written and edited by
Phil & Erin Baker
published by
Revive church
7198 Nolensville Rd
Nolensville, TN 37135
ReviveChurchTN.org
©2016
ReviveChurchTN.org
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………..1
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation……2
A Christmas Carol………………………………4
Elf………………………………………………...6
The Polar Express…...…………….…………..8
A Christmas Story…………….………………10
It’s A Wonderful Life….………………………12
The Santa Clause……………….……………14
Home Alone…………………………………….16
Christmas with the Kranks………...………...18
Miracle on 34th Street………………………...20
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”………22
Introduction
We all have our favorite Christmas movies. You watch them with
the lights turned down, curled up on the couch while wonderful
scents waft in from the kitchen. Maybe you clear the floor so you
can wrap presents in front of the TV. Or perhaps your whole family
crams into one room to laugh at the same scenes and jokes you’ve
seen hundreds of times before.
Whatever your movie night looks like, there’s something uniting
about it. It can reset the clock to a time when you were a kid (or a
kid at heart) and remind you of what’s important.
This booklet was put together with that in mind. It is our hope that
these pages will spark thoughts and discussions about some of your
favorite movies, enrich your conversations and draw you closer
together. The trivia will get you started with fun facts about the
movie. Use the discussion questions during commercial breaks, after
the movie, around the dinner table or for a family devotion time.
There are also some suggested activities for “after the show” to
expand your Christmas movie time experience.
We’ve chosen movies we feel are the most popular. These choices
should not be taken as an endorsement by Revive church. Some have
a PG or higher rating. Parents should always use their own discretion
when watching movies with their children, even when they are
edited for television.
So warm up the cocoa and fire up the flatscreen. May you find new
insight in an old favorite. See a classic through someone else’s eyes.
Light up a darkened room with the glow of the tv and the glow of
family love.
1
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S
CHRISTMAS VACATION
(1989)
Rated PG-13
Since the Griswold family was first introduced in 1983, America has related to the
overreaching father, Clark (Chevy Chase), his accommodating wife Ellen (Beverly
D’Angelo) and their kids Rusty and Audrey (Played by different actors throughout
the series. Played here by Johnny Galecki and Juliette Lewis). Each movie takes
us on another one of Clark’s idealized trips toward family fun. But they always end
up in the center of dysfunction and destruction.
This time, Clark and the family stay home for Christmas while their extended family,
including Cousin Eddie and his brood, drop in for the yuletide duration. True to his
character, Clark dreams of making this Christmas one for the memory album. From
the oversize Christmas tree, to a grand family gift that depends on his Christmas
bonus, he only sets himself up for failure that ultimately takes its toll on everyone
around him.
What makes this movie such a touchstone for viewers is its adherence to
Christmas clichés we’ve all experienced – lights on the house, shopping, annoying
relatives and holiday stress.
It seems to call to mind similar incidents in our own Christmases past. The theme
of Christmas Vacation seems to be no matter what happens, families stick
together. Hopefully your family has survived its own holiday horror stories. And
hopefully you did it together.
NOTE: Language and action in this movie has strong
suggestions of mature subjects. Parents should use their
discretion when viewing with young children even when edited
for TV.
2
Trivia
 Filmed on the Warner Brothers back lot, the Griswold house is next door to Danny
Glover’s house in the Lethal Weapon movies.
 Johnny Galecki has gone on to star in TV’s
“The Big Bang Theory”.
 Mae Questel (Aunt Bethany) was the voice
of “Betty Boop”.
 Audrey appears to be older than Rusty. In
all the other Vacation movies Rusty is
older.
 None of the movie takes place on
Christmas day. It ends on Christmas Eve.
Family Discussion
1. Does your family have a live or “fake” Christmas tree? Why?
2. Why does Clark think everything he does has to be the biggest and best? Do you think
he does it for himself or for his family?
3. It is clear how Clark feels about Cousin Eddie. How do you think Eddie feels about
Clark and his family? Does Eddie look up to Clark or do you think he considers himself
equal to him?
4. Do you think it was wise for Clark to assume his Christmas bonus would be as it had
been in years past? Why or why not?
