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Purple Revolver presents a selection of alternative Christmas viewing for the twelve days of Christmas, plus a Christmas Eve bonus because tis the season to be jolly, after all.
Here we have a baker’s dozen of films set over the holiday period but not about Christmas and not what one would consider traditional Christmas viewing.
1. 24th December – Die Hard/Die Hard 2 (1988 and 1990)
Die Hard 1988 directed by John McTiernan and written by Steven E. de Souza and Jeb Stuart, based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp. Die Hard follows off-duty New York City Police Department officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) as he takes on a group of highly organized criminals led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), who perform a heist in a Los Angeles skyscraper under the guise of a terrorist attack using hostages, including McClane’s wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), to keep the police at bay, all on Christmas eve.
Made on a $28 million budget it grossed over £140 million in theatres worldwide. It made Bruce Willis an action hero and became the benchmark for all action films especially the lone hero battling overwhelming odds. The film’s success spawned the Die Hard franchise, which includes four sequels.
Arguably the greatest action movie ever made, and now the greatest Christmas movie ever made too. In fact now the greatest Christmas double bill ever.
Does it have a Santa? No, but it does use his catchphrase in one of my favourite film lines ever, delivered deliciously by Alan Rickman, in his first film appearance which is barely believable when witnessing his transfixing performance.
Die Hard 2 (sometimes referred to as Die Hard 2: Die Harder) 1990 directed by Renny Harlin, and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane. The film co-stars Bonnie Bedelia (reprising her role as Holly McClane), William Sadler, Art Evans, William Atherton (reprising his role as Richard “Dick” Thornburg), Franco Nero, Dennis Franz, Fred Thompson, John Amos, and Reginald Vel Johnson, returning briefly in his role as Sgt. Al Powell from the first film.
The screenplay was written by Steven E. de Souza and Doug Richardson, adapted from Walter Wager’s novel 58 Minutes.
As with the first film, the action in Die Hard 2 takes place on Christmas Eve. McClane is waiting for his wife to land at Washington Dulles International Airport when terrorists take over the air traffic control system. He must stop the terrorists before his wife’s plane and several other incoming flights that are circling the airport run out of fuel and crash. During the night, McClane also contends with airport police, maintenance workers, and a military commander who does not want his assistance.
The film was followed by Die Hard with a Vengeance in 1995, Live Free or Die Hard in 2007 and A Good Day to Die Hard in 2013.
25th December – Life Of Brian (1979)
Monty Python’s Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film starring and written by the comedy group Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin), and directed by Jones. It tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Chapman), a young Jewish man who is born on the same day as, and next door to, Jesus Christ and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah.
Funded by Python fan George Harrison through his new company Hand Made Films who would go on to produce other classics The Long Good Friday (1980), Time Bandits (1981), Mona Lisa (1986), Withnail and I (1987), How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989), Nuns on the Run (1990), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), 127 Hours (2010)
The film contains themes of religious satire that were controversial at the time of its release, drawing accusations of blasphemy and protests from some religious groups, thus making it the perfect Christmas day viewing. Thirty-nine local authorities in the UK either imposed an outright ban, or imposed an X (18 years) certificate, effectively preventing the film from being shown, as the distributors said it could not be shown unless it was unedited and carried the original AA (14) certificate. Some countries, including Ireland and Norway, banned its showing, with a few of these bans lasting decades. The filmmakers used such notoriety to benefit their marketing campaign, with posters stating “So funny it was banned in Norway!”
To put it simply, it’s an account of an ancient Israelite whose life parallels Christ’s. Opening scene takes place during (and parodies) the Nativity.
Does it have a Santa? No, but it has Jesus Christ, oh and Brian but he’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
3. 26th December – Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins 1984 directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature called a mogwai as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. This story was continued with a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, released in 1990. However unlike it’s more cartoon sequel the original is far darker opting for more black comedy, which is balanced against a Christmas-time setting.
As with seemingly the majority of 80s classics Steven Spielberg was the film’s executive producer and the screenplay was written by Chris Columbus. The film stars Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates, with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo, the main mogwai character plus Corey Feldman makes a pre Goonies cameo appearance in just his fourth film.
Gremlins was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics. The film was heavily criticized for some of its more violent sequences. In response to this and to similar complaints about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Spielberg suggested that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) alter its rating system, which it did within two months of the film’s release.
Does it have a Santa? I would say yes. A bit past his best and referred to rather than seen but you’ll never forget this Father Christmas. Plus Gizmo in a Santa hat. Win.
4. 27th December – The Apartment (1960)
The Apartment 1960 produced and directed by Billy Wilder, which stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray.
It was Wilder’s follow up to Some Like It Hot and, like its predecessor, a commercial and critical success, grossing $25 million at the box office. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, and won five, including Best Picture. The film was the basis of the 1968 Broadway musical Promises, Promises, with book by Neil Simon, music by Burt Bacharach, and lyrics by Hal David.
