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Holiday Family
Collection - TV
This collection presents eight Christmas-themed episodes
from four vintage television series for nostalgic holiday
viewing. In THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1962-1971) episode
"Home for Christmas," the Clampetts travel back to the
Ozarks for a special holiday visit; while in "Christmas at
the Clampetts," the family don't know what to do with all
the costly gifts they received from Mr. Drysdale. In THE
ADVENTURES OF OZZIE & HARRIET (1952-1966) episodes "Busy
Christmas" and "Late Christmas Gift," the Nelson family get
up to some festive yuletide hijinks. In THE JACK BENNY
PROGRAM (1950-1965) episode "The Christmas Show," Benny
shops in a department store fraught with crazed sales
clerks, while sexpot Jayne Mansfield makes an appearance in
"The New Year's Eve Show." Finally, in the DRAGNET
(1951-1959) episode "The Big Little Jesus," a priest
recruits Sergeant Joe Friday to locate the stolen baby Jesus
statue from a church's nativity scene; while in ".22 Rifle
for Christmas," a little boy accidentally kills another
while playing with a gun and the dead child's parents give
him their son's Christmas presents.
It's A Wonderful Red
Green Christmas
Red, Harold, Bill, and the gang from Possum Lodge gather for
an old-fashioned Christmas and offer hints on how to create
the ultimate holiday experience. From a one horse open k-car
sleigh to decorating the tree with a howitzer, this special
is more jam-packed than Grandpa after Christmas dinner.
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How The Grinch Stole
Christmas
Director Ron Howard casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role in this
live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss, giving this
rendition of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS a delightfully manic spin. Carrey is
virtually unrecognizable in his elaborate green makeup, but his anarchic comic
touch is unmistakable. He manages to fully embody the grumpy title character,
while still supplying his own comedic touches, and it is his performance that
makes the film a treat for adults and children alike. The candy-colored set
design for the town of Whoville and the jubilant score contribute to the overall
feeling of innocuous fantasy that the Grinch disrupts with his dastardly deeds.
The familiar story of the Grinch stealing every present in town on Christmas Eve
has been expanded to incorporate flashbacks to the Grinch's childhood, which
serve to explain his hostility toward the Whos. As Cindy Lou-Who, a little girl
so sweet she sees goodness even in the Grinch, young Taylor Momsen strikes just
the right note of adorable ingenuousness. Howard gets the performance the film
needs from her, as her character makes the Grinch's eventual change of heart
both believable and touching.
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