You won't come away from this documentary about Christmas with any new insight into Hollywood's take on the national holiday or the holiday season in general.
Naturally, there are clips from all of the most obvious films ("Miracle on 34th Street," "It's A Wonderful Life," "Holiday Affair," "The Bishop's Wife," and "White Christmas"), and some brief glimpses of the darker side of Christmas with "Bad Santa", "Gremlins," etc.
The only bonus features are a few interviews by some of the participants in these films--most notably Margaret O'Brien who mentions her experience in making "Meet Me In St. Louis".
Another Garland film which should have been mentioned is "In the Good Old Summertime", most of which takes place around Christmas!) and even includes a new Christmas song. Another interesting example would have been a Gothic romance called "My Cousin Rachel" featuring a very important Christmas scene as a key moment in the story.
The woman who played Zuzu in "It's A Wonderful Life" and the little girl in scenes with Cary Grant for "The Bishop's Wife" also shares her participation in those memorable films--and Robert Mitchum's daughter mentions "Holiday Affair" which she only discovered after her father had passed. She liked seeing him tackle a romantic comedy.
But all in all, it's a rather bland take on the whole subject with nothing really new to offer.
Naturally, there are clips from all of the most obvious films ("Miracle on 34th Street," "It's A Wonderful Life," "Holiday Affair," "The Bishop's Wife," and "White Christmas"), and some brief glimpses of the darker side of Christmas with "Bad Santa", "Gremlins," etc.
The only bonus features are a few interviews by some of the participants in these films--most notably Margaret O'Brien who mentions her experience in making "Meet Me In St. Louis".
Another Garland film which should have been mentioned is "In the Good Old Summertime", most of which takes place around Christmas!) and even includes a new Christmas song. Another interesting example would have been a Gothic romance called "My Cousin Rachel" featuring a very important Christmas scene as a key moment in the story.
The woman who played Zuzu in "It's A Wonderful Life" and the little girl in scenes with Cary Grant for "The Bishop's Wife" also shares her participation in those memorable films--and Robert Mitchum's daughter mentions "Holiday Affair" which she only discovered after her father had passed. She liked seeing him tackle a romantic comedy.
But all in all, it's a rather bland take on the whole subject with nothing really new to offer.