Christmas movies: The best of the rest

Picking the top 20 holiday movies of the 80s was difficult. Aside from the top 5, the rest are fairly poor representatives of the genre. But if we take a short timeout from our 80s infatuation (blasphemy!), here's a look at the best holiday flicks from other decades:

2000s:
Love Actually (2003): Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy. "Now which doll shall we give Daisy's little friend Emily? The one that looks like a transvestite or the one that looks like a dominatrix?"

1990s:
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon. "What a splendid idea! This Christmas' sounds fun. I fully endorse it - let's try it at once! 
The Santa Claus (1994): Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson. "Who gave you permission to tell Charlie there was no Santa Claus? I think if we're going to destroy our son's delusions, I should be a part of it."

1980s: See full list

1970s:
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974): Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney. "He's Mister Green Christmas. He's Mister Sun. He's Mister Heat Blister. He's Mister Hundred-and-One."
An American Christmas Carol (1979): Henry Wrinkler, Dorian Harewood. The classic tale is set in Depression-era New England with Winkler (at the height of his fame as "The Fonz") playing the miserly Benedict Slade. Not shown on TV anymore but available on DVD.

1960s:
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): Boris Karloff. "Santie Claus, why? Why are you taking our Christmas tree, why?"
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Peter Robbins, Tracy Stratford. "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you are the Charlie Browniest."

1950s:
White Christmas (1954): Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye. "It's cozier, isn't it? Boy, girl, boy, girl."
A Christmas Carol (1951): Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison. "A merry Christmas, Ebenezer! You old humbug! Oh, and a happy new year! As if you deserved it!"

1940s:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946): Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed. "Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!"
Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara. "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for."

Comments

[DC]

Funny, I just watched LOVE ACTUALLY yesterday. The opening scene with Billy Mack trying to nail "Christmas is all around us" is classic.

There was more than one Lobster at the birth of Jesus? Duh!

[Brian Munroe]

Year without a Santa is my favorite of the claymation Christmas specials.

And Alastair Sim is without a doubt the greatest Scrooge.

[Hamptune]

Year without a Santa Clause has appeared on ABC family channel several times this month. A Classic for sure...