Triple Play Movies

I've been watching It's A Wonderful Life over 40 seasons. It's about despair, heartache, greed, tragedy, sacrifice, war, and being able to come back through all of this, after seeing what life would be like without him in it, but come back through all the trials, and find redemption, peace, happiness and feel what the spirit of the holidays is really about, close friends and love of family. George Baily (Jimmy Stewart) gave 100% of himself in this film. Clarence, the ghost (Henry Travers) gave George a glimpse of life without him in it. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) is the underhanded evil-doer that causes George to contemplate taking his life. There is Mary, George's wife (Donna Reed), who I think in many ways, her television show persona reflected off her role in this movie. What makes this film great; it was writtem directed and the screenplay done by Frank Kapra. He once said of all the films he directed, It's A Wonderful Life was his personal favorite.

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Then comes Charlie Brown's Christmas. I've been watching this every year since it first aired in 1965. It's gotten to the point I can say every line ... lol. "Sparky", better known as Charles M. Schulz, gifted us with his talent and gave us, I can't tell you how many hours of countless laughter. And for those of you who don't know:

The Cast

Snoopy: Bill Melendez.

Charlie Brown: Peter Robbins.

Lucy Van Pelt: Tracy Stratford.

Linus Van Pelt: Christopher Shea

Sally Brown: Cathy Steinberg.

Schroeder: Chris Doran.

Frieda: Ann Altieri.

Pig Pen: Geoffrey Ornstein

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Lastly; The Ten Commandments, with Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Edward G. Robinson (Little Ceasar and Key Largo are two of his best acting in films), Yvonne De Carlo (probably more well known for being Lily, Herman's wife on The Munsters), Debra Paget (who also starred with Elvis in Love Me Tender) who had a pretty decent career in films, and John Derek. Although Derek (had a good stint in films), he was married to Ursula Andrews, Pati Behars, and Linda Evans. He became a major news item in the 1980's when he married Bo Derek (Derek directed 9 movies, of which the last four had Bo as the leading lady). As to The Ten Commandments; not really known that well, but the baby in the film that floated along the Nile and was discovered and given the name Moses, was actually Heston's son, Fraser Heston. Fraser has been a director, producer and has written several screenplays but the only actual acting he did was in The Ten Commandments. Cecil B. DeMille had a penchant for biblical movie-making and he knew how to bring it altogether. And yeah, I know it isn't a Christmas movie, but I watch it twice a year. Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. For it's time (1959) it had the best special effects of any film made to that point.

And as they say ... that's a wrap.