For 2020 we have decided to take a chronological approach to the 30+ movies in our Christmas cinema watchlist. We will go through them in the order of their production, from 1934 to 1989.

In previous years, we have used a variety of orderings. In 2019 we arranged the films in themes. In 2018, we had a complex chain of actors, with each film linked by an actor, usually in a small character part, who appeared in the previous night’s movie. The chronological method promises to be simpler and may highlight how Hollywood’s approach to the holidays evolved over the 50 years that frame our favorite films.

Here’s the ordered list of movies we will be watching and the date of their production. We have all but one on DVD, so we can watch them in our preferred order, but I’ve posted the days and times when they can be seen on cable TV this year. Unless otherwise noted, they will be shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), which always runs a lovely series of classic holiday films during December.

FILMPRODUCTION DATESHOW DATE – TIME
The Thin Man1934Dec. 5 – 10 p.m.
Dec. 31 – 9:15 a.m.
A Christmas Carol1938Dec. 8 – 8 p.m.
Dec. 12 – 12 p.m.
Dec. 21 – 9 a.m.
Dec. 25 – 12 a.m.
Holiday1938Dec. 26 – 3 a.m.
Bachelor Mother1939Dec. 5 – 12 p.m.
Dec. 23 – 3 a.m.
In Name Only1939N/A
The Shop Around the Corner1940Dec. 20 – 4 p.m.
Dec. 24 – 10 p.m.
Beyond Tomorrow1940Dec. 20 – 8:30 a.m.
Dec. 25 – 3:45 a.m.
Remember the Night1940Dec. 18 – 8 p.m.
The Great Mr. Nobody1941Dec. 7 – 9:30 a.m.
Meet John Doe1941Dec. 12 – 3:30 p.m.
Dec. 25 – 1:30 a.m.
Larceny Inc.1942Dec. 10 – 10 p.m.
Dec. 21 – 10:30 a.m.
The Man Who Came to Dinner1942Dec. 12 – 5:45 p.m.
Dec. 23 – 11:45 p.m.
Dec. 25 – 2 p.m.
Holiday Inn1942HITZ – Dec. 2 – 2:30 a.m.
HITZ – Dec. 2 – 10:30 p.m.
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1943N/A
Christmas in Connecticut1945Dec. 6 – 6 p.m.
Dec. 22 – 8 p.m.
Dec. 24 – 6 p.m.
The Cheaters1945Dec. 23 – 10 p.m.
Never Say Goodbye1946Dec. 10 – 8 p.m.
Dec. 22 – 8:45 a.m.
It’s a Wonderful Life1946NBC – Dec. 24 – 8 p.m.
It Happened on 5th Avenue1947Dec. 5 – 5:45 p.m.
Dec. 20 – 8 p.m.
Dec. 24 – 11:45 a.m.
The Bishop’s Wife1947Dec. 19 – 6 p.m.
Dec. 24 – 8 p.m.
Miracle on 34th Street1947N/A
Good Sam1948Dec. 22 – 12 a.m.
Holiday Affair1949Dec. 6 – 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 23 – 12 a.m.
Dec. 25 – 4 p.m.
The Great Rupert1950Dec. 25 – 9:15 a.m.
The Lemon Drop Kid1951N/A
A Christmas Carol1951N/A
The Holly and the Ivy1952Dec. 20 – 10:15 p.m.
White Christmas1954AMC – Dec. 13 – 11:30 a.m.
AMC – Dec. 18 – 1:15 a.m.
Bell, Book and Candle1958Dec. 5 – 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 23 – 6 p.m.
The Apartment1960Dec. 5 – 3:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 – 9:45 p.m.
Dec. 25 – 5:45 p.m.
Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol1962XFIN – Dec. 5 – 6 p.m.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer1964CBS – Dec. 1 – 8 p.m.1964
CBS – Dec. 12 – 8 p.m.
Charlie Brown Christmas1965N/A
Fitzwilly1967Dec. 19 – 12 p.m.
A Christmas Story1983TBS – Dec. 4 – 8 p.m.
TBS – Dec. 5 – 6 p.m.
Comfort & Joy1984N/A
Scrooged1988AMC – Dec. 4 – 8 p.m.
AMC – Dec. 5 – 12:30 a.m.
AMC – Dec. 7 – 8 p.m.
When Harry Met Sally1989N/A