Regardless of the fact that stores shove the holiday cheer down our throat since the middle of October, there is still something magical and sacred about our favorite Holiday in the year: Christmas. Regardless of the fact most people find it an excuse to stuff their faces with tones of fatty foods and sweets, or that others are simply too stressed out with gift shopping and other things that must be prepared, Christmas is still a wonderful holiday that many await with great pleasure. Especially children.
It is a time for family, it is a time for giving and receiving, and it is a time of happiness. It is also the time for us to re-watch traditional Xmas movies like Home Alone, the Nightmare Before Christmas, Miracle on 34th street and many other. You probably already know about the famous Easter effs of Pixar, and the fabulous Lord of the Rings productions, but there is a lot of trivia on holiday classics that you should also know about. Here are five interesting things you did not know about your favorite Christmas movies.
1. Nightmare Before Christmas
If there is anything in this world adored more than Christmas, that is Patrick Stewart. After his viral spread of Star Trek: The Next Generation Mashup of Captain Picard Singing Make it So, he lent his musical talents to Tim Burton and Henry Selick for the introduction to the Nightmare Before Christmas. Nevertheless, the most interesting about this rendition, is the fact that it never happened, because Stewart’s voice is so immediately identifiable that test audiences wasted more time murmuring among themselves than actually taking a look at the animation. Eventually, the scene was cut, but the recording did make it into the soundtrack list.
2. Miracle On 34th Street
Unlike many Christmas movies which are a little to unreal, Miracle on 34th Street is firmly grounded in reality, and Santa Claus remains directly tied to the Spirit of Christmas. Because the movie was released on the 20th May, Century Fox tried to hide the film’s Christmassy slant. Edmund Gwenn’s interpretation of Santa is probably the best I have ever seen. It is most definitely the extravagant beard that made his rendition of Santa unforgettable.Eight year old Natalie Wood, who played the part of Suzie, actually believed that Edmund was the real deal, but she soon realized that he was just a nice old man with an awesome beard.
3. The Santa Clause
As is the case with most Disney movies, The Santa Clause also has a reference to a sexual joke, but an unusual one at that. The story of the movie is about a murderer who takes over Santa’s job. Early in the movie, he receives a phone number and jokes around that it is actually 1-800-SPANK-ME. The funny thing about it was that parents and kids actually rang the number, and it turned out to be a sex chat line. After several complaints Disney cut the line off.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Although I can’t quite understand how this movie became so popular, I must admit that I really enjoyed it. It is one of those classical Xmas movies that one must see at all cost. The 1966 adaptation of the book sticks close to the source, with only one major deviation: they made the Grinch Green, when it is not specified anywhere, that he could be green. As a matter of fact, the first book published with the Grinch was black-white-and red.
5. It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s really hard to find something wrong about this incredible and seamless movie. The story-line may sound simple, but it gives an entirely new perspective on the destiny of a normal man who wants to escape his hometown of Bedford Falls, yet remains trapped there out of duty. The iconic ending, which could have only been created by a master such as Frank Capra, is unparalleled. But we want to stick to the purpose of the article, so here is the interesting trivia you probably did not know about “It’s a Wonderful Life”:
It was shot during a heat-wave! This means that not only did George Bailey have to reenact the existential crisis of his character, but he had to do so while trapped in a stiffing heat. Talk about acting skills.
Oh, and one more thing: