as there are plenty of

Christmas movies to choose from,

the following are the ones that I have enjoyed

'year after year'.

(maybe a few 'new ones' will make the list)

I'd just like to share with you my chosen

'Holiday Movie of the Day';

as I enjoy one (or more) a day for 11 days,

before and 'on' Christmas Day.

*hence: 12 days of Kissmas Movies...

**the 'Best Quote' listings are 'my' personal favorites.

LAST UPDATED: 25 Dec 2014/10am

Day-1:

Sunday, Dec 14...

*not your 'typical Holiday Classic.

but since i'm alone tonite,

i thought i'd start 'The Season' off with-a-Bang!!!

DIE HARD/1988

STARING

Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman

PLOT

NYC Police Officer, Detective John McClane flies West

to Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife & children

for the Holidays.

Almost immediately upon arriving to his

wife's work Holiday Party, the shit-storm begins!!!

BEST QUOTES

*so many to choose from in this particular movie...

Bruce Willis/John McClane:

"Who's driving this car, Stevie Wonder?"

"Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

"Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker."

TRIVIA

The line "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!"

is used in all Five Die Hard movies

(this one, Die Hard 2 (1990), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995),

Live Free or Die Hard (2007),

{although a gunshot masks the 'fucker' part in the PG13 cut}

and A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)).

It also translates in Urdu to "here eat this."

The line was voted as the #96 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines"

by Premiere in 2007.

Day-2:

Monday, Dec 15...

*dear Santa,

i've been a very, very 'good boy' this year.

so if you could please just bring me one present,

that would be really neat.

all I want for Christmas is

'Ms. Reese Witherspoon'.

thank-u very much in advance for my present.

sincerely,

me!!!

FOUR CHRISTMASES/2008

STARING

Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Robert Duvall

PLOT

A San Francisco couple's plan to enjoy the Holiday's in

the tropics goes astray when bad weather

(and a surprise appearance on the local news)

forces them to visit each of their divorced parents

for a family Holiday Chaotic Experience.

BEST QUOTES

Reese Witherspoon/Kate:

"I'm not gonna go and pretend we're something we're not.

I can't do that anymore."

Vince Vaughn/Brad:

"My childhood was like the Shawshank Redemption,

except I didn't have some old, warm, black man

to share my story with!"

Katy Mixon/Susan & Jon Favreau/Denver:

Susan: "Capital of China?"

Denver: "Hong Kong."

Susan: "Yes...

Thing next to your bed on the night stand?"

Denver: "A sock."

Susan: "Yes...

Helped you come up with this.

You're drunk and came home from the bar last Thursday."

Denver: "Alibi."

Susan: "Yes...

The thing I'm not allowed to wear to Supercross?"

Denver: "Mini skirt."

Susan: "Yes!

Me and you dry humping on the beach."

Denver: "A screensaver."

Susan: "Yes, baby! This game is so easy...

The only man I'm allowed to cheat on you with?"

Denver: "John Grisham."

Susan: "Yes! - Mexican dude.

Denver: "Ricardo Montealban."

Susan: "Yes!!!"

Skylar Gisondo/Connor:

"Google me bitch! I might be famous one day."

TRIVIA

Cast includes two Country-Western singers,

Dwight Yoakam and Tim McGraw.

And three people who have won Oscars for playing

Country-Western singers;

Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line/2005,

Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies /1983,

and Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner's Daughter/1980.

Day-3:

Tuesday, Dec 16...

(Movie #1)

*ok then. since i've chosen the prior two

(blood, death & destruction, AND Reese),

the girls chose these two for tonight.

**your Christmas-Cuteness has arrived...

GREMLINS/1984

STARING

Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton

PLOT

A thoughtful father finds his teenage son

a one-in-a-million Christmas gift;

a cute little creature known as a Mogwai.

The only rules:

don't give it water or expose to bright light,

'and above all else'

do not feed it after midnight!

well needless to say two of these 'rules' were broken!

And what happens next?

Miniature green monsters tear through

the 'perfect Norman Rockwell' small town causing fear, destruction and fear during Christmas Eve...

*yes. I said 'fear' twice!!!

BEST QUOTES

Phoebe Cates/Kate:

"Now I have another reason to hate Christmas."

Scott Brady/Sheriff Frank:

"Tell me something, Billy.

How come a cute little guy like this can turn into

a thousand ugly monsters?"

Hoyt Axton/Randall Peltzer:

"Well, that's the story.

So if your air conditioner goes on the fritz,

or your washing machine blows up

or your video recorder conks out;

before you call the repairman turn on all the lights,

check all the closets and cupboards,

look under all the beds,

'cause you never can tell,

there just might be a gremlin in your hours."

TRIVIA

The time machine prop from The Time Machine (1960)

can be seen behind Randall Peltzer when he's on the phone

with his wife, while attending the convention.

