Thanks for checking in all week as we’ve counted down my five favorite Christmas movies. So here we are at the top spot. Have you guessed it yet? No surprise, really. At No. 1 of the five top holiday movies, we have – ta da! — “A Christmas Story.” This is the best Christmas movie ever made. Ever. In the whole world. I will accept no arguments otherwise. Ralphie’s quest to make the adults in his life understand his heart’s desire crosses all boundaries. This movie is the perfect confluence of writing, acting and producing, and I’m proud to say I saw it during its theatrical release in December, 1983, in a theater in downtown Nashville, Tenn. – and told everybody I knew afterwards that they had to watch this movie. Its gentle nostalgic humor combined with writer Jean Shepherd’s sharp dialogue is a rare cinematic treasure. Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillion are perfect as Ralphie’s parents, and Peter Billingsley as Ralphie is pure joy. I especially love all the authentic late 1930s-early 1940s details, such as the wonderfully stocked kitchen and other interiors in the Parker house. You can actually feel the wintry cold and smell the lost turkey. (Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story to read more about producing this movie. It’s a fascinating back story.)
If you’ve never watched “A Christmas Story,” go do it. Right now.
Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho.
And if you want to read a condensed version of my top Christmas movie picks, go to my column in the TimesDaily today, http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20081212/ARTICLES/812120301
Coffee with Cathy 
I’m jealous that you saw this on a big screen.
I remember writing a Christmas movie story in 1994 and mentioning A Christmas Story … few people in our office had ever heard of it. That’s all changed now, of course.
The house in the movie is now a tourist destination:
http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/
Also, if you don’t have time to watch the whole thing – and it’ll be on all day Christmas, so check it out – there’s always the 30-second version, as performed by bunnies:
http://www.angryalien.com/aa/xmas_storybuns.asp
I forgot about the bunny version! Thanks, sweetie.
I totally agree! We love that movie and watch it every year. There’s always something I didn’t notice before. The relationship between the mom and the dad is really funny.
Becky — You are so right! I think that’s the mark of a good movie: It never gets old and there’s always something new to discover. Thanks for the insight.
What a treasure this movie is! Go, Ralphie! Drink more Ovaltine!
I love Ovaltine!!! Thanks, Ginny.
Honey, this little project worked out well.
I think you should consider some other Movie Weeks (Valentine’s, etc,), and also maybe Book Weeks and such. If I’m your movie geek, the you have me waaaay outpaced on your reading habit.
I also would sometime like you to suggest 5 movies (or books) that would help men understand women better. As long as that list doesn’t include Steel Magnolias.
Great ideas, sweetie. I love that you think like an editor!
I love this movie and totally agree with you. It is the best Christmas movie ever!
Thanks, Leah! See, we can agree on some movies between us, right???