As we approach the holiday season, it’s time to set aside our disagreements for the sake of world peace, goodwill among all people, etc., and unwind with a beautiful Christmas Movie, a tradition that goes back to the 1898 movie Santa Claus. In that one, Santa slips down a chimney, fills some stockings, and then immediately vanishes into thin air; the entire movie lasts just a little over a minute.
For some of us, decorating gingerbread houses and putting presents beneath the tree is just as much a part of the holiday custom as watching Christmas movies. Even though new movies are released yearly, nothing compares to the warmth of rewatching holiday favorites once the season arrives. If your family is having trouble deciding what to watch for the holidays, here are some of the biggest Christmas and holiday classics from the 1970s.
Here are the 30 Best 70s Christmas Movies To Watch These Holidays:
30. The Man in the Santa Claus Suit
Three very different men—a middle school math teacher trying to work up the courage to pop the question, a homeless restaurateur running for his life, and a stressed-out political speech writer meeting with his divorced wife and son—are given Santa Claus suits by the mysterious owners of a costume shop. Their time spent acting out the role of Santa Claus dramatically changes their life.
29. A Flintstone Christmas
Fred ultimately decides to take on the role of Santa Claus for a charity event on Christmas Eve Day. The actual Santa Claus hurt his ankle that night after falling off Fred’s roof, so those plans must be postponed. Santa is left with no choice except to ask Fred and Barney to carry on his delivery schedule for him, and they readily accept the assignment. The two work through an especially challenging night, but Santa and his helpers are there to assist.
28. Blue Christmas
The movie, which is set in modern-day Japan, explores what might happen if strange UFOs suddenly altered half the population in a clever manner. Anyone who witnesses the UFOs has their blood permanently changed blue. In the ensuing mass panic, everyone is categorized according to their blood type, and all the blue people are treated terribly differently before being picked up and sent to concentration camps.
A relationship between the leads’ portrayals of a red and a blue develops in the midst of this. Only briefly do UFOs appear in the movie; most of the time is spent on dramatization and examples of widespread prejudice. It’s an intriguing idea, and it’s obvious that the director has little faith in people.
27. The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
When lightning blinds a young shepherd named Lucas, several charitable nuns at a nearby church take him in. Lucas, who has never experienced snow, listens while Sister Catherine recounts it. The Christmas snow that falls when the pageant is being performed causes a tiny miracle, and Lucas is chosen to portray an angel throughout the abbey’s Christmas play.
26. Christmas Lilies of the Field
The plot centers on a handyman who once served a group of nuns who were committed to educating and caring for orphaned youngsters. When he comes back to check on them, he learns that they need a brand-new school and that the government is attempting to close them down.
He will have to choose whether he wants to put everything on hold in order to help them construct a new school and fight the government’s plans to seize their orphanage.
Billy Dee Williams’ appearance in this movie is a lot of fun. He gave a fantastic performance. The songs throughout the film were nicely done and fairly smart in terms of the way they were connected to the scene. The storyline is original and enjoyable to see grow.
The characters in this film are consistently excellent and simple to root for. Great performances are given by all ages. The film has a happy ending that makes you chuckle and value the journey.
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25. The Juggler of Notre Dame
In the olden days, there was a joyful juggler who traveled from place to place with his bag of tricks. However, in one village, the runs short of the law, but thanks to the help of the local abbot, he enters a monastery rather than doing time in prison. Unfortunately, the juggler botches every task given to him, straining the abbot’s tolerance. The juggler packs his bag of tricks and leaves, frustrated and disappointed.
On his way out of the city, he passes the figurine of the Lady of the Lake. It appears that the locals give material sacrifices to the Lady of the Lake, a spirit who is symbolized by a statue inside the town square once a year.
The only thing the juggler has to give is his small collection of magic tricks, which he feels is insufficient. However, the Lady of the Lake mysteriously demonstrates her acceptance of him, and the spirit of human brotherhood sweeps the entire neighborhood. It is a movie that will win your heart because of its excellent cast, gorgeous landscape, and heartwarming story.
24. A Christmas Carol (1977 Tv Movie)
It’s the final days of December, and Ebenezer Scrooge, a professional miser, greatly absolutely hates this season. He views Christmas as a total scam.
