Department Chairs, and District Academic Affairs need faculty assistance to complete program reviews.
8. The 2010 CCC Credential Guidelines are attached. If you feel you are qualified to teach courses on some other basis you will need to present the relevant documentation to your VP and ask that it be presented to the district office of Academic Affairs.
9. The spring 2010 Syllabi Audit conducted by the Office of Academic Affairs is attached.
10. Please remember to update your syllabi and upload them to Blackboard for spring 2011 classes. Syllabi are expected to be available to students no later than the first day of classes.
I interrupt our holiday movie fest to bring you the Chancellor Hyman piece that aired last week on WLS-TV. I guess it’s only fitting that she visits The Lounge on the same day she is scheduled to visit the college. Make sure you catch her closing statement (or at least the one WLS selected).
The 12 Days of [Movies Before] Christmas is a semester break special borrowing from the traditional 12 Days of Christmas (that occur after December 25th). The point is to get you into the spirit of the season by recommending one movie per day leading up to Christmas.
You are more than welcome to provide an appropriate food (or snack) and drink that would be enjoyed best with the cinematic selection. May your days and wintry evenings be merry and bright in front of your big screen. Enjoy!
Yes, there are soooo many other versions of this Dickens tale, but this one is my pick for two reasons.
One, you have the option of watching it with children (yours or your neighbor’s) ‘casue it’s rated G.
Two, IT’S THE MUPPETS! A terrific balance of singin’, dancin’, twisted Muppet humor, and drama to keep you entertained. I do like Miss Piggy’s take on Bob Cratchit’s wife. Ahhh, where would we be without the imagination of Jim Henson and his son? Have fun with this one!
Memorable line from the movie: “Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp, not the rat!”
High-five to my movie companion who is assisting me with the list.
PhiloDave
cnepstad
mathissexy
itejeda
writingisthinking
Kamran Swanson
Realist
Matt U.
domenicorocco
speechfromtheblock
casthwc