A moment later,

the machine has disappeared (into the future or the past)

to the astonishment of several onlookers.

Also attending the convention are

Steven Spielberg, Jerry Goldsmith and Robby the Robot.

(2)

Zach Galligan revealed in an interview that when the movie

was made there was no CGI so all the gremlins were animatronics, each costing $30-40,000.

So when everyone left the lot for the day,

security would have everyone pop the trunks on their cars

to make sure they weren't stolen.

(Movie #2)

*Jack Skellington is the coolest creature ever...

THE NIGHTMARE

BEFORE CHRISTMAS/1993

STARING

Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandan, Catherine O'Hara

PLOT

The Pumpkin-King of Halloween Town,

Jack Skellington,

is tired of doing the same-thing day-in, day-out

and discovers Christmas Town on a solo-journey.

As he attempts to share his knowledge of Halloween

with the residents of Christmas,

chaos (and confusion) ensues.

BEST QUOTES

*so damn many...

Danny Elfman & Chris Saradan/Jack Skellington:

"Christmas Town? Hmmmm..."

"Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!"

Ken Page/Oogie Boogie Man:

"Are you a gambling man, Santa?"

"I am the shadow on the moon at night.

Filling your dreams to the brim with fright."

Glen Shadix/Mayor:

"Jack, please,

I'm only an elected official here,

I can't make decisions by myself!"

TRIVIA

Chris Sarandon was cast as Jack Skellington because

his speaking voice matched the singing voice of Danny Elfman.

(2)

According to Henry Selick,

Vincent Price was originally cast as Santa Claus.

However, after the death of Price's wife,

his own health began to fail and his voice performance

was very frail and weak.

The tracks were deemed unusable which led to,

much to Selick's regret, the role being recast.

(3)

In the first home Jack visits as an impostor Santa,

there appear to be two Elvis Presley commemorative plates

on the living room wall.

Day-4:

Wednesday, Dec 17...

*a more 'traditional Holiday movie' tonight!

**we've all thought about what would the World be like

if we never existed...

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE/1946

STARING

James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore

PLOT

A desperate man seeing his entire life slipping away before his eyes ponders suicide.

This is his story, with him, and without him.

BEST QUOTES

James Stewart/George Bailey:

"I wish I had a million dollars... Hot dog!!!"

"You look older without your clothes on."

Henry Travers/Clarence:

"Strange, isn't it?

Each man's life touches so many other lives.

When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"

"You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life.

Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?"

Dick Elliot/Man on the Porch:

"Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people."

TRIVIA

The film was a flop when it played theatres in 1946.

(2)

Ranked as the #1 Most Powerful Movie of All Time

by the American Film Institute (2006).

(3)

After the film completed it's run in theaters,

it was broadcast coast to coast by CBS and in other parts

of the world by the state department.

It premiered at the Globe theater in New York,

for the benefit of the Boys Club.

Many people loved it and watched it over and over.

And although it was not a box-office success,

it has since became immensely popular and a Christmas classic.

Day-5:

Thursday, Dec 18...

*i actually purchased a 'Turbo Man' on eBay during

the summer of 2004 for $225.

(original WalMart price was still affixed: $29.99)

i lost it along with my storage unit in July 2006...

JINGLE ALL THE WAY/1996

STARING

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman

PLOT

A 'always-at-work' salesman dad waits until Christmas Eve

to purchase his son the 'most wanted' toy of the season.

This is his quest to do so.

BEST QUOTES

Arnold Schwarzenegger/Howard Langston:

"You guys are nothing but a bunch of sleazy conmen in red suits.

You heard me right.

Conmen. Thieves. Degenerates. Low-lifes. Thugs. Criminals!"

Jake Lloyd/Jamie Langston:

"I want the Turbo Man action figure,

with the arms and legs that move and the boomerang shooter,

and his rock'n roller jet pack and the realistic voice activator

that says 5 different phrases including, "It's Turbo time!"

Accessories sold separately. Batteries not included."

Sinbad/Myron Larabee:

"I'll know if you move 'cause I have the ears of a snake!"

"No, I didn't build a bomb!

Don't you read the news?

Hundreds of these things come through the mail every day!

I just kept one in case I ever needed it!"

Phil Hartman/Ted Maltin:

"Here, have some non-alcoholic eggnog."

TRIVIA

The story is based on the 1980s shopping frenzy

over the Cabbage Patch dolls.

(2)

You can actually buy official Turbo Man action figures on eBay.

(3)

In March 2001,

a U.S. District Court jury in Birmingham, Michigan,

ruled that 20th Century Fox stole the script idea,

"Jingle All the Way",

from Detroit High School biology teacher, Brian Webster.

The studio was ordered to pay $19 million, later reduced to $1.5 million. Webster submitted the script,

then named "Could This Be Christmas?",

to the studio in 1994 and never received payment or credit,

despite the film making $183 million.