He finds it very absurd that Bob Cratchit, his servant, wants a holiday and sends away organizers of donations for the needy and penniless, and he doesn’t believe his nephew’s claims that Christmas is a season of kindness. Additionally, it’s the time of year that his friend Jacob Marley passed away seven years ago.
When he is by himself, Marley reappears out of nowhere with the doorknob, a tile, and a bell. Humbug, Scrooge muses. Marley then unexpectedly shows up in his place and counsels him to make a change in his life. He informs Scrooge that the Ghost of the Past Christmas, the Ghost of Present Christmas, and the Ghost of Future Christmas will haunt him.
23. The Gathering
Adam Thornton chooses to make peace with his family after realizing that he only has a limited amount of time remaining. The only issue is that most of his family members don’t particularly like him because he left his wife and is stubborn.
He also hasn’t talked to his youngest son since they got into a fight over something, realizing only after the fact that he was wrong, and the kid hasn’t been heard from since.
But in order to find him, he turns to her. But she advises that they invite everyone for Christmas when his doctor says it wouldn’t be healthy for him to travel. Even though most of them show up, Adam’s effort to mend fences won’t be simple.
Also Read: Christmas Movies That Might Actually Be A Bit Darker Than You Think
22. Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story
Patsy and Cynthia travel to Switzerland so that Benji can serve as the parade’s grand marshal. When they get there, they discover that Kris Kringle has injured his leg and won’t be bringing presents this Christmas. His leg, though, might not be the issue. Oliver would have been a complete flop if it weren’t for Ron Moody, who played Fagin. He is a talented actor and performer.
Benji had relatively little involvement in the film, save the little period while they were in Switzerland so he could participate in a parade. The dog lacked charm and appeared uninterested during the entire film. Did I mention how short it was? I am aware that it was described as being short, and it was.
21. Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
Long ago, the Lady Borealis used her magic to imprison the wicked Winterbolt and to imbue Rudolph, a baby reindeer, with the last of her power. Winterbolt is awake now, though.
In order for Frosty and Rudolph to assist Lilly’s circus and Milton in tying the knot to his girlfriend on the tightrope, he gives Frosty’s family magic pendants to prevent them from melting until about the Fourth of July. Santa will then use his sleigh to ensure that everyone returns to the North Pole in time, leaving Winterbolt by himself at the North Pole.
20. Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
A tiny donkey with VERY large ears is born during the Roman Empire’s days and keeps getting into trouble because of them. His mother gives her life to save him from a snowstorm when his owner humiliatingly throws him away from the stable. On the way to Bethlehem, he must discover his true place and purpose, guided just by Tilly, his guardian angel.
19. Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
Father Time sends Santa a note informing him that the Happy small new year is gone. Additionally, the previous year will always be used if there is no new year. However, given that it is foggy and snowing, Rudolph remains the only reindeer qualified for the position.
Rudolph learns that Eon (the ugly buzzard) is also searching for Happy in order to grant him eternal life. With the help of 1,000,000 B.C. and 1776, Rudolph hunts across the islands of the Archipelago of the Last Year in an effort to bring in the New Year before Eon.
18. Jack Frost
Every year, Jack Frost brings in the winter, but he is frustrated that he cannot interact with others because they cannot see him. He asks to be made permanently human after falling in love with the young peasant girl Elisa, and his supervisor, Father Winter, accepts as long as he gets a bag of gold, a house, a horse, and a wife at the start of spring.
Jack discovers Elisa and her family are being oppressed by a hungry Cossack when he first gets in town and meets them. The Cossack has his eyes on Elisa as well as the earnings of the peasants. Sir Ravenal, Elisa’s childhood friend, is another obstacle Jack must overcome.
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17. An American Christmas Carol
A Great Depression-era dramatization of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Henry Winkler’s “Mr. Benjamin Slade” is now the sole proprietor of “S&L Finance” following the demise of his devoted colleague Jack Latham.
After spending the entire day gathering his “valuable goods,” Mr. Slade returns to his workplace, fires his sensitive employee, and is then confronted by his long-deceased companion and three ghosts who resemble the people he had abducted that day.
