Looking To “Scope Out” A Unique Holiday Triple Bill?
Yes, it’s time for holiday movies like “Love Actually”, Elf” and of course, “Porky’s!”
Wait, what? On this “Cult Movie Monday”, I’m offering up a triple bill from a single Film Director who made two of the greatest Christmas films ever! – and “Porky’s” too!
How About THIS For A Triple Feature?
First, begin with one of the greatest – and most beloved – Christmas movies ever made…
Then head off to college to have your eyes opened – literally – to some of the wildest movie shenanigans of all time!
Finally, see the film that inspired the horror classic “Halloween” – that takes place, of course, on a college campus – over Christmas holiday!
Congratulations To Director Bob Clark!
Time to celebrate the seriously under-rated Director Bob Clark, who created the legendary 80’s sex comedy “Porky’s” – the intense horror thriller “Black Christmas” – AND the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” – literally one of the most quoted holiday movies ever! Need an example?
“You’ll shoot your eye out with that thing!”
It makes me want to have chinese food on Dec. 25th – just to honor Director Clark. This is arguably the best Christmas movie of all time – the encounter with the frozen tether ball pole is just one reason…
And who can forget Dad’s new lamp – look at this terrific TBS ad for the movie that captures the fun of that scene…as he misreads “FRAGILE” as an italian word…
It is a holiday classic – check out the trailer:
So funny, so heartwarming! So how can the Director of such a lovable film go on to make THIS:
“IF THIS PICTURE DOESN’T MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL – IT’S ON TOO TIGHT!”
Forget the two horrible remakes, the original is the only way to go!
A classic 70’s horror film that has been rediscovered thanks to home video, “Black Christmas” is a real holiday thriller!
The plot is straightforward: It’s time for Christmas break, and a group of sorority sisters make plans for the holiday – but then the horrifying anonymous phone calls begin. Olivia Hussey stars in the film…
Hussey starred in “Romeo & Juliet”, but this is no love story…
Margot Kidder also stars as one of Olivia’s sorority sisters, and she’s got a wicked sense of humor and an acid tongue…this was just prior to her breakout role as Lois Lane in “Superman”…
Kidder really elevates the film with her caustic wit…and the film is full of familiar faces…
What A Cast!
Kier Dullea also stars in the movie – Dullea of course was in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey…”
Great character Actor John Saxon also stars – and action movie fans will always remember him showcasing his kung fu moves in the Bruce Lee classic “Enter The Dragon.”
Since this was a low budget film, Keir Dullea worked only for a week, and never met Margot Kidder! He barely met John Saxon either, but the film is edited in such a way that he appears to be present throughout the film…
“Black Christmas” Fan Steve Martin!
Around 1986, Olivia Hussey met Steve Martin for a role in “Roxanne”, and Martin said “Oh my God Olivia, you were in one of my all time favorite films”. Hussey assumed it was her role in “Romeo and Juliet” – but she was surprised to find out it was “Black Christmas!” Martin claimed he had seen it over 20 times!
So, a warm, affectionate look at Christmas, followed by a terrifically vicious holiday thriller – how could Director Clark top that?
Porky’s!
That’s right, Clark directed “The Godfather Of 80’s Sex Comedies”! It was a film that combined the innocence of “American Graffiti” with the “anything goes” nature of “Animal House” – for one of the 80’s biggest hits!
Set in 1954, “Porky’s” tells the story of a group of Florida high schoolers who seek to help a buddy lose his virginity. It also featured most of the most iconic scenes of the 80’s – the shower “Peeping Tom” scene!
Writer/Director Bob Clark actually gathered material for the movie over a 15 year period of his life. The story is a collection of incidents he collected from other guys, along with some of his own personal memories from growing up in high school.
“Porky’s” was one of the biggest hits of the 80’s, and spawned several sequels. Sadly, Director Clark died in 2007 along with son, their car hit by a drunk driver – a horrible and senseless tragedy.
Clark left us with two great Christmas films – but there are many more, like this one:
Buddy The Elf is one of my favorite holiday characters, and you can see more of the best holidays movies of all time by clicking on my story here:
Of course, you have to include this as a holiday film as well:
Click here for all of the reasons that “Die Hard” is one of the best Christmas movies of all time!
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Leave me a comment and let me know your favorite holiday film!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Art, Books / Media, British Cinema, Classic Rock, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Grindhouse, Hollywood, Horror films, London, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
I still love Home Alone best, John, but Black Christmas sounds awesome and I will make an effort to watch this over the festive period.
Make sure its the original 1976 film…it’s “R”-rated for language and violence…intersting to me that the Director also made “A Christmas Story”, one of the sweetest holiday films ever!
Thanks for that tip.
I’ve seen the first two and am already terrified about the third )!
A Christmas Story is definitely on my list of favs along with It’s a Wonderful Life, Prancer, Meet Me in St. Louis (not technically a Christmas movie), Prancer, Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Die Hard, Gremlins, The Shop Around the Corner, Miracle on 34th Street (the original and the 1994 remake), Elf, Nightmare Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol (1951 version with Alistair Sims), and Scrooged. Phew! I think I just figured out why my dvr has no room.
HA! Those are ALL great and I think “Meet Me” is a perfect holiday film! Such classics on this list from all eras! Thanks for leaving a comment, I appreciate it!
I have actually not seen any of these John.
I promise you will LOVE “A Christmas Story” – it’s adorable! Based on Jean Shepherd’s semi-fictional anecdotes in his 1966 book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, with some elements from his 1971 book Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters. I promise its a perfect family movie!
The poster looks really appealing.
Of those three, I have only seen ‘Black Christmas’. I will definitely be avoiding the recent remake of that though.
Best wishes, Pete.
Horrible remake as usual, Pete!