The Nativity Story has moved up to number two on my favorite all-time Christmas Movie list, right after Cary Grant in "The Bishop's Wife."
This bumps Zefferelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" nativity down to number four, followed by
Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck
A Christmas Carol (Albert Finney version only, please)
White Christmas with Bing Crosby and
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Ron Howard
Both "Miracle on 34th Street" versions are great - 1994 with Sir Richard Attenborough and 1947 with Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood.
But like "Its a Wonderful Life" I don't really need to watch them every year.
If you were counting, that leaves a gap for Movie #3.
A few years ago I noticed a 1945 "film short" added to the Christmas in Connecticut DVD.
"Star in the Night" is a 22 minute lesson in the true meaning of Christmas.
Set at a simple road side diner out west on Christmas Eve, you can' believe how much story telling gets done in less than a half hour.
It's worth buying the Barbara Stanwyck movie just to enjoy "Star in the Night."
Merry Christmas !
What do you believe?
