Christmas on Film: Christmas Eve (1947)

CHRISTMAS EVE (1947) is an often forgotten film. But it holds one distinction: it was the first writing job of screenwriter, director Robert Altman. The film is about elderly Matilda Reid, played by Ann Harding. Matilda is extremely wealthy and eccentric. She invites birds inside her home to be fed ... Read full article

Retro TV: My Christmas Eve Programming

My Christmas Eve Programming I’m going to pretend that I’m a programmer for a Classic TV station (you know like Antenna, Me-TV and Decades) and I’ve been given the awesome assignment of planning the Christmas Eve schedule. Let’s say Christmas Eve programming starts at about 6 PM and goes ... Read full article

JOAN BLONDELL CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS EVE, 1947

Joan Blondell 1906 - 1979 Joan Blondell is the TCM Star of the Month this December. It is safe to assume that rights issues have stood in the way of the network programming two of Joan's most acclaimed performances in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1945 and Nightmare Alley, 1947. However, I can't imag... Read full article

Stars at Twilight: “Christmas Eve” (1986)

At age 4 in 1917, she made her first film appearance as an uncredited fairy in “The Primrose Ring.” Actress Loretta Young performed in 94 films from 1917 to 1989 and was the star of the successful television show, “The Loretta Young Show.” Young acted almost all her life, performing in her l... Read full article

Christmas Eve with Donna Reed’s Daughter

The climax of Frank Capra’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE may be the most reliably tear-inducing sequence in American film. But at a Christmas Eve screening at New York City’s IFC Center with special guest Mary Owen, daughter of Donna Reed, eyes were misty before the movie even began. “I watch it ev... Read full article