A young executive climbs the corporate ladder by loaning out his apartment to bosses for their extramarital trysts. The bulk of the film takes place between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s a brilliant tale of heartbreak, loneliness, annoying neighbours, pushy bosses and all the ups and downs of the holiday season.
Does it have a Santa? No, definitely no. This a funny but dark Christmas tale
5. 28th December – American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho 2000 co-written and directed by Mary Harron, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel of the same name. It stars Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon.
Serial killer Patrick Bateman takes a break from his reign of terror to attend a Christmas party given by his fiancée. One of the many indignities that Bret Easton Ellis’ Whitney Houston-loving protagonist is forced to endure in Mary Harron’s brilliant satire is taking a break from his reign of terror to attend the Christmas party of his insufferable fiancée Evelyn Williams (Reese Witherspoon) and her pot-bellied pig.
This film is worth watching for Bateman/Bale’s speech about the unappreciated genius of Phil Collins and Genesis.
Does it have a Santa? No but Christian Bale in antlers. Will that do?
6. 29th December – Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Returns 1992 directed and produced by Tim Burton. It is the second instalment of Warner Bros.’ initial Batman film series, with Michael Keaton reprising the title role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film introduces the characters of Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), a business tycoon who teams up with the Penguin (Danny DeVito) to take over Gotham City, as well as the character Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Burton originally did not want to direct another Batman film because of his mixed emotions toward the previous film in 1989.
Warner Bros. developed a script with writer Sam Hamm which had the Penguin and Catwoman going after hidden treasure. Burton agreed to return after he granted him more creative control and replaced Hamm with Daniel Waters. Wesley Strick did an uncredited rewrite, removing the characters of Harvey Dent and Robin and rewriting the climax.
Why yes, it’s a Christmas movie! Tim Burton’s second Batman outing manages the difficult trick of juggling multiple villains and some Yuletide greetings, and teaches us the useful lesson that mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it (although a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it).
Batman, Catwoman, the Penguin and Max Schrek tussle through a Gotham nestling under a snowy Christmas blanket and even use the decorations against each other when necessary. Christmas comes to Gotham City and with the winter chill comes the devious Penguin to thwart Batman. Does it have a Santa? No, but it does feature Pfeiffer purring the line “How about a kiss Santa Claus?”
7. 30th December – Brazil (1985)
Brazil 1985 directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard. It’s a film that has drawn the dewscriptions “fantasy/satire on bureaucratic society” and “dystopian satire”. The film stars Jonathan Pryce and features Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, and Ian Holm.
The film centres on Sam Lowry, a man trying to find a woman who appears in his dreams while he is working in a mind-numbing job and living a life in a small apartment, set in a consumer-driven dystopian world in which there is an over-reliance on poorly maintained (and rather whimsical) machines.
Brazil ’s bureaucratic, totalitarian government is reminiscent of the government depicted in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, except that it has a buffoonish, slapstick quality and lacks a Big Brother figure. That is the central plot anyway. In fact the wheels of the machine are driven by the largely ignored sub plot going on all around the hero but never directly acknowledged of the wrongful arrest of a man at Christmas because of a bureaucratic error.
The film is named after the recurrent theme song, “Aquarela do Brasil”, as performed by Geoff Muldaur.
Does it have a Santa? Well it features cinema’s most shocking visit from Santa Claus, as armed police take his place.
8. 31st December – The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
The Hudsucker Proxy is a 1994 screwball comedy film co-written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Sam Raimi co-wrote the script and served as second unit director. The film stars Tim Robbins as a naïve business-school graduate who is installed as president of a manufacturing company, Jennifer Jason Leigh as a newspaper reporter, and Paul Newman as a company director who hires the young man as part of a stock scam.
The script was finished in 1985, but production did not start until 1991.
Filming at Carolco Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina lasted from November 1992 to March 1993. Upon its release in March 1994, The Hudsucker Proxy received mixed reviews from critics, and was a box office flop.
In the winter of 1958 a naive mail clerk is installed as president of a New York manufacturing company and invents the hula hoop.
Does it have a Santa? No, but it does have Angels and climaxes at New Years Eve.
9. 1st January – The Godfather/The Godfather II (1972 and 1974)
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy from a screenplay by Mario Puzo and Coppola. Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of a fictional New York crime family, between the years 1945-55, concentrating on the transformation of Michael Corleone (Pachino) from reluctant family outsider to ruthless Mafia boss while chronicling the Corleones under the patriarch Vito (Brando).
Based on Puzo’s best-selling novel of the same name, The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema and as one of the most influential, especially in the gangster genre. Ranked second to Citizen Kane by the American Film Institute in 2007, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1990.
The film was for a time the highest grossing picture ever made, and remains the box office leader for 1972. It won three Oscars that year: Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando) and in the category Best Adapted Screenplay for Puzo and Coppola. Its nominations in seven other categories included Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall for Best Supporting Actor and Coppola for Best Director.