Fox appealed and the verdict was reversed,

since Webster's script was submitted after the studio had already purchased a treatment (summary/outline)

of what would become the film's script.

The court acknowledged that it is not difficult to believe

that two writers can independently create a plot

using similar inspiration/experience.

Day-6:

Friday, Dec 19...

*i admit after seeing this movie in the theater,

i didn't care for it all that much!

('maybe' cuz my EX-wife complained the entire time...)

so. when it came-out on video,

(and i watched it without the asinine 'side-comments')

i finally appreciated this for what it is,

a 'fucking' hilarious comedy...

**NOW. i LOVE IT!!!

BAD SANTA/2003

STARING

Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Tony Cox

PLOT

An alcoholic degenerate thief masquerades yearly

as a department store Santa,

to allow his safe-cracking skills to be effective

every Christmas Eve.

Throw-in a wise-ass elf,

a young underachieving kid,

and a few misfits from the real world,

And you got yourself an adult-themed

Christmas comedy!

BEST QUOTES

*these are definitely 'Adult-Themed'...

Billy Bob Thornton/Willie (Santa):

"I've been to prison once, I've been married, twice.

I was once drafted by Lyndon Johnson and had to live

in shit-ass Mexico for 2 1/2 years for no reason.

I've had my eye socket punched in,

a kidney taken out and I got a bone-chip in my ankle

that's never gonna heal.

I've seen some pretty shitty situations in my life,

but nothing has ever sucked more ass than this!"

"I'm an eating, drinking, shitting, fucking Santa Claus."

"You ain't gonna shit right for a week!"

"Look, I've boned a lot of fat chicks in my time, sure.

But, as far back as I can remember, I've never fornicated anybody."

"Well, you smell like a bum's nut sack."

Tony Cox/Marcus:

"You're an emotional fucking cripple. Your soul is dog shit.

Every single fucking thing about you is ugly."

"Yeah? Well these lips were on your wife's pussy last night.

Why don't you dust that thing off once in a while? Asshole!"

"I called you a fucking guinea homo from the 15th-fucking-century,

you dickhead!"

"I don't think you should be digging in your ass."

"You are by far the dumbest, most pathetic piece of maggot eatin'

shit that has every slid from a human being's hairy ass."

Bernie Mac/Gin:

"Well sure. Santa fucking someone in the ass..."

"What'd you call me thigh-high?"

"Man is a sexual being."

John Ritter/Bob Chipeska:

"It's not just the swearing. Forgive me for prying,

but did one of you, um, fornicate..."

"Yes. With a heavy-set woman in the big-and-tall dressing room?"

Lauren Graham/Sue:

"I've always had a thing for Santa Claus. In case you didn't notice.

It's like some deep-seeded childhood thing."

"Fuck me, Santa! Fuck me, Santa! Fuck me, Santa!"

Brett Kelly/The Kid

"Good night, Santa. Good night, Mrs. Santa's sister."

TRIVIA

Billy Bob Thornton admitted that he was genuinely intoxicated

during the filming.

(2)

The word "fuck" and its variations are used 159 times in the movie.

The term "shit" appears 73 times amid a total

of approx. 300 profanities.

(3)

The unrated version of the film furthers the record for

the most profanities in a Christmas film,

including 170 uses of "fuck", 74 uses of "shit", 31 uses of "ass",

10 uses of "bitch", and 1 use of "bastard",

in variable forms.

(4)

During Willies brief stay in Miami in the beginning of the film,

a shot of the Dude's car (The Big Lebowski) can be seen

parked outside of Willies apartment.

Undoubtedly, an influence from executive producers

Joel and Ethan Coen.

(5)

According to his report card,

the name of "The Kid" is Thurman Merman.

(6)

This was John Ritter's final acting appearance in a movie,

and it is dedicated to his memory.

Day-7:

Saturday, Dec 20...

(Movie #1)

*my opinion:

one of the greatest movies ever made...

HOME ALONE/1990

STARING

Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern

PLOT

A young pre-teen is unknowingly left 'home alone' when

his family leaves town for the Christmas Holidays.

Being the 'man of the house' has it's perks

(no parents, no siblings, no rules),

but it also has it's responsibilities.

Such as defending your home.

Especially when 2 bumbling-burglars attempt

to break-in to his house.

BEST QUOTES

Macaulay Culkin/Kevin MacCallister:

"Guys, I'm eating junk and watching rubbish!

You better come out and stop me!"

"Buzz! Your girlfriend! Woof!"

"This is my house, I have to defend it."

Joe Pesci/Harry Lime:

"Kids are scared of the dark."

"Why the hell did you take your shoes off?"

"I think we're getting scammed by a kindergartener."

"You bomb me with one more can, kid,

and I'll snap off your cajones and boil them in motor oil!"

Daniel Stern/Marv Merchants:

"You're afraid of the dark, too, Marv."

