Christmas Is Trending!
Rick Retro’s Realm, Project #4: 2025 Christmas Tour – Are you noticing the trends in these Christmas films from the 1940s and 1950s?
Project #4: 2025 Christmas Tour – Are you noticing the trends in these Christmas films from the 1940s and 1950s?
The last few stops on our 2025 Christmas Tour were movies set in New England, New York state, or New York City. All of them included eligible bachelors finding romance during the snowy holiday season, typically soldiers back home from World War Two. Thus were the holiday filmmaking trends in the 1940s and 1950s, a regular Yuletide Nor’easter! These trends are not ending with today’s stop on our tour!
Yesterday we visited the Big Apple for Miracle on 34th Street. The romance there wasn’t a big part of the story and WWII wasn’t mentioned. But we at least had snow in New York trending.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) — Might be more aptly titled Santa on Trial.
A ^
Family Suitability
+ ✅3️⃣ OK for older kids. (Grades 4+) | Approved
Alignment with Judeo-Christian Values
+ ❎1️⃣ Fair/Slightly Favorable
Today’s stop on our tour doesn’t just confirm our holiday trends, it doubles down on them. We have scenes in New York City and New England. (This time it’s Vermont, not Connecticut.) Not only that, but we have not one, but two returning soldiers as our eligible bachelors in danger of romance. And for this epic Christmas musical, the holiday filmmaking trends are brought to you in living color!
White Christmas (1954)
White Christmas (1954) — There’s not a ton of snow or Christmas here, but this film honors veterans and is a solid musical romcom well worth the watch.
A ^
Family Suitability
+ ✅2️⃣ OK for teens and adults. (Grades 7+) | Approved
Alignment with Judeo-Christian Values
+ ❎2️⃣ Good/Moderately Favorable
I gave Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas equally strong grades in the top third of the “A” range. If you’ve seen both which do you prefer?
We’d love to hear the reason for your vote in the comments!
Tomorrow, we leave the holiday trends of the 1940s and 1950s behind. In the 1960s the new trend was holiday television specials, and we will visit the big three that kicked off that trend.
Don't forget the popcorn!
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