5. What motivated Eddie to kidnap Clark’s boss? Do you think Eddie considered the legal
ramifications of his actions or was he acting purely out of love?
6. The first Christmas (Luke 2) was a bit of a disaster too. Mary and Joseph had to take a
road trip. They had no hotel room. Mary had to give birth in a barn. How do you think
they viewed this night?
7. “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19). What
are your most precious Christmas memories?
After the show
Ask an elderly family member how they decorated their house at Christmas time when they
were growing up.
Clark finds an unexpected escape into the past when he gets locked in the attic. Spend
some time with your family watching old home movies or going through photo albums.
3
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
(various)
Originally published in 1843, this classic by Charles Dickens has been replicated
on stage, TV and film ever since. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter
miser who is visited by the ghost of his late business partner, Jacob Marley. The
ghost makes arrangements for Scrooge’s salvation via a visit from 3 spirits – the
ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of
Christmas future. Through these visits Scrooge sees errors he made in his life and
vows to redeem them in his remaining years.
Dickens’ original story became the source for many of the Christmas traditions we
still observe today such as wishing someone a “Merry Christmas” or calling
someone else a “Scrooge”. And it has inspired acts of charity from many who have
read and seen it. A factory owner in 1867, closed his factory on Christmas day and
sent a turkey to each of his employees after attending a reading of the story. The
Queen of Norway once sent gifts to London’s crippled children with a card reading
“With Tiny Tim’s Love.”
Everyone seems to have their favorite movie version of
A Christmas Carol. The earliest known was in 1901.
Thomas Edison filmed a version in 1910. Bill Murray
starred in a contemporary retelling in 1988’s Scrooged.
And Jim Carrey most recently played the Christmas
curmudgeon via motion-capture computer generated
animation. There have been more than 28 film
versions over the years. And there will be many more
as the story is still a universal favorite.
4
Trivia
 “Humbug” is an old English slang word referring to someone who has false sincerity.
Scrooge’s use of the word shows his fear of being deceived or taken advantage of by
someone who only claims to have charity and kindness.
 Scrooge’s tombstone used in the 1984 film starring George C. Scott can still be found at
St Chad’s church in England.
 Patrick Stewart has performed a one-man stage play of A Christmas Carol since 1988 in
which he plays more than 40 different characters.
 The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) is the first time Kermit the Frog is not performed by
Jim Henson. Steve Whitmire took over the role after Henson’s death in 1990.
Family Discussion
1. Which is your favorite portrayal of Scrooge and each of the ghosts?
2. Jacob says he has visited Scrooge many times but does not know why Scrooge can
see and here him on this occasion. What do you think is the cause of this miracle?
3. If you were visited by the ghost of Christmas past, what pivotal events in your life (good
and bad) would it show you?
4. At what point in his past do you think Scrooge began his descent into greed and
cynicism?
5. Like Scrooge, many today are delaying marriage to focus on their careers. Why might
this be a mistake?
6. Of the places visited in “Christmas present”, which do you think most affected
Scrooge?
7. What do you think Scrooge was more afraid of - the apathy of others over his death or
of death itself?
8. Read Psalm 73. How does it describe the wicked? (v.4-12) How is this like the former
Scrooge? How does it describe the righteous? (v.13-16) How does the author reconcile
the two? (v.17-28)
9. The new Scrooge let people laugh at the alteration in him. Why did people laugh? Why
did he let them?
After the show
Most people know this story by heart. Stage your own improvised “A Christmas Carol”
starring your family members, allowing each one to bring their own humor and
interpretation to their role.
5
ELF
(2003)
Rated PG
How does a 6 foot man get mistaken
for an elf? Well, that is the story of
Elf. Will Ferrell plays “Buddy” an
orphan baby who hitches a ride
in Santa’s sack one Christmas
and is adopted and raised by a
North Pole elf. Buddy gorws up
oblivious to his origins but
feeling he doesn’t really
belong. When he finally
learns the truth, he sets
out to find his real father,
an abrasive publishing
executive in New York
City played by James
Caan. Buddy has a hard
time fitting in the human
world as well. But he still
manages to make friends,
find love and become the
man (and elf) he was
destined to be.