He is shown how his selfishness and drive for success have caused him to lose sight of the ones who loved him and left him enemies in the community as he is taken over his past, the present, and his future. He ultimately understands the true purpose of life, love, as well as the Christmas spirit after witnessing the town’s response to his impending death and empty grave site.
After rising from his experiences, Mr. Slade brings back his assistant, and the two of them surprise the locals by bringing back the necessary supplies and brightening everyone’s Christmas.
16. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
One Christmas, the residents of a tiny town see their letters from Santa Claus abruptly returned, along with a note explaining that the town has been dropped from Santa’s list of destinations because someone there had insulted him by denying his existence in a letter. The letter’s sender, Father Mouse’s pessimistic son Albert, is confronted while their human friends, a watchmaker and his family, attempt to win back Mr. Claus.
15. Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
Ma Otter and Emmit are poor and fatherless and hope to get a very special gift for Christmas. While they’re in the city, Emmit notices a used guitar for sale for $40, and Ma wishes to make his Christmas memorable. Emmit, however, also wishes to give Ma a special gift.
They had to steal from one another in order to participate in a talent competition. Ma is forced to sell Pa’s tool chest to pay for fabric for a dress after Emmit drills a hole in the plastic tub to join a jug band. Each of them has a chance to win, but who will?
14. Young Pioneers’ Christmas
An ABC TV movie called “Young Pioneers’ Christmas” premiered in 1976. It takes place in the 1870s in South Dakota’s Northern Plains. With government-approved claims in the plains, “Sodbusters” is settling down. However, the railroad is now approaching, and some of the residents are in danger. Since there is no lumber, most of these folks live in sod homes. In line with history, there aren’t any trees to be seen in the scenes.
Molly and David Beaton, a young couple, lost their infant son. Each of them keeps their sorrow inside. Neighbors nearby, including a widower named Mr. Peters, whose elder daughter, Nettie, is now in charge of their home and has two younger children—a boy and a girl—have their own issues in the meanwhile. Furthermore, Dan Gray, a single friend, has the railroad seize his land.
Dan is a touch standoffish right now, but Nettie has feelings for him. This is the tale of how they all managed to find love and peace while remaining close friends throughout the hard year of 1874. Fair but unremarkable acting that is a little bit overdone in a few spots. The rural and small-town environments appear to be authentic.
The presence of numerous teenage-looking lads in the military unit with the state agency is the one thing that is obviously wrong. They are not being supervised by a corporal or even a sergeant. They are not properly uniformed either.
13. A Pink Christmas
The Pink Panther and all the other characters, in my opinion, were all quite entertaining and had wonderful personalities in this movie. I thought the animation was incredibly clear, sharp, and clean, not to mention lovely! I find the majority of the characters throughout this movie to be humorous.
he is the funniest and most skilled character ever created. In fact, I think the cartoons in this series are really insane, which is what makes them funny! There is plenty to like and find funny, not to mention the crazy things they do! I highly recommend you to watch this movie if you enjoyed the original Pink Panther as well as Looney Tunes cartoons.
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11. A Cosmic Christmas
An animated movie about a community that rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas thanks to three extraterrestrial visitors and a young child named Peter. Commercialism and greed appear to be at odds with the true meaning of Christmas, and things only become worse when Peter’s pet goose is taken. A dramatic rescue leads to a renewed spirit of sharing and caring.
10. Christmas Carol (1978 TV Movie)
Rich Little, a comedian and impressionist give the Dickens classic a very special interpretation by taking on the roles of all the film’s important characters! His extensive character library is used to portray the characters in this beloved story. You’ve never seen a Scrooge as bitter as W.C. Fields.
Poor Bob Cratchit is played by Paul Lynde, Marley’s Spirit is played by Richard Nixon, and the spirit of Christmas past is portrayed by Humphrey Bogart. Groucho Marx, Johnny Carson, Truman Capote, Edith Bunker, Laurel and Hardy, and more are among the additional 14 “renowned faces” Rich uses. When playing W.C. Fields, Rich Little is at his very best. In fact, he sings a few songs!
9. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
Early in the 1930s, The Waltons are making preparations for Christmas. They are waiting for John to arrive home from his work in the city, which is around 50 miles away, on Christmas Eve. Everyone is anxious because of his tardiness, and Olivia, Zebb, and Esther overhear news of a bus accident with injured passengers but choose to withhold this information from the other members of the family.