"He's a kid. Kids are stupid. I know I was."

Devon Ratray/Buzz MacCallister:

"I wouldn't let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my ass."

"No, for three reasons:

A, I'm not that lucky. Two, we use smoke detectors.

And D, we live on the most boring street

in the whole United States of America,

where nothing even remotely dangerous will ever happen. Period."

"Don't you know how to knock, phlegm-wad?"

TRIVIA

During the family pizza-eating scene,

when the family is cleaning up Kevin and Buzz's milk mess,

Peter can be seen cleaning up the milk and throwing

away red napkins.

In the pile of napkins that's thrown in the trash can,

Kevin's name can be seen on an airline ticket that's

mistakenly thrown away.

(2)

Despite filming a family movie,

Daniel Stern once slipped in the "s-word,"

which can be heard when he is retrieving his boot through

the doggy door at 55:27 on the DVD.

(3)

There is a legend that Elvis Presley (who died in 1977)

makes a cameo in this movie.

Many of those who believe that Elvis is still alive maintain that,

the heavily bearded man standing in the background of the scene where Mrs. MacCallister is shouting at the desk clerk

(just before she meets John Candy) is Elvis.

(4)

From 1993 to 1996 and again in 1998,

NBC aired 'Home Alone' during the 8/7c time slot

on Thanksgiving evening as part of their holiday promotion

(Jurassic Park (1993) aired in its place in 1997

and 'Home Alone' aired on NBC a week before Christmas).

The film would air on NBC until 1999,

in which it aired the Sunday after Thanksgiving weekend in 1999,

in which it was the last time it aired on NBC.

The film also aired on Thanksgiving Day for 24 hours on FX in 2009.

(Movie #2)

*my opinion:

one of the greatest sequels ever made.

**Aliens/1986 (my opinion) is the best sequel,

of all time...

HOME ALONE 2:

Lost in New York/1992

STARING

Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern

PLOT

Once again,

young Kevin is without his family during the days

leading up to Christmas.

This time around he mistakenly boards the wrong plane, landing in New York City,

while his family goes to Paris.

And to make matters worse

(or more enjoyable for us watching),

Harry & Marv have broken out of jail and

'just happen to be' in the Big Apple also.

And as before,

chaotic comedy follows.

BEST QUOTES

Macaulay Culkin/Kevin MacCallister:

"Oh no. My family is in Florida, and I'm in New York..."

[Gleefully]

"Howdy do. This is Peter McCallister, the father.

I'd like a hotel room please, with an extra large bed, a TV,

and one of those little refrigerators you have to open with a key.

Credit card? You got it."

"I'm 10 years old. TV is my life."

"Don't you know a kid always wins against two idiots?"

Joe Pesci/Harry Lime:

"Nothing would thrill me more greatly than to shoot you.

Knocking off a youngster ain't gonna mean all that much to me.

Okay? But since we're in a hurry, I'll made a deal with you:

you throw down your camera and we won't hurt you.

You'll never hear from us again. Okay?"

"You better say every prayer you ever heard, kid."

Daniel Stern/Marv Merchants:

"SUCK BRICK KID!"

"I hope your parents got you a tombstone for Christmas."

Ralph Foody/Gangster Johnny onTV:

"Get down on your knees and tell me you love me!"

"Maybe I'm off my hinges, but I believe you.

That's why I'm gonna let you go.

I'm gonna give you to the count of three to get your lousy, lyin',

low-down, four flushing carcass OUT my door! 1... 2..."

[Fires Tommy gun, killing girl gangster]

"3. Merry Christmas, you filthy animal."

[fires again]

"And a Happy New Year."

[Fires again]

TRIVIA

Macaulay Culkin was paid 4.5 million dollars to star in this movie,

the biggest paycheck ever to a 12 year-old child.

(2)

Kevin's room service bill indicates that he ordered;

2 chocolate cakes, 6 chocolate mousses with chocolate,

vanilla and strawberry ice cream topped with:

M&Ms, chocolate sprinkles, cherries, nuts, marshmallows,

caramel syrup, chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup,

whipped cream, and bananas.

6 custard flans, a pastry cart, 8 strawberry tarts,

and 36 chocolate covered strawberries.

(3)

In Home Alone (1990),

Kevin watches a movie called "Angels with Filthy Souls."

In this sequel,

he watches that film's sequel, "Angels with Even Filthier Souls."

(4)

The only Home Alone film to feature real snow.

A snow machine was used for certain scenes,

but a blizzard engulfed the set before the shoot,

thus creating more snow than anticipated.

(5)

This was veteran character actor Ralph Foody's last film.

Day-8:

Sunday, Dec 21...

*one of my all-time-favorites...

CHRISTMAS VACATION/1989

STARING

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid

PLOT

Clark Griswold will do anything for his family,

to have the traditional Holiday experience.