Director Jon Favreau started out in
front of the camera in movies like
Rudy and Swingers but can still
be seen in bit parts, like here as
the doctor who confirms
Buddy’s parentage. He is also
the voice of Mr. Narwhal.
Another former actor cameo is
producer Peter Billingsley
who famously played
Ralphie Parker in A
Christmas Story (page
10). Billingsley can be
seen as the elf “Ming
Ming” who supervises
Buddy’s
toy-building
department.
Elf asks its audience to
become kids again. From
its claymation opening that
harkens back to “Rudolph,
the Red-Nosed Reindeer”,
to its simple warm-hearted
ending. Seeing the world
through Buddy’s eyes is to
find wonder in everything. It
melts away out past hurts so
we can see the joy before us
in the here and now. Buddy
reminds us that none of us
are really a “cotton-headed
ninnymoggins”. But that we
are all special.
The heart and soul of Elf
comes from Will Ferrell
who excels at playing
characters like the naïve
man-child Buddy. Ferrell
honed his comedic talket for ten
seasons on “Saturday Night
Live” caricaturing public figures
like President George W. Bush,
James Lipton and Alex Trebek.
Bob Newhart plays “Papa Elf”,
Buddy’s adoptive father. Contrast
this against dramatic actor James
Caan, mix in Ed Asner as Santa
and add a dash of “The New Girl”
Zoey Dechanel and you’ve got a
winning recipe for Christmas fun!
We all can be an elf!
6
Trivia
 Traffic was open to commuters in the Lincoln Tunnel during filming. This resulted in a
traffic jam due to the unusual sight of Will Ferrell dressed as “Buddy”.
 The cotton balls Buddy eats are actually cotton candy with no color dye added.
 Buddy’s fight with the fake Santa had to be done in one take so they wouldn’t have to
rebuild the LEGO® sets.
 One of the Empire State Building security guards is Patrick Ferrell, Will Ferrell’s brother.
Discussion Questions
1. Which of the four elf food groups is your favorite: candy, candy canes, candy corn or
syrup?
2. Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Why? What were the circumstances?
3. Why was Buddy able to identify the department store Santa as an imposter? Why did
this anger him? (see Matthew 10:1-6)
4. Jesus said “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom
of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) How does Buddy’s child-likeness help him? How does it
hurt him?
5. In the end, Buddy seems to blend his adopted elf life with his biological family. How has
your family blended together different aspects of their lives? (see Ephesians 1:5)
After the show
Have an eating contest by experimenting with different food combinations suggested by the
movie.
Have an Elf singing contest. See who can make up the best and worst impromptu song like
Buddy. After all “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
7
THE POLAR EXPRESS
(2004)
Rated G
Do you believe? That is the central theme of this story based on the beloved
children’s book. Following the story of a young boy who is beginning to have doubts
about Santa Claus, The Polar Express transports him (and us) to the North Pole
where he may or may not see the big guy first hand. Along his journey, he will
make several new friends including a head-strong young girl, a know-it-all, and a
shy little boy from the other side of the tracks.
Internal ideas such as “belief” and “doubt” are hard to convey on film as tangible
and actionable struggles. But The Polar Express does a poetic job. From the
“devil’s advocate” hobo, to a sleigh bell that, at first, the boy has trouble hearing,
our hero’s internal journey feels as real and relatable as his outward one. These
ideas feel as real as an iron locomotive.
Tom Hanks stars in this movie in several different motion-capture, computer
generated forms. He is most recognizable as the train’s conductor. But he is also
the hobo on the train, the boy’s father and many others. Robert Zemeckis (Back to
the Future, Forrest Gump) produced and directed and then went on to use the
same motion-capture technique in another Christmas movie, A Christmas Carol
(2009) starring Jim Carrey (page 4).
The book on which the movie is based was first published in 1985 and became an
instant classic. Author and illustrator Chris Van Allsberg grew up in Grand Rapids,
Michigan and began his career as a sculptor until his wife showed some of his
sketches to a publisher of children’s books. Van Allsberg also illustrated the books
“Jumanji” and “Zathura” both of which became movies.
