For your viewing pleasure ...

by Anna Sugden

No, it’s not Christmas hunks (or for P226, gorgeous gals) … but my favourite Christmas films. I’m sure we all have them. As most of mine are classics (yes, some are even in black and white!), I thought I’d share them with you. Hopefully, you’ll share yours with me too. Maybe we’ll all find a hidden gem to become part of our holiday viewing.

Christmas in Connecticut
Stars Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan (and a fab supporting cast). This is a lovely romance with wonderful, snappy dialogue. If you like the Cary Grant/Irene Dunne movies or any of that type of screwball comedy that were famous in that era - you’ll love Christmas in Connecticut.

Journalist Elizabeth Lane (Stanwyck) is one of the country's most famous food writers. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. But this is all lies. In reality she is an unmarried New Yorker who can't even boil an egg. The recipes come from her good friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor (Morgan) will spend his Christmas on *her* farm. Miss Lane knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, but what can she do?

Note - don’t be fooled into buying a film of the same name which stars Dyan Cannon. It is a truly terrible remake!!!

Miracle on 34th Street

Stars Maureen O’Hara and John Payne (with another fab supporting cast). This is one of the few films where the remake is almost as good as the original - you can’t go wrong with either. Another classic tale of romance - one of the first where the heroine was the cynic about Christmas and the hero, the believer. And the trial of Kris Kringle, Macy’s Santa, is wonderful.

Scrooged

Stars Bill Murray and Karen Allen. You’re spoiled for choice with films based on that wonderful Christmas tale by Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol”. If you love musicals with rousing songs and dance numbers - check out “Scrooge!” starring Albert Finney. There is also “A Muppet’s Christmas Carol” in which Michael Caine plays a fantastic Scrooge! For those who want a more classic telling, there are versions with George C Scott or Patrick Stewart.


The reason I’ve chosen this version is that it has everything to make you feel good about Christmas. It’s funny. Bill Murray is perfect as the heartless ad executive (his Christmas ads are hilarious!). The modernisation of the story is cleverly done. And it has some of the best cameos! But it’s also touching - tell me the song “Put a little love in your heart” doesn’t raise your spirits.

White Christmas
Stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney. Not bad for a story written around a song! Even if you discount The Song, this film is filled with wonderful music, spectacular dance routines, witty dialogue and a heart-warming romance (oh, and some gorgeous shoes!). What more could anyone want?

It’s a Wonderful Life

No list would be complete without this Jimmy Stewart classic. I’m embarrassed to say that it was only last year that I watched this through from beginning to end. I’ve seen most of it in bits, but to get the most out of the story, I had to see it in its entirety. The story is so well-crafted and there are so many subtle nuances in the filming. Even if you’re not a movie geek, it’s worth watching the section about the making of the film.

And an honourable mention has to go to The Shop Around the Corner. Although it's not actually a Christmas film, it's set during the Christmas season. It stars Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. Another lovely romance - which was later remade as You've Got Mail.

Okay - now it’s your turn. What are your top 5 Christmas movies? Is there a holiday film you absolutely hate?


One lucky commenter will win a copy of It's a Wonderful Christmas - a lovely anthology of Christmas romances inspired by Hollywood Classics. Look out for It's a Wonderful Night by my great friend, Harlequin author Kathleen Long.

And for something to indulge yourself with, while you're watching or reading, how about a recipe for Sherry Trifle? It takes some time to make - but it's worth it!

You need:

A large glass bowl

1 large banana - sliced

A handful of strawberries - halved

One pack of strawberry Jello/jelly

6 trifle fingers or a handful of stale sponge/pound cake (cut into chunks)

Sweet sherry

1 packet of Bird's custard (egg custard) - you could, at a pinch, replace with vanilla pudding, but it won't be quite the same.

Whipping/whipped cream

Glace cherries or sprinkles or sliced almonds (or all three!) to decorate

1. Place strawberry halves, banana slices and chunks of cake in the bottom of the glass bowl.

2. Soak with sherry.

3. Make the jelly according to the instructions and pour into the bowl, covering the fruit and sponge.

4. Very important - let the jelly set fully!

5. While the jelly is setting, make the custard (if you don't have Bird's, there are loads of recipes for egg custard on the internet - Nigella or Delia Smith have great ones).

6. Very important - let the custard cool! But don't let it set. This is important as you're going to pour it onto the jelly to form a second layer and you don't want to melt the jelly.

7. Pour cold custard onto the jelly and let it set.

8. Whip the cream and add to form a third layer.

9. Decorate with cherries, almonds, sprinkles or all 3.

10. Enjoy!