Unfortunately for him;

finding a tree, decorating the house, shopping for his wife, and even a turkey dinner prove too much to handle

in yet another chapter of Clark Griswold's life.

*if only his Christmas Bonus would hurry-up and arrive in the mail, EVERYTHING would be better!!!

BEST QUOTES

Chevy Chase/Clark Griswold:

"Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,

Merry Christmas, kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass.

Happy Hanukkah."

"Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn;

the clean, cool chill of the holiday air;

and an asshole in his bathrobe,

emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer."

"Hey!

If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me,

I have one.

I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight.

I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there

on Melody Lane with all the other rich people

and I want him brought right here,

with a big ribbon on his head,

and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him

what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life,

snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant,

blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless,

fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped,

worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is!

Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?"

Beverly D'Angelo/Ellen Griswold:

"I don't know what to say,

except it's Christmas and we're all in misery."

"I'm sorry. This is our family's first kidnapping."

Randy Quaid/Eddie:

"She falls down a well, her eyes go cross.

She gets kicked by a mule. They go back. I don't know."

[Referring to the electrocuted cat]

"That thing had nine lives, you just spent 'em all."

"Every time Catherine revved up the microwave,

I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour or so."

"Better take a rain check on that, Art.

He's got a lip fungus they ain't identified yet..."

Juliette Lewis/Audrey:

"Would it be indecent to ask the grandparents to stay at a hotel?"

TRIVIA

As Griswolds are putting up the tree,

the film It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is showing on the television.

That film was directed by Frank Capra.

Capra's grandson, Frank Capra III,

was assistant director on this film.

(2)

A minor earthquake occurred at the time when they were

filming the scene where uncle Louis and aunt Bethany arrive

at the Griswold house.

(3)

In the scene when the police storm into the Griswolds' house,

the song "Here Comes Santa Claus" sung by Gene Autry

is used for the background music.

Randy Quaid (cousin Eddie) is the third cousin of Gene Autry.

(4)

Despite being a "Christmas movie,"

Christmas Day is never actually seen.

The film ends on Christmas Eve.

(5)

Final film of Mae Questel,

whose film career began in 1930 as the voice of Betty Boop.

Day-9:

Monday, Dec 22...

(Movie #1)

*not exactly 'the scariest' Holiday themed movie,

but it is definitely the strangest...

SANTA CLAWS/1996

STARING

Debbie Rochon, Grant Cramer, John Mowod

PLOT

A simple story of a B-Movie actress who starts a new life w/her kids after she divorces her husband.

The only problem,

there is someone in a Santa outfit killing

all her close friends, and she doesn't know who to trust.

BEST QUOTES

Debbie Rochon/Raven Quinn:

"Sometimes sex is easier than love"

"You are a killer, and I'm not."

Grant Cramer/Wayne:

"Can you sit on my lap, and tell me what I want for Christmas?"

John Mowod/Eric Quinn:

"I've always thought Santa was a dirty-old-man,

now I know for sure he is."

TRIVIA

When writing the story,

John Russo wanted to be as authentic as possible,

and was granted permission from the Warden

at San Quentin State Prison in California to interview a few serial rapists, murderers,

and career crimnals to try and gain perspective into

their way of thinking.

(2)

Before deciding on 'The Claw' as the murder weapon,

writer John Russo had thought of a few Christmas themed ones:

a knife painted as a candy cane,

a bomb disguised as a Christmas ornament,

suffocating his victims with an over-sized Christmas Stocking,

and having an Elf do the killings.

(3)

In 2003,

while working on an unreleased film in Tennessee,

Debbie Rochon suffered an accident with a prop machete which resulted in the near-severing of the four fingers of her right hand. After extensive surgery and physical therapy,

she had finally regained limited use of the hand.

(Movie #2)

*this movie is NOT intended for the weak-minded,

(or young kids)...

BLACK CHRISTMAS/1974

STARING

Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder

PLOT

It's a week before Christmas,

and all through the (sorority) house,

not a creature was stirring,

all except for the ax-wielding madman killing

these poor defensive girls.

BEST QUOTES

unknown/The Killer:

"I'm going to kill you."

"Let me lick your pretty piggy cunt!"

"I'll stick my tongue up your pretty pussy!"

"Little baby bunting/Daddy's went a-hunting/Gonna fetch

a rabbit skin to wrap his baby Agnes in."

TRIVIA

The film is regarded as being one of the first slasher films.

It set the layout for films such as John CarpenterHalloween (1978). However, director Bob Clark considered it to be more of

a psychological horror film than a slasher film.

(2)

According to director Bob Clark,

there were three voices used for the frightening phone calls,

including actor Nick Mancuso, an unnamed actress,

and himself.

(3)

When NBC showed the film during prime time

(under the title "Stranger in the House"),

it was deemed 'too scary' for network television,

and was pulled off the air.

