The Christmas movies are in full force on every TV channel right now (for those of us who still have normal, terrestrial TV, in addition to Netflix or Roku or whatever all the kids are using for media entrainment these days). But how about some holiday movies with historical costumes that aren’t yet another twist on Charles Dickens’ apparently beloved “A Christmas Carol”? Because IMDB says there are hundreds of movies, TV movies, TV episodes, and whatnot that either recreate or take a wild riff on that story. And here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we can see the damn thing every weekend this time of year. Let’s give Scrooge and his ghosts a break.
Instead, here are five holiday movies with historical costumes that I find worth watching as you head into the end of December, and not A Christmas Carol in sight…
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Putting the “fun” in dysfunctional, this royal family drama is set at Christmas circa 1183 and stars the great Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn, among others. While the costumes are a little ho-hum (it’s 1183, they’re barbarians with knives, remember), the dialog sparkles. “Well, what shall we hang… the holly, or each other?”
Little Women (1994)
We just did a podcast on this version of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, so definitely download that before re-watching this flick. There are two Christmas scenes in the film, both sweet in that “we’re poor but proud” way. Yet the movie manages to not be saccharine, and the costumes by Colleen Atwood are excellent.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
The holiday connection is that Judy Garland first sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in this film. It’s a wonderful, melancholy song that expresses some of the conflicted emotions people experience this time of year, and the scene when it’s sung (toward the end of the film) is quite appropriate to this mood. The movie’s costumes are by prolific Hollywood designer Irene Sharaff, who is second only to Edith Head in total Best Costume Oscar wins. It’s definitely 1904 by way of 1940s, but the look isn’t awful, and if you like musicals at all, this one has the whole package.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
This is where we get to borderline territory — not with the holiday part, but with the historical costume part. It’s easy to find contemporary films or fantasy flicks set around Christmas. But ones set in another historical period and at a winter holiday are rare on the ground. The first book and movie in the Chronicles of Narnia series starts during World War II as the Pevensie children are evacuated to the country during the London Blitz. When they discover Narnia, they’re told it’s “Always winter, never Christmas.” That is, until Aslan returns, the frost begins to melt away, and Father Christmas brings presents to the children and their friends. As a huge fan of the books, I was quite pleased with this adaption.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
And now I jump over the aforementioned border. This film is set in a slightly retro 1950s-ish world with strong fantasy elements. Not exactly historical costume, but hey, it’s another Colleen Atwood design, and the title character’s look is pretty freakin’ amazing. Plus, this is wonderful to watch at the holidays — it’s all about the feels. Director Tim Burton has said it’s his most personal movie, and that comes through in every scene.
FYI, I did want to include some less Christmas-specific winter holiday films, but movies set during Hanukkah, Solstice, and even New Years Eve are even more rare, at least in the costume drama world. There are some with generic winter settings, but I didn’t find any that felt festive. So please share your faves of all denominations — what holiday movies with historical costumes are on your list?
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who likes The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (How can you NOT love Tilda Swinton as the White Witch?)
The best part of Meet Me In Saint Louis is probably hearing what the intended lyrics of “Merry Little Christmas” were: Have yourself a merry little Christmas/It may be your last/Next year we may all be living in the past…” Judy Garland apparently read them and said “I can’t sing that to her! Everyone will think I’m a monster!”
A friend pointed out to me that one of the dresses Amy wears in Paris is obviously meant to be remade from Meg’s afternoon dress that Sally Moffat replaces with child-labor silk. I’m compelled to share this every time the movie comes up, it’s a lovely little detail.
Love these and love that you like the 2005 version of The Lion , The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Bit of Trivia: The first glimpse of the Professor’s house on the film is……Kentwell Hall!
A camera crew were sent to “record” it and then it was CGI’d in post filming as the approach in the film is definitely NOT the approach to the actual house.
E and I recognised it immediately when we saw the film. As we would!
When I tell people that my favourite Christmas film is “The Lion in Winter”, they usually think I’m crazy. So, thank you for some validation.
For many years my mom insisted on watching Fanny and Alexander every Christmas–and then fell asleep after the first half hour. I was convinced she really thought it was a Christmas movie,