Heat up some hot chocolate and prepare to board this yuletide
thrill ride. Whether you are a child of 8 or 80, The
Polar Express is sure to awaken your Christmas
spirit.
8
Trivia
 The boy boards The Polar Express at 11:55PM. The time does not change until the first
gift of Christmas is given.
 Peter Scolari plays “Billy” the lonely boy. Scolari co-starred on TV’s “Bosom Buddies”
with Tom Hanks.
 This is Michael Jeter’s (the skinny engineer) last role.
 At the end of the movie, the main character is seen playing with a marionette which can
be seen earlier among the toys to be recycled.
Family Discussion
1. It is suggested that the conductor, the hobo and Santa Claus represent the Holy Trinity
– the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. How might each of them fulfill this role?
2. It is also suggested that this movie parallels “A Christmas Carol” (page 4) where the
boy is Scrooge and the 3 spirits are the conductor, the hobo and Santa. How does this
comparison hold up?
3. Why does the hobo ask the boy if he believes in ghosts? Why does he find his
response “interesting”?
4. The “hero boy” is on the train because of his doubts. Why do you think each of the
other children is on the train?
5. The boy begins to hear the bell before he actually sees Santa Claus. Why do you think
belief comes before seeing?
6. Read the article “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” (page 22). How does this article
compare with The Polar Express’s theme of belief?
7. Read John 20:24-29. How is Thomas like the hero boy? How are they different? Why
does Jesus say “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”?
After the show
Visit a local railroad museum with your family and imagine what the locomotives would look
like in your front yard. Don’t forget to bring along some hot chocolate!
9
A CHRISTMAS STORY
(1983)
Rated PG
The ghost of Christmas past visits us once again in this surprise hit of 1983 giving
us a look at Christmas in the 1940’s. Based on short stories from “In God We Trust,
All Others Pay Cash” by Jean Shepherd (who narrates and has a brief cameo in
the movie) A Christmas Story follows Ralphie Parker and his middle class family.
All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder B.B. Gun. But it seems his parents,
Santa, and the whole world are against him. Undeterred, Ralphie sets out on a
series of misadventures to get his Christmas wish, avoiding bullies at every turn,
decoding secret messages, even facing grumpy department store elves.
Author Jean Shepherd based these stories on his own childhood in northern
Indiana. He and director Bob Clark worked on a script for almost ten years before
finally getting it made. MGM only gave the movie a modest budget for filming. But
it was a huge Thanksgiving hit when it was released in theaters. Some theaters
wore out their prints of the film, forcing them to stop showing it until the studio could
supply them with a new one. The release of VHS home video players continued
the success of the movie as did its broadcast on television and cable. In 1997,
Turner Network Television (TNT) acquired the rights to show the movie and began
showing A Christmas Story back-to-back for 24 hours straight every Christmas.
Fans have latched on to Ralphie and this movie. Many make pilgrimages to the
house in Cleveland, Ohio where they filmed it. One fan even bought that house
and turned it into a museum selling novelties, apparel and replicas of props
including the old man’s “major award” Leg Lamp. Perhaps we love it so because
Raphie is an underdog who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. He believes in the power
of Christmas. And his faith pays off!
10
Trivia
 Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) is now a producer often working with actor/director Jon
Favreau on movies such as Zathura and Iron Man.
 Flick’s tongue sticking to the flag pole was achieved with a small hole in the pole and a
suction tube inside.
 Jack Nicolson unsuccessfully lobbied for the role of “the old man” Ralphie’s father.
 This movie served as the inspiration for the TV show “The Wonder Years”.
Family Discussion
1. Share a Christmas memory when you wanted a specific toy as much as Ralphie.
2. Why do you think Ralphie does not name his father as the source of the curse word?
3. Ralphie’s mother shows grace to him after his meltdown fight with Scut Farkus. Have
you ever been shown grace like that?
4. “The old man” is the only person Ralphie doesn’t actively solicit for the B.B. gun. Yet
he’s the one who ultimately gets it for Ralphie. Why didn’t Ralphie go to him? How did
he know what Ralphie would want?