(4)

Minimal vulgarity from the phone calls were initially scripted,

director Bob Clark read out rather tame dialogue

for the actors to react to.

However stronger coarse language was later looped

in post-production for a stronger reaction.

(5)

In 1986,

Olivia Hussey met producers for the film Roxanne (1987),

since they were interested in casting her for the title role.

Roxanne co-star Steve Martin met her and said

"Oh my God, Olivia, you were in one of my all time favorite films." Thinking it was Romeo and Juliet (1968),

Olivia was surprised to find out it was

actually Black Christmas (1974).

Martin claimed he had seen it over 20 times.

Day-10:

Tuesday, Dec 23...

*a great remake of the classic,

starring one of the funniest men ever...

SCROOGED/1988

STARING

Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe

PLOT

Frank Cross is the President in charge of everything (including programming) at a top U.S. TV station.

His current production is airing a live performance of Dickens' Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve.

His unloved childhood memories,

plus a failed relationship due to choosing work

over love prevents this callous character from feeling

any type of emotion but hatred.

And on the eve of his planned spectacular tv special,

he is visited by ghosts

of Christmas past, present and future.

Their remedies are sometimes truthful,

sometimes heartfelt but always funny.

And thanks to the '3 Ghost combo',

they 'Put a little love in his heart'.

BEST QUOTES

Bill Murray/Frank Cross:

"The bitch hit me with a toaster!"

"Well, I'm sure Charles Dickens would have wanted

to see her nipples."

"You think I'm afraid of you, the day I've had?

I know what you came for. Come and get it, you pussy."

"Adored! Come on, let's be honest, Lew. You *paid* for the women!"

David Johansen/Ghost of Christmas Past:

"Go back to Jersey, you moron!"

"Let's face it, Frank. Garden slugs got more out of life than you."

Carol Kane/Ghost of Christmas Present:

"Sometimes the truth is painful, Frank."

Karen Allen/Claire Phillips:

"That's the one good thing about regret: it's never too late.

You can always change tomorrow if you want to."

TRIVIA

The names of the Christmas television shows from

the IBC Network of which clips were shown were;

"Scrooge", "Father Loves Beaver", "The Night the Reindeer Died"

and "Bob Goulet's Old Fashioned Cajun Christmas".

The network's promotional slogan for these TV shows

was "Yule Love It!".

(2)

When the Ghost Of Christmas Present (Carol Kane)

grabbed Bill Murray's lip she tore his lip so badly that filming

was halted for several days.

(3)

Playing the Scroogettes were the Solid Gold Dancers

whose American TV show had been canceled by the time

the picture debuted stateside.

(4)

Bill Murray and director Richard Donner reportedly did not

enjoy working together creating a lot of tension on set.

When asked by film critic Roger Ebert if he had any disagreements

with Donner, Murray replied:

"Only a few. Every single minute of the day.

That could have been a really, really great movie.

The script was so good.

There's maybe one take in the final cut movie that is mine.

We made it so fast, it was like doing a movie live.

He kept telling me to do things louder, louder, louder.

I think he was deaf."

(5)

The film is dedicated to Robert Scaife, Anne Ramsey

and Roger M. Rothstein.

Day-11:

Wednesday, Dec 24...

*Christmas Eve

**these are all my favorites when i was growing-up,

at which time you could 'only' watch these classics when

they aired during the Holiday Season.

***Jessica/Mrs Claus looked exactly like my 3rd grade teacher,

Ms Saunders...

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING

TO TOWN/1970

STARING

Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn

PLOT

A small unwanted baby is left on the door steps

of the talented Kringle family,

growing-up to be the most-loved individual

the World has ever known.

BEST QUOTES

Fred Astaire/Narrator, S.D. Klugar (voice):

Poor, misguided folks.

They missed the whole point.

Lot's of unhappiness? Maybe so.

But doesn't Santa take a little bit of that unhappiness away?

Doesn't a smile on Christmas morning scratch out

a tear cried on a sadder day? Not much maybe.

But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa

and learned to give as only he can give: of ourselves,

our talents, our love and our hearts?

Maybe we could all learn Santa's beautiful lesson and maybe

there would finally be peace on Earth and good will toward men.

Hey, it's getting late, and I've got these letters to deliver.

You better be getting home, too.

And remember, behave yourselves, because Santa can still look

into his magic snowball and see just what you're up to.

And now that you know all about him, you can be darn sure that

come snow or high water, Santa Claus is comin' to town!

Mickey Rooney/Kris Kringle, Santa Claus (voice):

"Changing from bad to good's as easy as taking your first step."

"In danger from toys?"

Paul Frees/Burgermeister Meisterburger

"I hate toys! And toys hate me!

Either they are going or I am going and I definitely am not going!"

"Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful.

AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon. No kidding

Keenan Wynn/the Winter Warlock (voice):

"You mustn't mind the tree monsters.

