Forgotten Christmas movies/specials?

Since it's that seasonal time again, have any of you started thinking
about some Christmas specials, or movies that haven't made it to DVD
yet or haven't been shown at all?

Tony Calguire...

Anybody know if "A Wish for Wings that Work" has made it to DVD yet? How
about torrents?

I have an old EP VHS copy I taped way back when... complete with Nintendo
commercials!

I was thinking of "Come to the Stable" that hasn't come out on DVD yet?
Ditto for the original version of "Christmas in Conneticut."

LindaY...

The original version of CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT *is* on DVD. I've seen
it several places in a set called "Classic Christmas Movies" along with
a version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (I think the Reginald Owen version) and
BOYS TOWN, and also as a stand-alone.

et472...

I've seen the latter in recent years, either on the "local" PBS outlet
in Vermont, or on CBC here in Canada.

Oddly, I'd like to see the remake. I saw the Dyan Cannon one before the
original, and memory says I liked it.

I wouldn't mind seeing the original remake of "Miracle on 34th Street",
the one from about 1973 with "Family Affair's" Sebastian Cabot, which was
made for TV. Again, I likely saw that one before I saw the original. I'm
not sure how good it was, it's merely that I saw it when I was an early
teenager and would like to see it again. It's gotten lost, with most of
the talk of a remake being the more recent one.

jayembee...

The latter *is* out on DVD. It came out almost exactly a year ago,
as part of a 3-disc set called CLASSIC HOLIDAY COLLECTION, which also
includes BOYS TOWN and the Reginald Owen version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Connecticut/dp/B000B5XOZM/sr=1-2/qid=1164726342/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-
5690663-8723126?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

All three films are also available separately.

cts...

I saw the DVD for the original "Christmas in Connecticut" as part of a
"Holiday 3-pack" of DVD's at Costco just yesterday. I'm sorry, I can't
remember what the other films were...I could not find the holiday packs
listed on their website.

Someone mentioned the remake of Miracle on 34th Street with Sebastian
Cabot...that was a good movie - I think it was on here in Portland
locally a few years back but I haven't seen it in ages. I think David
Hartmann (of Good Morning America and other fame) was in the role
originated by John Payne (Attorney Fred Gailey).

et472...

Yes, and Jane Alexander played the mother.

I was young enough that I wondered how well it stood up over time, and
I've not seen it since around the time it came out.

For some reason, I'd like to see it, but I can't get into the more
recent theatrical release. I do watch the original ever year.

One telefilm I came across was Art Carney's "The Great Santa Clause
Caper" which hasn't been reshown in YEARS.

et472...

On some level, it seems like a lot of more recent Christmas movies
were made for TV. Maybe it's just that there was a period when they
were common, and each would get at least a few years airings before
they'd suddenly disappear, maybe never to be heard from again. A theatrical
release is more blockbuster-ish, and if it isn't successful there, it fades
away and maybe fewer people saw it.

I'd like to see things like "The Man in the Santa Claus Suit" from about
1977, with Fred Astaire and a cast of tv actors. "American Christmas Carol",
with Henry Winkler. "Christmas Comes to WIllow Creek"?, the one with the
actors who played the Duke Brothers. IN some ways, if it was a made for
tv Christmas movie, I'd like to see it again.

I suppose also, unlike regular releases, Christmas movies get only one
airing a year (unless on multiple channels), so no matter how many years
they get played, there is a limiting factor. It seems like most movies
being played on tv nowadays are from a very limited group, and get aired
on a regular basis.

CHarlie Brown's Christmas special is on tonight, Tuesday November 28th,
and "Polar Express" is on ABC on Friday night (and it will air on CBC
here in Canada later).

I see "Elf" is coming to the CBC, so I suspect it will get aired in the US
at some point.

I kind of look forward to the Christmas cartoons that get aired on The WB,
they tend to run "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" along with the Grinch
and a Scooby Doo Christmas episode. I don't know if that will change with
the recent change to the CW.

For those here in Canada, the CBC has their Christmas line up list

Gabby...

chicagofan...

I think that one ran last night... because I was flipping channels and
saw Jaclyn Smith in a sled in a snowy Christmas scene, which looked like
it to me. It was a cable channel, but don't remember which one.
bj

Thanks Michael, I'm happy to see they run throughout the month. I
don't like to watch my specials too early, it makes Christmas Day
rather anticlimactic. This year I'll be able to watch "It's a
Wonderful Life" on Christmas Day -- I bought the DVD.

What else? The Gathering, "The Night The Animals Talked," etc.

What else is out there?

LindaY...

THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE.

Uniblab...

A staple on CBS for many years. I saw some clips of it again a few years
ago, and forgot that it was videotaped, rather than filmed. Also, I
understand there were several sequels, which I don't remember at all.

"The Homecoming: A Christmas story" was another CBS staple. It served as the
basis for "The Waltons", and CBS reran it even after "The Waltons" was
cancelled. CBS showed it again for a few years in the 90s, after not showing
it for several years, but I haven't seen it since.

Marlene Blanshay...

I've seen it a few times over the years and it's surprisingly un-sappy.
Patricia neal was such a great actress. It's aged surprisingly well.

LindaY...

Thank God, THE HOMECOMING is at least on DVD.

I remember for several years they showed it Thanksgiving afternoon,
after the parades and before the football.

A special called THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (not the Rankin-Bass story
with the mice) about how Clement Moore supposedly wrote "A Visit from
St. Nicholas" which used the Ken Darby arrangement of the song version
of the poem, which was originally written for the Fibber McGee and
Molly radio show.
SIMPLE GIFTS, a PBS special of six animated shorts.
AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS.

Captain Infinity...

I'll never forget the one where the claymation Santa Claus rode that
electric shaver down the snow-covered hillside, like a sled.

Kevrob...

Those were Norelco (or "Noelco") commercials, Cap'n.

Marlene Blanshay...

the christmas ads this year are horrible... the ones for Best Buy are
about the most annoying i've ever seen. And the ones where the kids have
tantrums because they don't like their toys- yeah, let's cater to
spoiled, rotten kids! It's depressing.

Captain Infinity...

Yes, the triple-rotary shavers, and I'll never forget them.

**
Captain Infinity

**
Captain Infinity

KC...

The Norelco shaver commercial. A classic.

cts...

That's No=EBlco...even their name says Christmas!

Marlene Blanshay...

Norelco doesn't exist anymore does it? Too bad, since that ad was a real

Default User...

Sure it does, just owned by someone else.

classic.

JThree

Anyone else? It's a great way to test your memory.

bklyntv...

the most notoriously missing (because it was appropriately buried):
Star Wars Christmas Special

wdstarr...

"Holiday," not Christmas. Even with that LSD-coated ice pick stuck
in his brain[1] George Lucas was still smart enough to avoid having
to try to explain how his "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away"
universe had Christmas.

bklyntv...

Can it be found ANYWHERE? I've never seen it. You'd think it would be
at least bittorrentable.

Uniblab...

I found it on tvtorrents.com a year or two ago.

Happy Life Day, everyone!

1: Well, is there any _better_ explanation for the special?

Wayne Brown...

"Guess Who's Coming for Christmas?" (TV movie from 1990)