5. What new understanding about his father did Ralphie come away with this Christmas?
6. People often misinterpret Psalm 37:4 as a cause/effect formula for getting what they
want. Why is this wrong? What does this verse actually mean?
After the show
Divide your family into 2 or more
teams and see who can dress
one of their team members up in
the most winter clothes like
Randy.
Write down several popular
phrases on index cards. Have
one person bandage his or her
tongue like Flick and read the
cards one at a time while
everyone else tries to guess
each phrase.
11
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
(1946)
Not Rated
What would the world be like if you had never been born? This is the seed of the
idea for It’s A Wonderful Life. George Bailey is the eldest son of a banker in the
small midwestern town of Bedford Falls. When his father dies unexpectedly,
George takes over the bank and puts his life’s plans on hold, a pattern that
continues for years. One day George reaches a breaking point. With financial ruin
looming, all George has of value is a life insurance policy. Considering suicide,
George meets an angel named Clarence who shows George a world in which he
was never born. Seeing the positive effects his life had, George decides he wants
to live and has his world put right by Clarence and the good people of Bedford
Falls.
The idea for It’s A Wonderful Life came from Philip Van Doren Stern who was
unable to sell his short story. So he wrote it up in a Christmas card and mailed it
to relatives. That card made its way to Hollywood where it captured the attention
of Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). Capra cast as his leads the up
and coming actor Jimmy Stewart who had just returned from World War II, and a
relatively unknown actress named Donna Reed. When the movie was released, it
was a box office flop. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that television stations started
showing It’s A Wonderful Life at Christmastime making it the holiday favorite it is
today.
The simple enduring charm of It’s A Wonderful Life speaks to everyone. We all get
frustrated and stressed out. And it would be easy to just throw in the towel and
give up. But the lesson of this film is that everyone is necessary; you are needed
by everyone around you. As Clarence puts it: “Each man’s life touches so many
other lives.” Each life is precious. Each life is wonderful. Yours truly is a wonderful
life.
12
Trivia
 The gymnasium that opens up to a pool still exists and is in use at Beverly Hills High
School in California.
 The student that actually turns the key to open the gym/pool floor is Carl Switzer, famous
for playing “Alfalfa” in the “Our Gang”/”The Little Rascals” shorts.
 The production team had a sharpshooter ready to shoot out a window when Donna Reed
throws a rock at the old Granville house. Unbeknownst to them, Reed had a strong
throwing arm from playing high school baseball and nailed the window in one try.
 When Uncle Billy is leaving George’s house drunk, you hear him stumble over some
trash cans. The sound was actually stage hands who accidentally dropped some
equipment backstage. But the actor adlibbed the line “I’m alright, I’m alright!” saving the
take and even adding humor to it.
Family Discussion
1. What do we learn about George’s character viewing his early life? Do you think George
recognizes these things in himself?
2. How does George view success early in the story? Why do you think he doesn’t see
himself as a success?
3. When has God altered the course of your life, despite your plans and aspirations?
4. Other’s have wished they were never born. Job (Job 3:3) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah
20:14). Yet their lives and words are recorded for us to read thousands of years later.
What does this say about viewing our lives through our present feelings and
circumstances rather than our eternal impact?
5. What does Mr. Potter value most? What does George? After viewing the two different
realities, one in which Mr. Potter’s investments accrue and the other in which George’s
investments pay off, which do you think was the better investment? Clarence tells
George “Each man’s life touches so many other lives.” Whose life has touched yours?
Whose have you touched?
After the show
Give some angels their wings! Select one
person to be “it”. Blindfold them and give them
a hand bell. Have everyone else tie jingle bells
to their wrists or ankles. Just like “Marco Polo”,
each time “it” rings the hand bell, everyone
must answer by ringing their bells. The first
person caught is “it” for the next round.
