A Sucker for Holiday Films

Do you have a favorite holiday movie, readers?

You may think the subject of today's post is a bit of a diversion from my normal design focus, but I've come to realize that much of what I visualize about the season comes from cinema. Usually I'm a not a schmaltzy person, but there's something about a great Christmas movie that really gets to me.

I hope you'll find a little holiday inspiration from some of my favorite seasonal films.

Up first: "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944).

Were you ever curious about the name of this blog? 

Well, it came from this Vincent Minelli movie starring Judy Garland as a love-struck teen whose family is preparing to depart from their beloved home in St. Louis. Another special bit of trivia: the yuletide classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" appears for the first time in this movie!

I doubt that I ever believed in Santa Claus but, nevertheless, I have a soft spot in my heart for "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947).

 Natalie Wood plays a little girl, wise beyond her years, who befriends "Kris Kringle" and believes in him when no one else will.

"Elf" (2003) is the one modern Christmas movie that I know I'll be watching with my children in the future.

Because smiling's my favorite.

...And there is one movie that is new to me this year, but I'm looking forward to seeing it this weekend (hallelujah for Netflix!): "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945)

Let's see: Barbara Stanwyck, Chrismastime, and a Connecticut setting? I'm in.

The biggest Scrooge among us would get into the holiday spirit with these films, but certainly there are more.

What are the holiday films that shape your vision of quintessential Christmas?