There’s no business — just ask anyone — like show business.
Hollywood, America’s near mythic dream machine, is a polarized locale of fantasy come true and timeless grandeur standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the bitter truths of corruption, superficiality, avarice and vice.
It’s a hard place to make a living, they say, and an even harder place to feel good about how you do it. Or, in the words of Marlon Brando, a man who knew a bit too well of what he spoke: “Most of the successful people in Hollywood are failures as human beings.”
But even Tinseltown adopts a rosy glow as the most wonderful time of the year approaches.
Heartfelt, life-affirming Christmastime cinematic offerings are some of the most beloved films of all time, and have been for generations. Watching these movies are traditions we look forward to as eagerly as any family gatherings, decoration rituals or sumptuous feast.
Could a modern Christmas ever be complete without Bing Crosby? Jimmy Stewart? Macaulay Culkin?
Of course not.
Thankfully, all of those festive favorites and others too are set for a yuletide revival at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art this year, bringing you season’s greetings from the silver screen as part of the latest smARTfilm series: “Hollywood Holidays.”
Rediscover some Christmas movie magic at the museum, as they present five iconic pictures on three Tuesdays and two Saturdays throughout the month. Come early for dinner in the Bistro (optional, not included in ticket price) on Tuesdays and holiday treats before Saturday matinées. Doors open at 7 and the screenings begin at 7:30 p.m. for the Tuesday shows, and doors are at 1:30 and the screenings begin at 2 p.m. for Saturday shows.
Tickets, $10 for adults and $7 for kids, are on sale now. To reserve a seat, call 206-451-4011. Visit www.biartmuseum.org for more information.
The series begins Tuesday, Dec. 6 with 1942’s “Holiday Inn,” starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds.
Irving Berlin composed 12 songs specifically for this film — wherein, at an inn that is only open on holidays, a crooner and a dancer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer — and nabbed the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “White Christmas.” Maybe you heard of it?
The festive fun continues on Saturday, Dec. 10 with Chris Columbus’ “Home Alone” (1990), the highest-grossing Christmas movie of all time in North America.
Written and produced by ‘80s teen culture messiah John Hughes, the film stars 10-year-old Culkin as the mischievous pint-sized protagonist Kevin McCallister, who is mistakenly left behind when his affluent, suburban family flies to Paris for vacation.
Initially, he’s psyched (“I made my family disappear!”). But soon he must contend with two notorious burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) and a seemingly homicidal neighbor (Roberts Blossom) all on his lonesome.
Next, BIMA will screen the 1938 version of “A Christmas Carol,” starring Reginald Owen as the infamous Ebenezer “Bah! Humbug!” Scrooge on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Based on the Charles Dickens classic, this film relates the events of one particularly harrowing Christmas Eve in the life of everyone’s favorite miser, as he is visited first by the remorseful spirit of his deceased business partner and then three spirits set on teaching him the importance of kindness, charity and Christmas. Whether he likes it or not.
The most contemporary title among the series’ offerings, 2003’s “Elf” will come careening into the museum on Saturday, Dec. 17, bringing with it all the Christmas cheer — and sugar — you can handle.
Will Farrell plays Buddy, a human who, after being raised by elves, leaves the North Pole for New York City to meet and rescue his real father — who is on the (gasp!) naughty list.
Featuring a truly inspired and one-of-a-kind performance by Farrell, a cartoonish frenzy that never becomes annoying, and also awesome turns by James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel and Peter Dinklage, this johnny-come-lately Christmas classic is quickly shaping up to be as permanent a part of the holiday roster as the others.
And, finally, what would Christmas be without a trip to Bedford Falls?
Rediscover “The Greatest Gift” (the title of the short story on which this Frank Capra classic is based) in your own life this year as you settle in to spend Christmas Eve with George Bailey (Stewart) and his wingless bookworm of a guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers) in 1946’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
The suicidal Bailey is given a chance to see what the world would be like without himself, and we get another chance to see what the American Film Institute called one of the best American films ever made. It’s a movie that pays increasing dividends upon repeat viewings. So much so, that even the director himself reportedly screened it for his family and friends every holiday — due to popular demand.