13
THE SANTA CLAUSE
(1994)
Rated PG
When a divorced businessman accidentally kills Santa Claus on Christmas Eve,
his son convinces him to put on Santa’s suit and take up the reindeer reins. That
inadvertently causes him to fall victim to the Santa clause – a legal contract to fill
Santa’s boots full time. This is the story of Scott Calvin who begins to take on the
physical and mental characteristics of the jolly ol’ elf. This wreaks havoc on Scott’s
already complicated life which includes an ex-wife, her therapist husband, and his
6 year old son Charlie. The only successful aspect of Scott’s life is his job at a toy
company. But now that he’s unwittingly accepted a new career path, all that begins
to unravel like spools of gift wrap ribbon. Can Scott accept who he is becoming?
How will it affect his family, most importantly Charlie?
Tim Allen shot to fame with his TV show “Home Improvement”. It didn’t take him
long to make the transition to movies. The Santa Clause was his big screen debut.
Originally written for Bill Murray then offered to Chevy Chase, Tim Allen made the
role his own leaning on his strong vocal and physical performance to come through
the heavy prosthetic makeup.
Allen went on to star in such hits
as Galaxy Quest, Toy Story and
Christmas with the Kranks (page
18). But it was The Santa Clause
that became his hallmark hit,
spawning
2
sequels
and
cementing him in the Hollywood
Holiday walk of fame.
14
Trivia
 In the North Pole workshop, Tim Allen picks up a small toy tool belt holding it up to his
waist, then shrugs it off. This is a reference to his show “Home Improvement”.
 This is the only Santa Clause movie without a villain.
 The names on page 1 of Scott/Santa’s list include tennis pro Andre Agassi and actor
Armand Assante.
 Scott/Santa’s tech-savvy elf Quentin is a nod to James Bond’s gadget guru “Q”.
Family Discussion
1. Despite working for a toy company, Scott doesn’t seem that in-touch with children at
the beginning of the story, especially his own son. How is this evident in his house and
his life? How do you think he got this way?
2. Becoming Santa, Scott’s job description hasn’t changed that much. How is being Santa
the toy maker different from being Scott Calvin the toy maker?
3. It seems easier for others, especially children, to recognize the Santa coming out in
Scott. What traits do others recognize in you? Why is it hard to recognize them
yourself?
4. Scott undergoes quite the transformation. How does God transform us? How can we
aid that transformation? (see Romans 12:1-2)
After the show
See if you can fill Santa’s suit. Use a bathrobe and pillows to make your own Santa fat suit.
15
HOME ALONE
(1990)
Rated PG
Christmas is a time we spend with
our family. Unfortunately family can
get on our nerves. Who hasn’t
wished for their family to
disappear at least once as
a kid? Kevin McCallister
did. And his wish
actually came true!
Through a series
of events, Kevin is
left at home when his
family rushes off to
spend Christmas in
France. At first, it
seems like a dream
come
true.
Kevin
indulges in a few guilty
pleasures - ice cream for
dinner, B.B. guns in the
house and stair sledding.
But soon he has to submit
to the chores of life grocery shopping, laundry
and personal hygiene.
And then the dream
becomes a nightmare
when a couple of
bumbling burglars, the
“Wet Bandits”, begin to
plunder houses in the
neighborhood with the
McCallister home as
their grand prize. Kevin
musters up the courage
to become the true
“man of the house”
by defending his
castle with his own brand of
booby traps.
Long time collaborators John
Hughes (writer) and Chris Columbus
(director) brought us this original
story that made Macaulay Culkin a
star. Its art direction combined with
John Williams’ beautiful score warm
the screen and welcome us in like a
roaring fire in the fireplace. The
movie was born from another John
Hughes movie Uncle Buck in which
Macaulay Culkin won over
audiences as a nononsense kid who
is skeptical of his
babysitter
uncle.
Even still, Hughes
wanted to confirm that
Culkin was right for the
part so he auditioned
several hundred boys
before going with his
original choice.
This movie is equal parts
comedy (Kevin), slap-stick
(The Wet Bandits), road trip
(Kevin’s mom and her polka
playing traveling companions
led by “Uncle Buck” himself,
John Candy) and tear-jerker
(Old Man Marley). But it all
somehow works like a charm.
It’s called Home Alone but it is
best watched with a house full
of family.
