Santa Sensation

 More than seven decades upon its release, 1947s "Miracle on 34th Street" has definitely withstood the test of time.

To this day, "Miracle on 34th Street" is the most original story of Santa Clause I've ever seen. Santa Clause portrayed by Edmund Gwenn has been in and out of mental institutions because he claims to be the actual Kris Kringle, and he's deemed non-violent with a delusion for good.

Natallie Wood was 8-years-old in this movie and like her screen-mother, Maureen O' Hara, she doesn't believe in Santa Clause. O' Hara plays Doris Walker, the department store manager who hired Kris Kringle and soon questions her own choice because she doesn't want her daughter Susan (Wood) believing in Santa Clause, and the new Santa she hired is very convincing or perhaps the real Santa himself which makes for a great family Christmas tale.  

Kris Kringle (Gwenn) becomes the New York Macy's department store Santa Clause and Mr. Macy himself doesn't care that his new Santa thinks he's Saint Nick himself, but Kringle ends up on trial for lunacy.

The New York Supreme Court judge and Mr. Macy themselves are extremely reluctant to claim there is no Santa Clause in a court of law because of the ramifications it might cause in the world of business. 

Lawyer Fred Gailey defends Kringle and uses the U.S. Post Office as competent authority that Santa Clause does indeed exist. Four stars easy for this Christmas classic. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

    

Debauchery & Debacle in "Bad Santa"

This 2003 R rated Christmas movie is two years away from officially being a classic. 

I've watched this movie every year since its release, and I still laugh out loud upon every viewing. 

Tony Cox and Billy Bob Thornton are thieves who pose as an Elfe and Santa Clause during the Christmas season so they can rob various department store safes every December. The above picture is the actor Brett Kelly who plays the bullied Thurman Merman in "Bad Santa." 

Willy (Thornton / bad Santa) and Merman become adult and child counterparts. Upon their first meeting Thornton asks if he was dropped on his head, and Merman replies; "How could they drop me onto my head?"

"No, not onto your head, goddamn it, are you fucking with me?" Thornton said.

Bad Santa is very blunt with the kid Merman and says he got sick because he loved a woman who wasn't clean, so yes, this movie is not fit for all ages or those opposed to crass and dirty humor.

The sexy Lauren Graham is the one adult who has the potential clean up the booze laden bad Santa and restore some conscience in his soul. John Ritter did a fantastic job as Bob Chipeska, the department store manager. 

Chipeska, (Ritter) is a very straight-laced fellow who refuses to cuss or talk about sex candidly, and this adds to the guffaws in this flick. Chipeska frequently tattles on bad Santa to the store's security chief Gin, Bernie Mac who also nailed his role.  

Lisa Ross is the one stripper, Tiffany who is topless in "Bad Santa," and Thornton asks her if she wants to play hide the Nazi, an obvious reference to intercourse. Excessive alcohol use, fornication, nudity and profanity are needed in "Bad Santa" just as it's needed in "Animal House." Four stars easy for this movie. 

Mark Izzy Schurr     

   

A 1980s Christmas Flick Reviewed

This 1983 comedy works for me because of the interaction between the actors Don Ameche, Denholm Elliot and Eddie Murphy. 

Ameche and Denholm portray the Duke brothers who own and run the Duke and Duke investment firm. The two Duke's make their Usual Bet wager on human nature. Randalph (Elliot) bets his brother Mortamer (Ameche) that a homeless hustler (Murphy) can run their company as well as their nephew Lewis. (Dan Aykroyd) 

The two Dukes arrange a devious destruction of Lewis's life, and put Murphy in his place, complete with Lewis's job and his house for no valid reason, other than a stupid bet, and the comedy begins. 

Ameche, Murphy and Elliot 

       The above photo is from "Trading Places." In this scene the two Duke brothers are explaining to Murphy what exactly their company does. The Duke and Duke company invests in many products including wheat, coffee, pork products, gold and citrus goods. The look on Eddie Murphy's face is priceless when Elliot talks about bacon, which he says may be found in a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. The below picture of Murphy says it all. 

Christmas for me is a great time to watch various holiday films regularly during this time of year, and "Trading Places" always works for me during the holidaze! Three and half stars for this vintage flick. 

Mark Izzy Schurr