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Christmas has always been a source of inspiration to many artists, including those in the film industry. Over the years, filmmakers have created an array of Christmas movies and television specials, many of which have become beloved staples during the holiday season all over the world.    One of the earliest examples of Christmas-themed films is Santa Claus (1898), a British short directed by George Albert Smith, featuring Santa visiting a house on Christmas Eve. As a trick film, it was groundbreaking at the time for showcasing the use of parallel action. In the United States, A Christmas Carol (1910), produced by Edison Studios based on Charles Dickens' 1843 novella of the same name, further highlighted the sentimental value of Christmas themes. It was not until the 1940s, however, that Christmas movies truly cemented their place in cinematic history. With the horrors of World War II, audiences needed to be reminded that there was still good in the world, and ...

Joan Crawford dressed as Santa Claus ready to go down someone's chimney and deliver some presents (1926).   Janet Gaynor decorating a Christmas tree (c. 1930).     Eve Arden with an armful of presents (c. 1950).      Baby Liza Minnelli eating ice cream a children's Christmas party in the home of comedian Edgar Bergen (1948).   Shirley Temple sitting by her Christmas tree with a bunch of presents (1936).     Cyd Charisse with a model of Santa Claus (c. 1950).    Anna May Wong during the gathering of international film stars at the Christmas tree celebration in the Christy Hotel in Hollywood (1932).   Priscilla Lane standing next to a Christmas with an armful of presents (1941). Rosemary Lane (sister of Priscilla) with a pile of Christmas presents under the tree (1939).   Deanna Durbin dressed as a Christmas tree fairy (1945).   Arlene Dahl stepping out of a Christmas box (1947).     Gloria DeHaven sitting n...

Esther Pressman, Kay Gordon, Bonita Barker, Dorothy Thompson and Dene Myles in a Christmas publicity shot for Paramount Pictures (December 1935).  Boris Karloff and Ginger Rogers at a Christmas party in Los Angeles in December 1932.   Priscilla Lane besides a Christmas tree with a armful of presents (1941).   George Burns and Gracie Allen with their two adopted children, Ronnie and Sandra Jean, at home during Christmas (December 1939)   Cyd Charisse in a Christmas publicity shot (1947).   Butch Jenkins and Lassie in a Christmas publicity shot (December 1947).   Deanna Durbin decorating a Christmas tree (December 1944).   Mara Alba, Anna May Wong and Alga Baclanova at a Christmas party given by the Foreign Correspondents Association (December 1932).   A Christmas parade at the Hollywood Boulevard (December 1941).     Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas has always been a source of inspiration to many artists and writers. Over the years, filmmakers have adapted various Christmas stories into both movies and television specials, which have become staples during the holiday season all around the world. Even though Christmas is my favourite holiday, I haven't watched a lot of Christmas films. Still, I thought it would be fun to rank my top 10 favourites, based on the ones that I have indeed seen. Here they are.    10. Holiday Affair (1949) Directed by Don Hartman, Holiday Affair tells the story of a young widow (Janet Leigh) torn between a boring attorney (Wendell Corey) and a romantic drifter (Robert Mitchum). She's engaged to be married to the boring attorney, but her son (Gordon Gebert) likes the romantic drifter better. Who will she choose? Well, I think we all know who she will choose. Holiday Affair is not by any means the greatest Christmas film of all time, but it's still a very enjoyable Yule-tide comed...