16
Trivia
 Kevin’s bed-wetting cousin is played by Macaulay Culkin’s little brother, Kieran Culkin.
 Buzz’s girlfriend is actually a young boy (the art director’s son) dressed as a girl. Chris
Columbus thought it would be too cruel to ask a girl to pose for the photo only to be made
fun of in a movie.
 Joe Pesci (Harry) deliberately avoided Macaulay Culkin on set because he wanted him to
be genuinely afraid of him on camera.
 The movie Kevin watches “Angels With Filthy Souls” doesn’t actually exits. It was a movie
made up for this film.
 The ornaments Marv (Daniel Stern) steps on are actually made of candy. Stern also wore
protective rubber feet.
Family Discussion
1. It is normal to want to be alone sometimes (see Luke 4:42). But not always (see
Genesis 2:18). When do you prefer to be alone? When do you like being around
others?
2. Kevin is scared by many things - the furnace, Old Man Marley, the Wet Bandits. But he
learns to become the master of his fears. What scared you as a child? When did you
discover there was nothing to fear?
3. Old Man Marley admits to Kevin that fear has kept him from calling his son. Have you
ever encountered this kind of fear? What did it prevent you from doing?
4. “Fear not” appears 365 times in the Bible (several times in the Christmas story). How
does God help us conquer our fears? (see 1 John 4:18)
5. In the beginning, Kevin doesn’t even know how to pack his suitcase. But in the end he
proves that he can more than take care of himself. Does this mean he no longer needs
his family? Why or why not? What does his family give him? How does this make him
like Old Man Marley?
After the show
Are you home alone or is everyone just
hiding? Play a good old-fashioned game of
“Seek & Go Hide” (also called “Sardines”).
Someone hides while everyone else looks
for them. When found, hide with him or
her. The last person left looking is “it” for
the next round.
17
CHRISTMAS WITH THE
KRANKS
(2004)
Rated PG
Based on the novel “Skipping Christmas” by John
Grisham, Christmas with the Kranks tells the story
of Luther and Nora Krank who just saw their
daughter off to serve in the Peace Corps. The new
empty-nesters decide to avoid the usual trappings
of Christmas by saving their money and going on
a cruise. Luther conceives the idea and gets to
work informing his co-workers and neighbors.
What seems like a simple idea turns out to be
more than the Kranks can handle. When Nora
doesn’t order invitations for her usual Christmas
party, the printer gossips the news to Nora’s
friends. The neighbors learn of their scheme when
the Kranks refuse to buy a Christmas tree from the
local Boy Scout troop. And when it’s time for
everyone on their street to put “Frosty the
Snowman” on all their roofs, the Krank house is the
only hold out. But the real disaster begins on
Christmas Eve when Luther and Nora’s daughter
calls to tell them she will make it home for Christmas
after all. The Kranks crank it into high gear to hide
their ill-conceived plan and throw together a lastminute Christmas miracle.
This movie is a miracle in itself. Director Joe Roth
had mostly produced fantasy films while John
Grisham is known for his legal thrillers. Roth and
Chris Columbus approached Grisham about making
his book into a movie before it was even published.
Within a week they had reached an agreement, had
their main cast in place and began pre-production.
It received lukewarm reviews and modest success
in the box office but found its real audience on
television and DVD.
18
Trivia
 The cast reportedly ingested 10 pounds of the fake snow during production.
 Tom Poston (Father Zabriskie) and M. Emmet Walsh (Walt Sheel) both made frequent
appearances on Tim Allen’s show “Home Improvement”.
 The Krank’s street number is 1492. Chris Columbus’ production company is named 1492
Pictures as a nod to his namesake.
Family Discussion
1. Which of your family’s Christmas traditions or expectations would be a scandal if you
missed them?
2. How would your neighbors react if you skipped Christmas? How would you react if one
of them did?
3. Would your neighbors come to your aid like they did for Kranks?
4. Why do you think Luther is still unhappy and unable to give a sincere toast at the party?
5. Luther dislikes his neighbor, Walt. What moves him to his act of generosity?
6. Who are your neighbors? (see Luke 10:25-37)
After the show
Free Frosty! Have each of your children draw a picture of Frosty the Snowman on a piece
of paper or card. When they are finished, hide the pictures around a room among the
Christmas decorations. See who can find the most Frosty’s while you chant “Free Frosty!
