political writer
Some aspects of Christmas can be annoying.
The carols, the colors, the commercialization. Ugh.
There are, though, many things to enjoy during the holiday season. That includes an array of Christmas movies that will be on tap between now and the big day.
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Given that this is a politics column, here are 12 movies with political themes to watch during 12 days of Christmas.
Love to hear what you’re watching.
Frank Capra’s 1941 comedy drama tells the story of a newspaper columnist who writes a fictional piece about a man threatening to commit suicide on Christmas Eve to protest the failings of American society.
The columnist (Barbara Stanwyck) convinces a hobo (Gary Cooper) to pretend he’s the John Doe in the column. That sets off a flurry of political activity, including the formation of John Doe clubs across the country to help improve society. A rich political boss tries to capitalize on the movement he’s bankrolling.
Great performances by Cooper and Stanwyck. You’ll love to hate Edward Arnold, the political heavy. Some may appreciate his character’s effort to win the White House.
How to watch: TCM, Amazon Prime and numerous platforms.
In one of the 10 separate stories that comprise the movie, a British prime minister stands up to the U.S. president he saw kissing/ harassing a member of the household staff at 10 Downing Street.
The prime minister (Hugh Grant) is in love with the staffer, and the event creates friction in their relationship. Since the release of the 2003 romantic comedy, drama between British and American leaders is sometimes referred to as a Love Actually moment.
How to watch: Amazon Prime and other platforms.
A New York assistant district attorney (Fred MacMurray) is prosecuting a shoplifter (Barbara Stanwyck) but gets a continuance until after Christmas because he doesn’t want to risk jurors filled with the holiday spirit acquitting the defendant.
The prosecutor bails the shoplifter out of jail for Christmas, but she has nowhere to go. At dinner, MacMurray’s character learns they are both from Indiana, and he takes her to his small hometown for Christmas, and they fall in love. That’s a problem for an ambitious assistant DA, who still has to prosecute her for shoplifting.
Lots to like in this film, including Martha Mears’ dinner club rendition of “(Back Home Again In) Indiana”. The 1917 song was a jazz standard until Jim Nabors began singing it before Indianapolis 500 races.
How to watch: TCM and numerous platforms
It’s 1903 and the patriarch of a St. Louis family gets a corporate promotion, but the job’s in New York City. It’s also the year before the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World’s Fair in St. Louis.
Though one of the largest American cities at the time, St. Louis was not on the scale of New York, and the lavish 1944 film slyly pits Midwest cities against urban metropolises.
Judy Garland’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is the best performance of the standard ever recorded. Margaret O’Brien as the youngest daughter steals the movie.
After they enjoy Christmas, the next year the Smith family attends the World’s Fair in St. Louis. By the way, urban planner George Kessler, who designed Fair Park, designed the St. Louis World’s Fair.
How to watch: TCM and numerous platforms.
The 2005 French film is based on the World War I Christmas truce along the Western Front. The ceasefire included French, German and British soldiers talking to each other, sharing food and even participating in joint burials.
The film depicts how the horrors of war were briefly set aside and serves as a reminder that the pursuit of peace is a worthy alternative to a rush to conflict.
Not a feel-good flick, but it’s worth watching.
How to watch: Amazon Prime
Depressed Charlie Brown worries about the commercialization of Christmas, so it’s suggested that he put together a Christmas play and select a tree. It goes off the rails for most of the 1965 television classic.
The writing is terrific, and the haunting jazz of the Vince Guaraldi Trio mixes well with a few Christmas songs. The message is cool as well. Even an underdog like Charlie Brown can find his place in a world obsessed with fame and wealth.
Television executives worried the special would be a ratings flop, but it was viewed by 45% of the television audience and finished ahead of every show except Bonanza.
How to watch: Apple TV
It’s a wonderful Billy Wilder tale about office politics and corporate life in 1960. The protagonist, played by Jack Lemmon, gets ahead by loaning out his apartment to executives who are cheating on their wives. Lemmon has to evaluate whether winning the office politics game is worth sacrificing his morality.
The company Christmas party is hilarious. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in New York bars and restaurants are beautifully shot.
How to watch: TCM, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms.
A pompous New York radio host, Sheridan Whiteside, is on a lecture tour in Ohio when he slips on the ice and has to stay with the homeowner and his family during the Christmas season. He runs up the phone bill with calls to Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He’s allowed to stay with the family because he’s threatened to sue.
Monty Wolley plays the title character and Bette Davis is terrific as his secretary who falls for a local reporter.
How to watch: TCM and other platforms.
This brilliant story of an American crime family trying to hold on to power begins during the Christmas season, when there’s an attempt on organized crime boss Vito Corleone’s life.
The movie is steeped in politics, with corrupt judges, politicians and police officers. The political struggle between the crime families influenced every mob movie that followed.
How to watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms
A Macy’s store Santa says he’s the real Santa Claus, and it lands him in court to avoid being committed to a mental institution.
A political adviser warns the judge that mistreating Santa could cost him votes in the upcoming reelection, putting the judge in a bind.
The classic Christmas tale is also a cool courtroom drama.
How to watch: TCM and other platforms.
Okay, so I’m combining two movies into one.
The Bishop’s Wife starring Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young is one of the best Christmas movies from classic Hollywood.
It’s the story of an angel who arrives to help a bishop through the political maze of funding for a new cathedral. Only the bishop (David Niven) knows Dudley (Cary Grant) is an angel. Dudley’s antics charm the bishop’s family and parishioners, but the bishop has doubts.
The movie was remade in 1996 with Denzel Washington as the angel and Whitney Houston as The Preacher’s Wife. Washington was just as good as Grant. Houston’s singing is an added attraction.
How to watch: TCM (The Bishop’s Wife), Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other platforms.
Perhaps the most popular Christmas movie ever, It’s a Wonderful Life features a small savings and loans owner trying to stay afloat in tiny Bedford Falls. George Bailey had dreams of leaving the sleepy hamlet to make it big. His brother, whose life he saved when they were kids, is a war hero.
George (Jimmy Stewart) sacrificed his dreams to keep the family business going. Facing a financial scandal, George contemplates suicide, but an angel shows him what life would be like had he not been born.
The movie shows every life has value, and we’re all connected.
How to watch: Network television (NBC), TCM and many other platforms.
The Howard University graduate and Chicago native has covered four presidential campaigns and written extensively about local, state and national politics. Before The News, he was a reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Chicago Defender. You can catch Gromer every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on NBC 5's Lone Star Politics.
