One of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit is to cuddle up and watch a classic Christmas movie on television (or on the big screen, if you are lucky).  At The Saybrook at Haddam, we have been screening many holiday favorites and have been happy to have visitors join us! At the same time, we know sometimes residents prefer to watch movies in the comfort of their own homes, taking advantage of movies on DVD or, better yet, streamed through on-demand services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Setting up a movie date with the seniors in your life is easy (and affordable) – and everyone will enjoy watching (or listening to) timeless classics that truly represent the Christmas spirit.  Here are a few favorites residents have requested over the years:

• Blondie (1939) – This radio classic centers around a Christmas card mix-up that leads to hijinks for Dagwood and Blondie.
• Holiday Inn (1942) — This comedy musical is perfect to set the holiday mood, featuring the original movie debut of Irving Berlin’s song, “White Christmas.”
• Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) – A heart-warming family story built around the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis –with a wonderful Christmas Eve scene that includes Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
• Christmas in Connecticut (1945) – This romantic holiday comedy is focused around a food writer, played by Barbara Stanwyck, who is about to be discovered as a fraud of sorts when she has to entertain her boss and a war hero on her non-existent Connecticut farm.
• It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) – This was Jimmy Stewart’s first film after returning from WWII and was considered a failure at the time of its release.  However, it now is considered to be one of the standard must-see holiday movies.
• It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) – Released just after “It’s a Wonderful Life,” this comedy is considered by some to be the better of the two for holiday viewing.  When a homeless man takes over a 5^th Avenue mansion on Christmas Eve, the spirit of giving sets in and ends up playing a central role.
• Miracle on 34^th Street (1947) – Known as the most famous Christmas movie ever, this classic tackles the question “Is Santa Claus Real?” The movie, starring a young Natalie Wood, was famously shot on location at Macy’s, during the actual 1946 Thanksgiving Parade, and in a NYC post office and courthouse.
• The Bishop’s Wife (1947) – The dashing Cary Grant plays the role of Dudley, a “human” angel who uses his charms to help a bishop and his wife (David Niven and Loretta Young) patch up their lives before Christmas arrives.
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971) – Each Christmas, this wonderful variety show featured some of the most memorable and enjoyable performances shown on television.
• Dragnet (1949) – A boy and his gift go missing on Christmas in this popular Dragnet radio special.
• A Christmas Carol (1951) – This black & white version from the U.K., staring classic actor Alastair Sim as Scrooge, is considered to be the best on-screen adaptation of Dicken’s fateful Christmas Eve tale.
• The Whistler (1951) – A radio detective story set against the backdrop of Christmas Eve in Panama City.
• Six Shooter (1953) – Jimmy Stewart guest stars in this radio Western version of ‘A Christmas Carol.’

• White Christmas (1954) – Irving Berlin also featured his song of the same name in this Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire film, which became the highest-grossing film of that year.
• I Love Lucy!: The “I Love Lucy!” Christmas Show (1956) – This is one of the first and most beloved of TV’s Christmas special episodes.
• The Donna Reed Show: A Very Merry Christmas (1958) – This is a classic television special about how Christmas inspires in the best in everyone.

• The Andy Griffith Show: Christmas Story (1960) – A trip to the famous TV-town, Mayberry, reminds us that the Christmas spirit can be found anywhere.

For a private tour of The Saybrook at Haddam or its Safe Harbor memory care neighborhood, please fill out the form below or contact David Downey at 860-345-3779.