The story is essentially a coming-of-age tale of John Boy, who, because John isn’t at home, has to cut a tree down with Zebb. When John is eventually informed about him, he goes out to find him.
8. The Year Without a Santa Claus
Mrs. Claus continues by recalling the occasion when Santa decided to skip Christmas because of a bad cold. Some of Santa’s elves decided to go out (together with Vixen) and look for children in order to prove to him that other people still value the Christmas spirit.
They had to get over Heat and Snow Miser before they could get to Southtown, USA, where Christmas snow is unusual. However, neither Heat nor Snow can concur to let it take place there.
7. Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.
The Christmas Coal Mine Miracle was first aired on December 26, 1977. It takes place in a small 1950s community owned by wealthy miser Caufield, who refuses to calm the worries of his workers by closing the mine for safety reasons. It’s occasionally a rough slog with poorly written characters up to the climactic cave-in, which is saved for the final third.
Despite being listed as a “Special Guest Appearance,” Melissa Gilbert from LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE is unquestionably the star of the movie. Matilda, her older sister, is a miserable brat who is eager to run away with Johnny, his patient boyfriend who has been caring for his deceased mother.
The most unexpected cast member is the veteran John Carradine, playing Grandpa Sullivan, who watches over the grandchildren, prepares breakfast by filling the stove, and cuts down a tree to avoid paying Caufield’s ridiculous prices for twigs.
Carradine, who doesn’t often speak much, pretends to have a small regional accent to offer some local color while sadly lamenting the fact that Matthew Sullivan represents the only one of his 4 sons whose life hasn’t yet been taken by the cruel mine. It’s undoubtedly a welcome change for the aging actor, who is bizarrely credited as “John Carradine Sr.” for the very first time in his impressive career.
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6. Home for the Holidays
Since their mother committed suicide, the adult sisters Freddy, Jo, Alex, and Chris Morgan have been exiled from their rich father, Benjamin Morgan, for 9 years. Their hostility is a result of Benjamin’s relationship with Elizabeth Hall, who is now Mrs. Morgan. The elder girls were unable to accept what had been done to their mother as a result of their dad’s or Elizabeth’s replacement.
Jo parties hard to avoid any family issues, while Freddy uses drugs and alcohol to cope. The youngest, Chris, is innocent and can only rely on her sisters’ accounts of what unfolded in the past, as she was too little to really understand anything at the time. Now, their ailing father wants them to return on Christmas Eve.
The eldest sister, Alex, suggests to the others that they return to check how he’s been doing. When they see him, he has re-included them in his will and tells them that he thinks Elizabeth is trying to kill him. Therefore he wants his daughters to stop her in any way they can, even if that means murdering her.
Elizabeth doesn’t know the real reason Benjamin called his daughters together at this moment. He suspects her of having murderous intent in part because she was accused of killing her previous husband, whose on-paper cause of death was self-inflicted poisoning but was cleared of the charge.
In this situation, the girls’ family “roles” have a significant impact on what happens among them. A violent storm hits the area shortly after the girls arrive, leaving them stuck because the only road to the property is blocked, and the phone lines are down.
Some of them now seriously believe that Elizabeth is attempting to murder both Ben and them. Or are there other possible explanations for the possibly deadly events that happened on the Morgan farm that evening?
5. It Happened One Christmas
Mary Bailey Hatch, a depressed and suicidal woman, is praying for advice on how to respond to an incident that wasn’t her fault but is threatening her reputation and the reputation of her longstanding family company and Loan, which she took following her father’s death, on Christmas Eve 1944 in the little community of Bedford Falls, New York.
She is unaware that nearly every resident of the community, including her partner George Hatch and their kids, is also praying for her. Joseph, God’s keeper of the door to prayer, hears all of their prayers.
He reluctantly allocates Clara Oddbody, an angel of second class (who has not yet received her wings), to Mary’s case because there are no other angels readily accessible on such a busy day, despite the fact that she has never been given one on her own in the 200 years she has appeared in Heaven for a good reason.
She sees a generous woman who always desired to travel the world but then never did, while others surrounding her were able to accomplish their own ambitions as a result of her sacrifice when she learns more about Mary’s case.
