The Golden Age of Christmas Movies: Festive Cinema of the 1940s and 50s
£16.10
Today the Christmas movie is considered one of the best-loved genres in modern cinema, entertaining audiences across the globe with depictions of festive celebrations, personal reinvention and the enduring value of friendship and family. But how did the themes and conventions of this category of film come to take form, and why have they proven to be so durable that they continue to persist and be reinvented even in the present day?
From the author of A Righteously Awesome Eighties Christmas, this book takes a nostalgic look back at the Christmas cinema of the 1940s and 50s, including a discussion of classic films which came to define the genre. Considering the unforgettable storylines and distinctive characters that brought these early festive movies to life, it discusses the conventions which were established and the qualities which would define Christmas titles for decades to come.
Examining landmark features such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bishop’s Wife and White Christmas, The Golden Age of Christmas Movies delves into some of the most successful festive films ever produced, and also reflects upon other movies of the time that—for one reason or another—have all but disappeared into the mists of cinema history. Considering films which range from the life-affirming to the warmly sentimental, The Golden Age of Christmas Movies investigates the many reasons why these memorable motion pictures have continued to entertain generations of moviegoers.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Extremis Publishing Ltd., Illustrated edition (29 Nov. 2019) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 646 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1999696204 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1999696207 |
| Dimensions | 12.85 x 3.3 x 19.84 cm |
by Wingate
This is a book which considers 17 films which the author considers represents this genre of film from the forties and fifties.
Each film has an introduction relating to its production.Then there is about 10 pages of detailed synopsis.This means that nearly one third of the book consists of synopsis.There follows critical consideration of the films followed by details of remakes.
The first problem is that some of the films are not really films that fit in this genre.I would not consider,for example,Were No Angels or Bell Book And Candle to fit into the genre.
Secondly having pages of synopsis dealing with very familiar films induces boredom.The critical section is the worst.It is fair enough to use reviews from the New York Times,Variety,Radio Times and The Observer.However the author has used opinions of unkown bloggers on little known websites.So we are constantly getting “And so and so commented….”. whichcan go on for as long as 10 pages.Why cant the author just give us his views?
Finally this is a very small book.As a result words are constantly chopped up and are on 2 lines.The problem is the further you get into this book the more difficult it becomes to read the first part of the word.
In the end i was very glad to finish this book and get onto something more rewarding.
by Avid Book Reader
A superb book about a subject usually not covered in books
by Lady Macbeth
This book goes right back to the origins of Christmas on the big screen and explains how and why the subject has become big business in modern film-making. After a short introductory chapter that takes the reader through the silent movie age to the Thirties, there is a chronological study of some of the most successful Christmas movies ever made from WW2 onwards. These include “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Miracle on 34th Street”, “White Christmas” and many others of a similar vintage. Perhaps more surprising is the examination of less famous movies of the period such as “It Happened on 5th Avenue” and “The Holly and The Ivy” which helps to flesh out a fuller picture of what was going on in the film industry at the time on both sides of the Atlantic. With references both contemporary and modern drawn into each section there is obvious effort to provide an exhaustive resource, and the book is written with much affection for the subject matter.
by Eddy Bryan
When it comes to picking an ol’ fashion film from the popcorn tub of great movies, this paperback is a great dip into the barrel of Forties and Fifties cinema knowledge – with sideshows to (Santa’s) boot.
Thomas Christie goes behind the scenes and under the stage floorboards to expose the facts behind each early Christmas movie, spotlighting fascinating facts.
A must-read before starting your search into one of your video streaming services.
“The Golden Age of Christmas Movies” will not only point readers in the right direction, but will enlighten them further after having enjoyed those 40’s & 50’s Christmas films.