It’s less than a week before Christmas and my tree has lights on it…and nothing else! I usually have it all decorated, but I’m a bit late. It will get done and all will be ok…yeah..still have to go Christmas shopping too. It’s crazy..I know. With work being always crazy, feeling ill( will see the Dr tomorrow) and Bell being assholes, I thought of my mom and daddy and how much Christmas meant to them. I thought of angels and know they are angels and thought of the Christmas movies that involve angels so here we go.
1. BEYOND TOMORROW-1940
This is a little known gem, in my opinion, starring 3 character actors, Charlie Ruggles, C. Aubrey Smith and Harry Carey, who are successful businessmen celebrating Christmas with the diminutive Maria Ouspenskaya playing the Russian landlady. Harry is jaded about the goodness of men so the other 2 decide to prove him wrong and they throw their wallets out to prove men are good( Hahahaaaa). The first woman to find a wallet, takes the $10 out and pays a man to drive her somewhere. The other 2 are found by a young man and woman who deliver the wallets to the home and are invited in for Christmas dinner. They accept and the 3 men are delighted to see the 2 fall in love. Unfortunately, all 3 men are killed in a plane crash but their spirits return to the home they live at. Harry is still somber about mankind but the other 2 believe and realize the 2 lovebirds need help when they see the young man become famous but become stupid falling for a wretched woman forgetting the sweet gal he truly loves. Makes me think of what my Oma said, “ When the dick is up, their brains are up their ass!” Will the 3 angels see tru love triumph? Will the man wake up and realize he’s been an idiot? This is not a great film but it is a superlative B film which is held together by these 3 elderly actors especially the great Harry Carey as the disgruntled older man who does not believe mankind is inherently good. We can relate to this now, with all the sadness in the world and bitter, nasty words being said, we must see beyond this and know that goodness will win out. Look at the people who rose above and defended the defenseless. We will see good triumph.
2. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE-1946
You know I will speak about this great film that stars James Stewart as George Bailey. He is a man ready to take his life believing he has done nothing to help the people he loves or the town until Clarence, played so well by Henry Travers, comes down from heaven to help George see how much he has helped his world he lives in. Clarence decides to show George what life would be like if he were not born and, boy, does George get a rude awakening when he see how cold and unloving the town and people are. This is my favourite film and I cry, every time, I see the ending…not out of sadness, but out of joy! Very few films can make a person cry out of sheer joy especially when George’s brother arrives. The cast is perfect but Jimmy Stewart drives the film and, I think, that is partly due to the PTSD he was dealing with after coming back from the war. His prayer scene is iconic and the tears are real.
3. THE BISHOP’S WIFE-1947
Cary Grant plays the debonair angel, named, of all things, Dudley, who comes to earth to help a Bishop raise funds for a cathedral. The bishop is truly thankful, but becomes very annoyed when Dudley ingratiates himself within his household, especially the Bishop’s wife, played by the holier than thou, Loretta Young. The Bishop, played by David Niven, becomes more jealous and dislikes Dudley even though the Angel is helping him. The casting is excellent ( well, anyone could have played the wife..like Donna Reed) and I can’t believe that Cary Grant was supposed to play the Bishop and David Niven was supposed to play Dudley. Thankfully, Cary Grant saw that Dudley was more to his liking and the powers that be agreed. This is a lovely film with an understated performance by Cary Grant and a shiny performance by Monty Woolley as the curmudgeonly professor who knows what Dudley is.
What other angel movies can you think of that takes place around Christmas? Are you all ready or like me?
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteThanks for meeting me as planned, in the balcony-- "At the Movies!"
Such sweet musings, dear friend, remembering your mom and dad and how much they loved Christmas. My mother did, but my dad always had a blue Christmas because his father had died on Christmas day. Coincidentally, my dad also died Christmas day. Thank you for sharing recommended films involving angels.
I haven't seen Beyond Tomorrow, but I remember Russian actress and acting coach Maria Ouspenskaya in her role as the old gypsy woman who broke the news to Lon Cheney Jr. that, by the light of the full moon, he would transform into The Wolf Man (1941). I hope I can stick around long enough to see your prophecy come true - the one assuring us that good will ultimately triumph over evil. At this point, there is but a glimmer of light at the end of a long dark tunnel.
Wonderful Life is a classic you return to time and again, and for good reason. As an actor, Jimmy Stewart was unsurpassed. Like you, I experience joy to the extent that it brings tears to my eyes whenever I am exposed to a poignant moment on the screen, a great achievement in sports or the arts, a revelation or a transformation.
Don't you just love the announcer's voiceover on the trailer for Bishop's Wife? I sure do. Voices like his are the reason why I wanted to become an announcer myself. The trailer within a trailer concept was charming, clever and well produced.
Mrs. Shady and I are still decorating our tree. Extra garlands are currently on mail order and due to arrive tamale. No presents have yet been wrapped. I am visiting you today because I will have house guests (family members) during Christmas week and might not have time to break away and see you again. In the meantime, I invite you to join me at Shady's Place where I will present my final post of 2025 this coming Sunday. Happy holidays to you and your family, dear friend BB, including my buddy Harley and your other fur babies!