December 31 - January 6:

After the Thin Man (1936)
William Powell, Myrna Loy
We had to watch this one because a great deal of the action takes place on New Year's Eve. I love the entire film, but the best parts are when they come home to San Francisco (after being in New York), wanting only to sleep, to discover their house is full of partying strangers waiting to welcome them home and their reluctant visit to Aunt Katherine's house, which is a scream.

Bikini Beach (1964)
Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello
TCM had a "beach party movie" marathon on New Year's Day, which is where we saw this gem. Frankie plays two roles: his usual and the Potato Bug, the most irritating Beatles-esque rocker you could possibly imagine. I love the way they walk along the beach and sing, but the background scenery never changes, even when the song (and time of day) does. We taped Beach Blanket Bingo, which was on afterward, but haven't gotten to it yet.

We also watched several episodes of the '50s version of Dragnet, lent to us by a friend. I've discussed my love of Dragnet here before. I love the procedural, almost boring, nature of the show. It's actually a lot more interesting than constant shootouts (which I could see in Newburgh if I was interested).

December 17 - December 30:

Teenagers from Outer Space (1959)
David Love, Dawn Bender
This DVD was a fabulous Christmas gift from Paul and I knew immediately it would become a Velveteen Lounge classic. A group of obnoxious aliens and their commander come to earth and find it suitable for raising gargons, monsters they eat for meat, which look exactly like lobsters. The gargons will destroy all of humanity, growing at the incredible rate they do, but what do they care? Only Derek, the sensitive alien, who escapes and falls in love with earth girl Betty, feels any remorse at destroying an entire planet. He successfully stops them, but pays the ultimate price, leaving Betty to marry one of her own kind. Best line: "You will take me to a man of surgery and he will remove the metal pellets embedded in my flesh."

The Doris Day Show (1968) (Episodes: "Dinner for Mom," "The Uniform," "The Friend")
Doris Day, Denver Pyle
Paul also got me season one of The Doris Day Show for Christmas and we're making our way through the 28 episodes. I love this show, both because of Doris Day (whom I never really appreciated until recently) and because of the goofy scenarios featuring her grizzled old farmer dad, treacly-sweet little boys and sheep dog (played by Lord Nelson). So far they've tackled issues ranging from prejudice to how to deal with not having money to pay your bill in a restaurant (answer: get Doris to shame the owner into giving you a break). If only The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (the TV version, I mean) was on DVD--we'd be all set for widows with Stepford children!

While at the Koala Kabana in New Hampshire we watched Another Thin Man (1939) and The Thin Man Goes Home (1945), since it's always a good time to watch a Thin Man film!

December 10 - December 16:

A Christmas Story (1983)
Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, Peter Billingsley
The perennial holiday favorite! My favorite scene remains the tire-changing scene, where Ralphie utters the "f" word, but the "Chinese turkey" scene runs a close second.

The Thin Man (1934)
William Powell, Myrna Loy
Okay, we watch this one a lot, but it IS set at Christmastime and there is just no better depiction of drunken holiday debauchery anywhere else on film. The scene where Nick shoots the balloons off the Christmas tree is a particular winner.

Holiday viewing this week also featured Christmas episodes of The Honeymooners, The Jeffersons, Good Times, All in the Family and The Andy Griffith Show.

December 3 - December 9:

Hollywood Palace (1969)
Perry Como, Diahann Carroll, Shecky Greene, Kukla & Ollie, the Ray Charles Singers
Viewed at the Museum of Television and Radio, NYC. I searched on Christmas shows at MT&R this week and was richly rewarded! This one, hosted by Como, featured lots of great music, comedy and a pink set (back in the '60s, when people besides me still liked pink)! Some highlights were Greene as a lecherous Santa with Carroll as a little girl, sitting on his knee, Ollie, Kukla, Como and Carroll singing Yuletide greetings in dragon language and a male ballet star (Edward Villella, for those who might know '60s ballet stars) with a glassy-eyed stare I think was supposed to indicate reverence and very, very tight tights dancing to The Little Drummer Boy. Have you seen Diahann Carroll lately? She still looks like she's maybe in her late 30s.

Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) (Episode: "Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid")
Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Valerie Harper
Viewed at MT&R. I've always liked Mary Tyler Moore, but watching this episode I suddenly got why millions adore her. In this episode she's planning to drive home to spend Christmas with her family...until Mr. Grant informs her she has to work. To make matters worse, she even has to cancel her Christmas Eve dinner with Rhoda when she agrees to work late to cover the night worker so he can spend it with his kids. Things look really dire late at night in that newsroom (although she does at least turn the TV on), until her friends all show up and it turns into a party. The best part is when she leaves a tiny tree on Mr. Grant's desk. His expression is priceless.

The War Against Mrs. Hadley (1942)
Edward Arnold, Fay Bainter, Van Johnson
TCM showed WWII films on Pearl Harbor Day, so I had this one on while cutting out about 20 yards worth of fabric. Fay Bainter plays this thoroughly idiotic wealthy woman who refuses to cooperate with any war efforts and basically acts like the war is a personal affront against her. She finally pulls her head out of the sand when war-related tragedy touches someone she knows and she sees what a jerk she's been. One of the things I love about films of this era is the appeal at the end to "Buy war bonds at this theater!"

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