Their bark is worse than their bite. Ha ha ha ha!"

TRIVIA

When aired on TV on ABC and ABC Family,

sometimes the special has been edited in order to fit

the hour-long slot along with commercials.

In the ABC version, the songs 'If you Sit on my Lap Today'

and 'My World is Beginning Today' are cut,

while the ABC Family version cuts out scenes that may

be traumatizing for younger viewers,

most notably the scene where Burgermeister Meisterburger

burns all of the toys belonging to the children of Sombertown.

(2)

Kris Kringle says his first line after the first eight minutes

of the program.

(3)

The voice of Jessica / Ms. Claus is also the singing voice

of Duchess in Disney's The Aristocats.

(4)

Mickey Rooney would later reprise his role of Santa Claus

in two other Rankin-Bass specials,

'The Year without a Santa Claus'

and 'Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July',

and the sequel to 'Year without a Santa Claus', '

A Miser Brothers' Christmas'.

(Movie #2)

*the Winter-Warlock is one cool dude...

RUDOLPH

THE RED NOSED REINDEER/1964

STARING

Burl Ives, Billie Mae Richards, Paul Soles

PLOT

A group of misfits;

a red nose reindeer, a elf dentist, and an island

of unwanted toys end up helping each other on

this journey of self-discovery.

BEST QUOTES

Burl Ives/Sam the Snowman:

"If I live to be 100,

I'll never forget that big snow storm a couple of years ago.

The weather closed in and, well you might not believe it,

but the world almost missed Christmas.

Oh, excuse me, call me Sam. What's the matter?

Haven't you ever seen a talking snowman before?"

Billy Mae Richards/Rudolph:

"Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit.

Just because my nose glows... why don't I fit in?"

Paul Soles/Hermey:

"Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit.

You can't fire me, I quit. Seems I don't fit in."

Larry D. Mann/Yukon Cornelius:

"This fog's as thick as peanut butter!"

"Peppermint! What I've been searching for all my life!

I've struck it rich! I've got me a peppermint mine! Wahooooo!"

TRIVIA

In the original TV version of the show,

Rudolph, Hermey the elf and Yukon Cornelius visit

the Island of Misfit Toys and promise to help them,

but the Misfits are never mentioned again.

After it was shown,

the producers were inundated with letters from children

complaining that nothing had been done to help the Misfit Toys.

In response, Rankin-Bass produced a new short scene

at the end of the show in which Santa and his reindeer,

led by Rudolph, land on the Island and pick up all the toys

to find homes for them, which has ever since been the standard version of the show run during the holidays.

(2)

In contrast to the song, "Silver and Gold,"

12/6/1989 marked the Christmas special's silver anniversary.

And 12/6/2014 was its golden anniversary.

(3)

During the original network TV airing,

commercials for General Electric featured Santa's elves

from the show, in 1964.

(4)

Yukon Cornelius' stalwart sled dogs include a cocker spaniel,

a poodle, a Saint Bernard, a collie, and a dachshund.

(Movie #3)

*i've always felt sorry for the little dog...

HOW THE GRINCH

STOLE CHRISTMAS/1966

STARING

Boris Karloff, June Foray, Dal McKennon

PLOT

A mean-old-mizer that lives atop a mountain

above a teeny-tiny town,

schemes to rob the homes and destroy

their Christmas celebration.

BEST QUOTES

Boris Karloff/Narrator, the Grinch:

"And what happened, then?

Well, in Whoville they say,

that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day.

And then,

the true meaning of Christmas came through,

and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!"

"Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer.

Cheer to all Whos far and near.

Christmas Day is in our grasp,

so long as we have hands to clasp.

Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we.

Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart,

and hand in hand."

June Foray/Cindy Lou Who:

"Santie Claus, why? Why are you taking our Christmas tree? Why?"

Thurl Ravenscroft/Singer:

"You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch.

You're a nasty, wasty skunk.

Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk.

Mr. Gri-inch.

The three words that best describe you are as follows,

and I quote: Stink, stank, stunk!"

"You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.

Your heart's an empty hole.

Your brain is full of spiders, you have garlic in your soul.

Mr. Gri-inch.

I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole."

TRIVIA

Thurl Ravenscroft, who sang the song, is perhaps better known

as the voice of Tony the Tiger in TV commercials.

(2)

Dr. Seuss disputed casting Boris Karloff for fear that he

would make the Grinch too scary.

(3)

The Grinch's green color was decided by director Chuck Jones' experiences renting cars in the Washington-Baltimore area which

he claimed always turned out to be the exact shade.

(4)

Boris Karloff's voice changes when he speaks for the Grinch.

Originally he spoke in his "Narrator" voice throughout.

After recording was complete,

the highs in his voice were mechanically removed for the Grinch,

giving him the gravelly voice heard in the finished version.

(Movie #4)

*a talking snowman, who would have thought?

