FAVORITE CHRISTMAS FILM(S)

Hmm, I don't think Ziggy thinks that's his most attractive feature

 

I loved Alastair Sim. Apart from the St Trinian's films (and lots of others) he was brilliant in the TV series 'Misleading Cases'. That series got me started on fighting my legal cases

 

They've just re-released "A Matter of Life and Death" and it is thought to be one of the best films ever made. It was released for Christmas 1945 and was a box office hit both here and in America (they changed the title of the film for its release over there ).

It's a thoroughly enjoyable watch and David Niven gives his usual superb performance ably helped by an excellent supporting cast. It also helped dispel the image of American soldiers joining the war three years late and coming over here and 'getting the British girls'. It's surprising how much 'after the war' antipathy there was to the American soldiers and in this film the British soldier (airman) gets the American girl.

Apart from a good story line the cinematography was unusual for its time and the 'experts' are still arguing over the 'hidden' allegorical meanings (what a load of critical drivel! ). Just watch the film - it's well worth it. See whether you can recognise any of the statues that are on the 'Stairway To Heaven' (that's the title the U.S. put to the film.