Anyone else think it odd that the film didn't include the trappings of the Christian Holy Day? No carols, no ministers, no parables. I thought it showed remarkable restraint to treat it as no more than the plot device necessary to move the co-stars across country together.
The story did not need ministers or carols necessarily - however the Christmas tree is a religious 'invention', as is the giving of gifts on Christmas. And whose name was that in Christmas....?
Now if they'd had a 'holiday tree' and only mentioned 'the holiday' the audiences of 1940 would have boycotted the movie en masse for secularizing Christmas. There was no attempt made in this movie, to do so.
The Christmas tree is most certainly not a christian invention. Pagans were celebrating with trees at winter solstice long before christians swiped the concept.
shareYou're right; the story didn't need ministers or carols. I was just surprised that the urge to include some cloying moment of religious conversion was resisted.
shareMost movies don't use "cloying" anything in Christmas movies. Even White Christmas is scarcely a religious tract!
Maybe the reason why it's a holiday movie is cause it's centered on home, family, and oh yeah, Christmas.
I hope that's not too 'cloying' for you (must be really warm and happy round your family hearth!)
I was really surprised when MacMurray / Jack Sargeant mentions getting Lee back to New York in time for Kwanzaa.
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I think Christmas is almost a "device" in this movie. It isn't a "Chrismas" movie, although Christmas certainly helps. Rethink it as MacMurry taking Stanwyck home for the Fourth of July parade and picnic. I think it almost works, although there is nothing like the atmosphere that Christmas conjures up.
But it's not the birth of Christ that redeems Stanwyck. It's love, and family love.
me too.
🎄Season's Greetings!🎄
Well said, Simplemines.
Back to the original comment: It's likely because Preston Sturges, the writer, believed in God but didn't believe in religion.
I think the observation is astute. Plenty of movies in this era -- "Going My Way" and "The Bells of St. Mary's," just to name a few from the same studio, Paramount -- were heavy on religion, especially the sentimental variety.
Not very good examples, since those films are explicitly about a Catholic priest. Lots of counterexamples from this era among films regarded as "Christmas" films. Shop Around the Corner, Holiday Inn, White Christmas, Meet Me in St. Louis, Holiday Affair, Christmas in Connecticut, just off the top of my head.
While it sometimes makes films on religious topics, I think Hollywood (both then and now) prefers to tread lightly in the area and not appear to endorse a particular religion for fear of offending those of other faiths or nonbelievers.
In the 1940s, almost all Christmas movies were secular.
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