Eighth Day of Holiday Movies

On the eighth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Christmas in Connecticut (1945), which stars Barbara Stanwyck.  This is the story of a single woman writer who writes a “day in the life” column for a popular magazine.  The only problem is her column is about a married woman with a young baby who would make Martha Stewart look like a slacker.  While her editor and close friends know the truth, her publisher is blissfully unaware.  As circumstances would have it, this Christmas her publisher has invited himself and a young war hero to spend Christmas with her and her family on their picturesque farm in Connecticut.  Ms. Elizabeth Lane quickly needs to get herself a husband, a baby, a farmhouse in Connecticut and someone who can cook in order to keep her job. 

This is another black and white film with amazing costumes including Edith Head gowns on Ms. Stanwyck and a stunning set.  As a matter of fact, I’d like to move to that farmhouse.  The fireplace in the living room is taller than the actors.  You could really get a blaze going in there.  And I've never been on a real horse-drawn sleigh ride but it looks romantic in that nostalgic way.  Do you recognize a few actors from Casablanca?  It's fun to see them in more comedic roles.

There is something about stories with mistaken or hidden identities that I find so enjoyable.  It always opens up things for humor as nothing ever goes off without a hitch.  This film will surely not disappoint on that point. 

This film got a remake as a TV movie directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992.  It was modernized with the female lead having a cooking show and being a cook book author.  While it tries, it just doesn’t have the same charm as the original for me.  If you want to do a double-feature, I say give it a try and see what you think.