TCM in December: Christmas Movies

It's time for my annual guide to Christmas movies being shown this month on Turner Classic Movies!

Christmas films are scattered throughout the month, culminating in something extra-fun: A week-long Classic Christmas Marathon which begins on December 18th and runs through Christmas Day.

As regular TCM fans are no doubt aware, the Christmas schedules vary a bit from year to year, so I want to mention that several films which were missing from last year's Christmas schedule have turned up this year, including CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945), THE CHEATERS (1945), NEVER SAY GOODBYE (1946), COVER UP (1949), and DESK SET (1957).

For those looking for nontraditional Christmas viewing, I highly recommend LADY ON A TRAIN (1945) and COVER UP (1949) on December 19th. Both are lighthearted mysteries with lots of Christmas atmosphere. I've enjoyed both films multiple times. Dennis O'Keefe and Barbara Britton are seen here in COVER UP.

Please click on any link below for my extended review. In the case of films which are shown multiple times this month, the review is only linked the first time the title is mentioned on the schedule.

Please forgive any spacing irregularity below, as I'm still becoming familiar with Blogspot's new platform and positioning photos is a bit of a challenge at times.

Saturday, December 5th

BACHELOR MOTHER (1939)
BELL BOOK AND CANDLE (1958)
THE APARTMENT (1960)
IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE (1947) 

THE THIN MAN (1934)

Sunday, December 6th

LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938)
LITTLE WOMEN (1994)
HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)
CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)

Monday, December 7th

BABES IN TOYLAND (1934), shown as part of the Laurel & Hardy series


Tuesday, December 8th

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938), shown as part of an evening of Charles Dickens films

Thursday, December 10th, an evening of "Santa Sightings"

NEVER SAY GOODBYE (1946)

MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949)

PROSPERITY (1932)
LARCENY, INC. (1942)

ROBIN AND THE 7 HOODS (1964)

Saturday, December 12th

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)
3 GODFATHERS (1948)
MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)

Sunday, December 13th

ALL MINE TO GIVE (1957)
BUNDLE OF JOY (1956)
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

Thursday, December 17th, features an evening of religious films 

GOING MY WAY (1944)
KING OF KINGS (1961)
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965)
BOYS TOWN (1938)



Friday, December 18th - The Classic Christmas Marathon begins!
REMEMBER THE NIGHT (1940)
THE APARTMENT (1960)
DESK SET (1957)
BLACK CHRISTMAS (1975
THE SILENT PARTNER (1978)

Saturday, December 19th

THREE GODFATHERS (1936)

BIG BUSINESS (1929) (short)
ALIAS BOSTON BLACKIE (1942)
BUSH CHRISTMAS (1947)
A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: MERRY CHRISTMAS! (2011)
FITZWILLY (1967)
SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954)
DESK SET (1957)
THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)
WE'RE NO ANGELS (1955)
LADY ON A TRAIN (1945)
KISS OF DEATH (1947), shown on Noir Alley
LADY IN THE LAKE (1947) Christmas crime films all evening!
COVER UP (1949)
BACKFIRE (1950)

Sunday, December 20th

KIND LADY (1935)
BEYOND TOMORROW (1940)
KISS OF DEATH (1947), a Noir Alley encore
LITTLE WOMEN (1949)
MA AND PA KETTLE AT HOME (1954)
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)
GOING MY WAY (1944)
IT HAPPENED ON FIFTH AVENUE (1947)
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY (1952)
CHRISTMAS PAST (1925)
MON ONCLE ANTOINE (1971)
FANNY AND ALEXANDER (1982)

Monday, December 21st

HELL'S HEROES (1929)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)
LARCENY, INC. (1942)
CROOKS ANONYMOUS (1962)
MR. SOFT TOUCH (1949)
ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952)
PENNY SERENADE (1941)
COME TO THE STABLE (1949) (This isn't actually a Christmas film, but it feels like one, and it was a Robert Osborne Christmas Eve pick in 2012)
THE MIRACLE OF THE BELLS (1948)
GOOD SAM (1948)
THE BLUE BIRD (1940)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. LAWRENCE (1983)

Tuesday, December 22nd

AND SO THEY WERE MARRIED (1936)
COVER UP (1949)
NEVER SAY GOODBYE (1946)
MY REPUTATION (1946)
COME TO THE STABLE (1949)
LADY IN THE LAKE (1947)
THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT (1964)
THE LION IN WINTER (1968)
CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)
HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)
A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES! MERRY CHRISTMAS (2011)
BACHELOR MOTHER (1939)
BUNDLE OF JOY (1956)

Wednesday, December 23rd

OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945)
THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O'GRADY (1950)
ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1941)
PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT (1962)
ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS (1955)
POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES (1961)
BELL BOOK AND CANDLE (1958)
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)
THE CHEATERS (1945)
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)
LITTLE WOMEN (1949)
AUNTIE MAME (1958)

Thursday, December 24th

TENTH AVENUE ANGEL (1948)
ALL MINE TO GIVE (1957)
LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938)
IT HAPPENED ON FIFTH AVENUE (1947)
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)
CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945)
THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947)
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938)
MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
BEYOND TOMORROW (1940)

3 GODFATHERS (1948)

Friday, December 25th

LITTLE WOMEN (1933)
THE GREAT RUPERT (1950)
BABES IN TOYLAND (1934)
SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954)
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942)
HOLIDAY AFFAIR (1949)
THE APARTMENT (1960)


For those looking ahead to New Year's Eve, it will be spent identically to 2019, with THE THIN MAN movie series followed by the THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! series.  

For more information on TCM in December 2020, please visit TCM in December: Highlights, Quick Preview of TCM in December, and TCM's online schedule.

Merry Christmas!

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