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Home Overlooked Films Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Holiday Edition

December 20, 2011 By iluvcinema 6 Comments

Tuesday’s Overlooked Film: Holiday Edition

Hopefully in my previous holiday post you found a few film titles that you have not yet seen.

In this Tuesday’s edition of Todd Mason’s ongoing series, I decided to scour the film archives of days of yore to find those films that rarely get mentioned nowadays in the mainstream.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) This is a more recent discovery of mine; it is a light-hearted romantic comedy. Victor Moore is a New York City hobo who squats in a 5th Avenue mansion, which remains boarded up during the winter months (the owner (Charles Ruggles) moves down South during the winter). This year his plans go a bit awry because he decides to take in a recently evicted G.I. (don deFore) who brings along his war buddies and their families. They are also joined by a teen ‘runaway’ (Gale Storm), who does not disclose that she is in fact the owner’s daughter. Other people come to the house to partake in the ensuing zaniness.

O. Henry’s Full House (1952) This selection is a short film in a series of vignettes based off the works of O. Henry (William Sydney Porter). The story relevant to the Christmas theme is entitled “The Gift of the Magi;” it is the tale of a poor, young married couple who go to great lengths to get the other the ‘perfect’ Christmas present. In the process of doing so, we are all taught a valuable lesson about the spirit of giving. This segment features Jeanne Crain and Farley Granger as the married couple. Overall the film is a good watch especially for fans of O. Henry’s short stories. Another favorite  vignette of mine is “The Last Leaf.” John Steinbeck features as the film’s ‘narrator.’

Jeanne Crain and Farley Granger in O. Henry’s Full House

About a Boy (2002) * In looking at Hugh Grant’s acting career, not many would accuse him of being an actor who stretches his talents to their natural limits. That said, I do find him quite entertaining to watch in some films and no place is that more apparent than in this 2002 feature. He plays a foppish ne’er do well (the shock!) who is living off the royalties generated from his late father’s one-hit wonder Christmas song. When his world of joyful ambivalence collides with that of Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a young boy who has had to act well beyond his years.  Their crossed paths takes them both on down a road that will irrevocably change  their lives. The Christmas holiday is a perfect bookend to the story. Also starring Toni Collette and Rachel Weisz, this is an adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel of the same name.

* Not really overlooked per se, as its global box office receipts were over 130 million.

Filed Under: Overlooked Films Tagged With: Holiday Season, overlooked films

Comments

  1. Patti Abbott says

    December 20, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Adore ABOUT A BOY. I have not seen that FULL HOUSE since i was a kid.

    Reply
    • iluvcinema says

      December 20, 2011 at 11:50 am

      I have been a fan of the O. Henry since my dad made me read some of his short stories when I was young. This is one of my favorite stories and adaptations of that story 🙂

      Happy Holidays Patti!

      Reply
  2. Castor says

    December 20, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    I watched About a Boy years ago. I don’t remember anything about it. Does that say something about the movie? 😛

    Reply
    • iluvcinema says

      December 20, 2011 at 11:48 pm

      Well Castor, I guess I would say it did not exactly resonate with you?

      Reply
  3. ruth says

    December 22, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    The only one I’ve seen is About a Boy. It’s amazing how Nicholas Hoult is a gorgeous young man now, and he’s much taller than Hugh Grant, ahah.

    I’ve never even heard of O. Henry’s Full House and the cast, sounds interesting. Great post, Iba.

    Reply
    • iluvcinema says

      December 22, 2011 at 9:03 pm

      I know Nicholas Hoult almost does not seem like the same person!

      Reply

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