On the Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Remember sitting around the TV with your brothers and sisters or maybe your cousins watching Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol? I sure do. Five years ago I purchased it on DVD so I can watch it whenever I want to. It’s my favorite Christmas special of all time. It came out in 1962 when I was nine. Among the actors are David Cassidy’s father Jack, doing the voice of Bob Cratchit, while the lovable Jim Backus portrayed Mr. Magoo.  That was the first of the classic group of Christmas cartoons that were released. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas came out in 1964 and 1965 respectively, with Frosty The Snowman debuting in 1969.

I polled a good number of Somerville residents to come up with their favorite holiday movies of all time, animated and otherwise.

Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire was introduced to audiences in 1942 giving us our first real introduction to Irving Berlin’s classic song White Christmas. It’s a Wonderful Life with James Stewart and Donna Reed was made in 1947, but I really don’t recall watching it when we were kids.

In that same vein were movies such as Miracle On 34th Street, which also came out in 1947, starred a young Natalie Wood. White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney, made its debut in 1954. A Christmas Story, featuring the antics of Ralphie and his wish for a Red Ryder BB gun emerged in 1983 and became an instant favorite. 2003’s Elf, starring Will Ferrell, made a lot of people’s most loved holiday movie lists. One of my perennial favorites is Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. I actually watch that several times during the year. Bill Murray’s Scrooged, Polar Express and A Nightmare Before Christmas were mentioned by some folks too. Tim Allen’s Santa Clause movies just squeaked onto our list.

The animated version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer gave us some of the most memorable and popular characters of all time. In the cartoon version, Burl Ives portrayed Sam the Snowman who acted as the narrator. Rudolph, Hermey, Charlie-in-the-box, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, the Abominable Snowman, have become part of our holiday culture. Stuffed toys, ornaments, calendars and figurines of these lovable characters still fill the stores every Christmas season. “Rudolph” started out as a book written by Robert L May in 1939 and was published by department store mogul Montgomery Ward. Singing cowboy Gene Autry recorded the song version written by Johnny marks in 1949. Marks also wrote Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and Run Rudolph Run.

How many of us think of Charlie Brown’s pathetic little Christmas tree when we see a scrawny evergreen? It’s funny how things stay with us. I feel obligated to mention the following suggestions made by some friends although they do not make my list of favorites. They are The Bells of St. Mary, The Little Drummer Boy, and The Christmas Shoes. 

A friend tells me that she has already watched A Charlie Brown Christmas three times this year.

I saw It’s a Wonderful Life last week and recalled a bit of trivia that some of you may find interesting. In the movie, the policeman’s name is Bert, and the cab driver’s name is Ernie. Get it? Bert and Ernie?

Whenever I watch my favorite, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, which has been named the granddaddy of all animated Christmas specials, I can see my sister, brother and cousins sitting on the floor around the TV laughing and singing along. When the toothless thieves sing We’re Despicable (Plunderer’s March), tons of memories abound. Tears actually fill my eyes when I hear The Lord’s Bright Blessing, but then again, you all know that I’m a big softie. I love Christmas, and I love the traditions of the season. All of our favorite movies, cartoons and songs are icing on the fruitcake.