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN/1969

STARING

Jimmy Durante, Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon

PLOT

This animated short is based

on the popular Christmas song of the same name.

A magical top-hat brings-to-life a child's snowman

giving her a new friend for the Holidays.

But alias,

Frosty isn't the only one wanting the magic hat.

And unless the now melting snowman relocates

to a colder climate, he will be forever gone.

BEST QUOTES

Jimmy Durante/Narrator:

"I suppose it all started with the snow.

You see, it was a very special kind of snow.

A snow that made the happy happier, and the giddy even giddier.

A snow that'd make a homecoming homier,

and natural enemies, friends, natural.

For it was the first snow of the season.

And as any child can tell you,

there's a certain magic that comes with the very first snow,

especially when it falls on the day before Christmas.

For when the first snow is also a Christmas snow..."

Billy De Wolfe/Professor Hinkle:

"We evil magicians have to make a living, too."

Paul Frees/Santa Claus:

"Don't cry, Karen, Frosty's not gone for good.

You see, he was made out of Christmas snow,

and Christmas snow can never disappear completely.

It sometimes goes away for almost a year at a time and takes

the form of spring and summer rain.

But you can bet your boots that when a good,

jolly December wind kisses it,

it will turn into Christmas snow all over again."

TRIVIA

June Foray provided the voices of Karen,

the Teacher and the other children.

However, starting with the third airing of the special,

most of her recordings as Karen and the other children were

replaced with the voices of actual young children.

Her voice can still be heard in subsequent airings of the special

in some of the other children's dialogue.

No changes were made to the credits,

so the actual child voice actors remain

unknown and uncredited.

Foray's voices can be heard on the Rhino Records soundtrack.

(2)

Jimmy Durante's final film (not counting documentaries

and one short film appearance).

Day-12:

Thursday, Dec 25...

*Christmas Day

**All Day Long!!!

***LOVE. THIS. FLICK...

A CHRISTMAS STORY/1983

STARING

Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin

PLOT

A young man's dream of the ultimate Christmas gift,

and the day-to-day antics of everyone around him

is told through his eyes.

BEST QUOTES

Peter Billingsley/Ralphie:

"I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred

shot range model air rifle!"

Jean Shepherd/Ralphie as an Adult:

[narrating]

"Only I didn't say "Fudge." I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the "F-dash-dash-dash" word!

It was all over - I was dead.

What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack?

The Chinese water torture? Hmmph.

Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me."

"Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was

not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl."

[narrating about diving with his brother into the gifts

under the Christmas tree]

"We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and

the ecstasy of unbridled avarice."

[narrating]

"The heavenly aroma still hung in the house.

But it was gone, all gone!

No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad!

No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King!

Or gallons of turkey soup!

Gone, ALL GONE!"

[narrating]

"Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty.

The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received,

or would ever receive.

Gradually, I drifted off to sleep,

pranging ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots."

Ian Petrella/Randy:

"Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf."

TRIVIA

The film was released just before Thanksgiving

and became a surprise hit.

By the time Christmas rolled around,

the movie had already been pulled from most theaters,

because it had been "played out".

After complaints were lodged by the theater owners

to the studio,

the film played on select screens until after the first of the year 1984.

(2)

Bob Clark's success with the teen-sex comedy Porky's (1982),

allowed him the ability to make a movie he wanted to make.

Without "Porky's" there would have been no "Christmas Story".

(3)

Although now the film is considered a Christmas classic,

at the time (according to Peter Billingsley)

not many major studios were interested in a Depression-era story about a little boy wanting a BB gun for Christmas.

Billingsley also stated in an interview,

that director Bob Clark had to agree to make a horror film

for the studio in order to get "A Christmas Story" made.

(4)

The people of Cleveland were incredibly cooperative during filming, donating antique vehicles from every corner of the city.

These vintage vehicles helped to enhance the authenticity

of the production design.

(5)

The Chinese restaurant is named Bo Ling's.

There is a neon sign across the top of the storefront that reads "Bowling", except the "w" is not lit.

(6)

For the scene in which Flick's tongue sticks to the flagpole,

a hidden suction tube was used to safely create the illusion that

his tongue had frozen to the metal.

(7)

Red Ryder was a character from comic books and radio

in the 1930s/40s,

akin to popular western heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry,

and the Lone Ranger.

(8)

Ralphie says that he wanted the "Red Ryder BB Gun" 28 times.

-THE END-

*thank-you so much for your comments about

my choices this year.

I will definitely look into viewing some of your recommendations next year.

Merry Christmas everyone.

g. kiss

and for your listening pleasure...

"White Christmas" - Bing Crosby/1942

i dedicate this 'Christmas moment' to my family (past, present & future), along with every friend i have ever had in my life... #ChristmasMemories

* in remembrance of Christmases gone by...

**most content 'borrowed' from IMDB.com

**Original content only**

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