The second most famous Christmas story has to be "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, which can be found in a handsome Modern Library edition along with two less familiar Christmas stories, "The Chimes" and "The Haunted Man," and an introduction by John Irving.
Donald Westlake's "A Likely Story"is nothing like Dickens's tale, but it is about a writer who tries to solve various problems, romantic and financial, by coming up with a commercially successful Christmas book, which roughly parallels Dickens's situation at the writing of "A Christmas Carol."
Several actors--George C. Scott, Albert Finney, Lionel Barrymore, et al.--have taken on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, but the most memorable performance has to be Alastair Sim's, filmed in 1951, and essential Christmas viewing every year since. Bill Murray has a nice spinoff in "Scrooged," also well worth watching, if only for the sight of Miles Davis as a street busker.
The other great (at least to us) Christmas films include Vincente Minnelli's "Meet Me in St. Louis," perhaps Judy Garland's best picture, and a delight, even if the Margaret O'Brien character has always (again, to us) seemed dangerously psychotic. Richard Curtis, writer-director of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill," among other Hugh Grant films, has him again (as a Tony Blair-style British Prime Minister) in "Love, Actually," rewarding Christmas entertainment which might have been better served by another title.
Finally, for those who like to look on the dark side, Jake Hinkson has assembled a list of Christmas season noir, entirely lacking in peace and goodwill. Included are "L.A. Confidential" and the less known 1940s "Christmas Holiday," based on a grim Somerset Maugham story and which has Deanna Durbin, pride of Winnipeg, singing "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year."
Good wishes to all, and apologies to those still pulling for "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street."
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