Christmastime in 1945 forms the backdrop for several murders and two attempts on Don Corleone’s life.
Does it have a Santa? No, just a Godfather.
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American crime epic produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Partially based on Puzo’s 1969 novel The Godfather, the film is both sequel and prequel to The Godfather, presenting parallel dramas: one picks up the 1958 story of Michael Corleone (Pacino), the new Don of the Corleone crime family, protecting the family business in the aftermath of an attempt on his life; the prequel covers the journey of his father, Vito Corleone (De Niro), from his Sicilian childhood to the founding of his family enterprise in New York City.
The film’s reception was almost uniformly positive, with some deeming it superior to the 1972 original, an Oscar winner for Best Picture. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and the only sequel to win for Best Picture, its six Oscars included Best Director for Coppola, Best Supporting Actor for De Niro and Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo. Pacino won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Both this film and its predecessor remain highly influential films in the gangster genre. In 1997, the American Film Institute ranked it as the 32nd-greatest film in American film history and it kept its rank 10 years later. It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 1993.
Another sequel, The Godfather Part III, was released in 1990.
10. 2nd January – The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
The Poseidon Adventure is directed by Ronald Neame, produced by Irwin Allen, and based on Paul Gallico’s novel of the same name.
The film features an ensemble cast, including five Academy Award winners: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters, and Red Buttons. It won a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects and an Academy Award for Best Original Song with “The Song from the Poseidon Adventure” – aka “The Morning After”.
Shelley Winters won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role. It also received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama.
The plot centers on the SS Poseidon, an aged luxury liner on her final voyage from New York City to Athens before being sent to the scrapyard. On New Year’s Eve, she is overturned by a tsunami. Passengers and crew are trapped inside, and a rebellious preacher attempts to lead a small group of survivors to safety.
Parts of the movie were filmed aboard the RMS Queen Mary, whose encounter with a rogue wave in 1942 inspired the book upon which the film is based.
By the end of 1974, it ranked among the six most successful features in film history, along with Gone with the Wind (1939), The Godfather (1972), Love Story (1970), Airport (1970), and The Sound of Music (1965). A 1979 sequel, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, was released later with an equally star-studded cast, but was a box office and critical failure.
Does it have a Santa? No, no scuba Santa but a giant upside down Christmas tree!
11. 3rd January – Trading Places (1983)
Trading Places is directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet. Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, and Jamie Lee Curtis also star. The storyline is often called a modern take on Mark Twain’s classic 19th century novel The Prince and the Pauper. It also bears a resemblance to another of Mark Twain’s stories, The Million Pound Bank Note.
The film was written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod and was produced by Aaron Russo.
Denholm Elliott and Jamie Lee Curtis won the awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role, respectively, at the 37th British Academy Film Awards. It’s a Christmas-set story where a couple of evil old bankers get their comeuppance.
Does it have a Santa? Yes absolutely yes. Perhaps cinema’s greatest Old St Nicholas.
12. 4th January – The French Connection (1971)
The French Connection is directed by William Friedkin and produced by Philip D’Antoni. It stars Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, and Roy Scheider. The film was adapted and fictionalised by Ernest Tidyman from 1969 the non-fiction book by Robin Moore. It tells the story of New York Police Department detectives “Popeye” Doyle and Buddy “Cloudy” Russo, whose real-life counterparts were Narcotics Detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso. Don Ellis scored the music.
It was the first R-rated movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture since the introduction of the MPAA film rating system. It also won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Hackman), Best Director (Friedkin), Best Film Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay (Tidyman). It was nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Scheider), Best Cinematography and Best Sound Mixing. Tidyman also received a Golden Globe Award, a Writers Guild of America Award and an Edgar Award for his screenplay.
The American Film Institute included the film in its list of the best American films and the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
NYC police detective Popeye Doyle attempts to intercept massive heroin shipment from France. We first see Doyle dressed as a sidewalk Santa Claus during a stakeout.
Does it have a Santa? Yes but did you pick your feet in Poughkeepsie ?
13. 5th January – Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Eyes Wide Shut is based upon Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 novella Dream Story, directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick. It was his last film, as he died six days after showing his final cut to Warner Brothers studios.
The story, set in and around New York City during Christmas, follows the sexually-charged adventures of Dr. Bill Harford, who is shocked when his wife, Alice, reveals that she had contemplated an affair a year earlier. He embarks on a night-long adventure, during which he infiltrates a massive masked orgy of an unnamed secret society.
Kubrick obtained the filming rights for Dream Story in the 1960s, considering it a perfect novel to adapt on a film about sexual relations. The project was only revived in the 1990s, when the director hired writer Frederic Raphael to help him with the adaptation.
The film was mostly shot in the United Kingdom (aside from some exterior establishing shots), and included a detailed recreation of some exterior Greenwich Village street scenes at Pinewood Studios. The film spent a long time in production, and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous film shoot period, at 400 days.
Does it have a Santa? No, but lots of stockings.