What are the best Christmas movies?

This Turner Classic Movies and movie fan was delighted when Jeremy Arnold, author of “Christmas in the Movies: 30 classics to celebrate the season,” appeared as a guest to introduce a “Christmas movie.”

And what better way is there to enjoy a chilly, holiday evening?

The movie was “Beyond Tomorrow, a 1940 movie, this writer knew nothing about. After watching on TCM, however, we began looking at our collection of holiday movies and found the movie in a three-disc collection.

We also went looking to buy the book, but found it was on back order. So we ordered the ebook version.

It is an interesting book with several movies we didn’t think belonged on the list and others we didn’t know much about.

The movies that clearly belonged on the book include Holiday Inn (1942), Scrooge (1951), A Christmas Story (1983), Christmas in Connecticut (1945), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), The Bishop’s Wife (1947), Love Actually (2003), Home Alone (1990), and The Shop Around the Corner (1940).

On the other hand, Die Hard doesn’t belong in the book even though it takes place during the holidays and has many Christmas elements in it. The movie, however, is far too violent to be a favorite Christmas movie.

Also, how could National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation be one of the 30 and the delightful Santa Clause movies be excluded?

Those weren’t the only movies we think shouldn’t be included. While Elf is a holiday related movie, it isn’t very good. And we’ve also found The Nightmare Before Christmas rather distasteful.

Even though we don’t agree on everything that’s in the book and what’s excluded, books that list what the writers think is best in a particular field almost always are at least entertaining and an inspiration for discussions about what’s in the book. This book is delightfully fun and well worth reading.

You just might find a movie that will make your holidays a fun, festive time.

Here’s the complete list of the 30 movies in no particular order:

1. Miracle on Main Street
2. The Holly and the Ivy
3. White Christmas
4. We’re No Angels
5. The Shop Around the Corner
6. Remember the Night
7. The Man Who Came to Dinner
8. Holiday Inn
9. Christmas in Connecticut
10. Miracle on 34th Street
11. It’s a Wonderful Life
12. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
13. Home Alone
14. The Nightmare Before Christmas
15. Remember the Night
16. Love Actually
17. A Christmas Story
18. Die Hard
19. Gremlins
20. The Lion in Winter
21. Meet Me in St. Louis
22. Beyond Tomorrow
23. I’ll Be Seeing You
24. The Apartment
25. The Bishop’s Wife
26. 3 Godfathers
27. Holiday Affair
28. Trail of Robin Hood
29. Elf
30. Little Women

So get a hot beverage, get the movie you pick ready to watch and settle in your favorite seat.

Happy holidays!