Friday Five: Yuletide Favorites

Suggested by Songbird

1. It's a Wonderful Life --Is it? Do you remember seeing it for the first time?
   I first saw this movie on Public Television some time in the late 70s or early 80s, before it became a classic, and therefore worthy of the schlock treatment NBC has given it the past several years.
      I do remember liking it the very first time I saw it. I haven't watched it for at least two years. I haven't bought the DVD, and I can't stand the current broadcast version - in which a 90 minute movie is extended to three hours.


2. Miracle on 34th Street-- old version or new ?
   The original, black & white version.
   


3. Do you have a favorite incarnation of Mr. Scrooge?
   My introduction to this story was via Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. So, this is a sentimental favorite.
   Among live action versions, I'm quite fond of Alastair Sim.


4. Why should it be a problem for an elf to be a dentist? I've been watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for years now, and I still don't get it.
   Considering the fact that elves probably eat a lot of candy, an in-house dentist would seem quite desirable.
      On the other hand, with a relatively limited labor force, management is justified in wanting all workers to do the job for which they were hired.
      Given the Head Elf's extreme reaction, it's also possible he's no happier in his job than Hermey is. So he finds Hermey's non-conformism threatening.


5. Who's the scariest character in Christmas specials/movies?
   I was frightened by Bumble the first time I saw Rudolph; this was the original airing, in 1964. I was 9 years old. The program was sponsored by GE, and I think some of the commercials included the characters from the show.
      The scene was a classic cliff-hanger: it appeared that Bumble was going to eat Rudolph's mom and Clarrisa, then cut to commercial. That was pretty scary.