Even when dealing with Henry Potter, the wealthiest and most powerful person in the community, she consistently chose to act in their best interests. Clara tells her that the world would be far better off if she hadn’t been born as she starts to help her in getting through this crisis because she thinks this will show her how valuable her existence is.
4. The House Without a Christmas Tree
Despite being simply told, this story has a bright inner light. In the late 1940s, Addie, a 10-year-old girl played by Lisa Lucas, resides in Clear River, Nebraska, with her dad and his mother. Her father is still profoundly devastated by the loss of his wife, and he is so devastated that he cannot bear to celebrate Christmas or recall how happy he was back when she was still well and alive.
He refuses to let a Christmas tree inside the house in order to achieve this. This year, Addie is going to have a tree. Therefore she will do everything in her power to get him to get one.
This movie deals with real emotions; Addie is wounded by her father’s seeming lack of concern for her and is confused as to why he won’t buy a tree. These two stubborn individuals are constantly arguing because they can’t bring themselves to give an explanation.
Even though Addie’s grandmother tries to sweeten things, her son ignores her. He occasionally treats his daughter badly in an effort to mask his own hurt sentiments. The relationship between him and Addie eventually comes to a truce of sorts, although it isn’t neatly wrapped up and instead resembles a real father-daughter bond.
The father, played by Jason Robards, is amazing. His eyes are incredibly expressive; both the love he genuinely feels for Addie and the sorrow he is experiencing flow out of them. As the grandmother, Mildred Natwick does pretty fine.
She is a cozy, all-encompassing composite of every grandma who has ever lived, yet she also gives the character a welcome touch of a sting. The plot is strengthened just as much by the Nebraska setting.
3. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
The mailman decides to address some of the most often asked questions regarding Santa Claus and shares the story of a young child named Kris who was abandoned at the Kringle family’s door. Kris dreamed of bringing toys to the kids of Sombertown when he was a child.
However, Herr Meisterburger, the Burgermeister, is too vicious to permit that to happen. And to make matters worse, a wicked magician by the name of Winter sits between Sombertown and the Kringles. Nevertheless, Kris manages to win over Winter and the attractive schoolteacher and gives them presents.
2. Scrooge
In 1860, grumpy old miser Ebenezer Scrooge despised Christmas, despised people, and supported the reduction of the surplus of the poor population. He runs his bank by taking advantage of clients and employee Bob Cratchit while treating his own nephew and friends badly.
On Christmas Eve, though, he receives a visit from the tragically cursed spirit of his previous partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him that three ghosts will come to him that night.
The first, the ghost of Christmas Past, reminds him of his unhappy youth when he managed to lose his one and only love to greed; the second, the ghost of Christmas Present, reveals to him Bob’s family’s unfortunate circumstances and how happy life can be, and the third, the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, foretells his fate.
Scrooge changes his attitude regarding Christmas, his nephew, Bob, and people in general after realizing that life is good, time is too short, and one day you’re not there anymore.
1. A Christmas to Remember
An elderly couple named Eva Marie Saint and Jason Robards live by themselves on a farm. They struggle, and the grandpa has been severely impacted by the loss of his son in the war. Due to the financial difficulties his immediate family is going through during the Great Depression, they are sending their little grandson to live with them.
The elderly grandfather is irritable and expresses his distress to his small grandson. The young child struggles with both being raised on a farm as a city lad and the violence of his grandfather. Jason Robards first rejects his young grandson, and the youngster ultimately leaves in the dark of night.
When the grandfather goes looking for him, he discovers him waiting at a railway station in the snow, insufficiently dressed. Given that there are no trains scheduled for the night and the nearest town is 60 miles distant, the grandfather gently convinces the boy to come back.
With time, the grandfather develops a close bond with his grandson and adopts a kind and supportive attitude toward him. Together, the pair are able to give the community a unique gift that belonged to the man the family lost.
Eva Marie Saint plays the grandmother in the film with kindness and compassion, acting as a calming influence on the young child. Because of the intense hardships the young child faces from the grandfather, this is a movie that really draws you in. The acting is excellent, and the script is wonderfully done. Everyone should include this movie on their Christmas watch list.
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