Free Frosty!”
19
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
(1947, 1994)
Not Rated, Rated PG
It’s hard to picture a child on Santa’s lap without thinking of Natalie Wood tugging
at his beard. That one gesture sums up this story about a skeptical little girl who
doesn’t believe in Santa Claus until she comes face to face with him. Kris Kringle
appears one day in New York and suddenly finds himself in a major department
store posing as…well, himself. The human resources manager and single mother
who hires him begins to regret her decision when she learns that he believes
himself to really be Santa Claus. Naturally she doesn’t believe in such things, and
has taught her daughter to do the same. But her lawyer neighbor is a bit more open
minded. He aligns with Kris to change the minds of both mother and daughter but
soon finds himself having to change the mind of a New York City judge when the
identity and very existence of Santa Claus becomes a legal matter.
This is the movie that made Natalie Wood a star. She adored Edmund Gwynn
(“Kris Kringle”) while filming and even believed him to actually be Santa Claus. It
wasn’t until he showed up clean shaven at the wrap party that she learned the
truth. Ironically Miracle on 34th Street wasn’t released at Christmas, but in May
when more people went to movie theaters to enjoy the air conditioning, a new
innovation at the time. Like many Christmas movies, this one became a perennial
favorite through annual airings on TV. John Hughes boldly remade this classic with
Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson in 1994 staying true to the story with subtle
variations. In the original, Santa surprises all by being able to speak to a little Dutch
girl in her own language. In the 1994 version, the girl is deaf and Santa uses sign
language. When released 20th Century Fox offered a full refund of the ticket price
to anyone who didn’t enjoy the film.
Just as the title juxtaposes the infinite idea of miracles with a single street address,
this movie compares intangible beliefs with concrete laws. Some people have a
hard time reconciling the two. But there are some things that go beyond
explanation, that stir the heart and soul. And this movie brings us closer to feeling
those things.
20
Trivia
 Macy’s and Gimbel’s Department Stores asked to read the script before giving
permission to use their store’s names in the 1947 movie.
 Gimbel’s Department Store originated the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
They went out of business in 1984 but also appear in Elf (page 6).
 Edmund Gwynn actually was Santa in the 1946 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
unbeknownst to Parade watchers. All his scenes had to be captured in one take as it
would have been impossible to back the parade up.
 The Dutch girl tells Santa (in Dutch) that she doesn’t want anything for Christmas
because she already got what she wanted when she was adopted.
 Alvin Greenman is the only actor to appear in both versions. In the original he is “Alfred”
Macy’s janitor. In the 1994 version, he makes a cameo as a doorman.
 Edmund Gwynn won an Oscar® for this movie. In his acceptance speech he said “Now I
know there is a Santa Claus.”
Family Discussion
1. Share your memories of visiting Santa in a department store, shopping mall or
elsewhere.
2. What evidence do you see that Kris is really Santa Claus? What evidence is there to
the contrary? Does believing that Kris is Santa Claus really come down to a choice?
3. Susan keeps repeating “I believe” half-heartedly. What is required for belief?
4. Read James 2:14-26. Is it enough to believe something (v.19)? What does this
passage say must accompany belief?
5. How might you respond to someone who says there isn’t a Santa Claus? Read the
article “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” on the next page.
After the show
See who can blow the biggest bubblegum bubble. Use caution if you have a beard!
The post office gets thousands of letters each year addressed to Santa Claus. Contact your
local post office or go to www.BeAnElf.org to see how you and your family can be a miracle
to a needy child or family.
21
Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no
Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
115 W. 95th St.
Virginia,
Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.
They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not
comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or
children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his
intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence
capable of grasping the whole truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and
devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and
joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as
dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no
romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense
and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your
papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but
even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees
Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the
world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on
the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or
imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil
covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all
the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance
can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is
it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now,
Virginia, nay 10 times 10 thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart
of childhood.
The New York Sun
September 21, 1897
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