Top Ten Tuesday: Period Dramas for Christmas
It's finally the start of the Christmas season and this weeks Top Ten Tuesday is books that get you feeling festive - but I realised a lot of mine have adaptations too, so this week I'm doing Christmas period dramas instead. I won't watch my favourite Christmas films until closer to the big day, but I always think a cosy period drama is the perfect thing to start getting you into that festive mood. It's something about the old-fashioned settings, the gentle storytelling and the music, that's perfect for curling up with a blanket and the fire lit on a wintry afternoon. So get a cup of tea, break into the Christmas cupboard and get yourself one of these to watch.
Joyeux Noel
This is one of my favourite proper Christmas films too, and if you like to wax lyrical about that Sainsburys advert from a few years ago, you seriously need to watch this film. Based on true stories, emotional and lovely and very, very Christmassy.
Little Women
I've got high hopes for the new version, and there was a lot I liked about the recent BBC adaptation too. But this will always be the best, surely? I only need to hear the music to set me off crying, and Victorian set stuff is always Christmassy by default.
Dickensian
A Christmas set mish-mash of Dickensian stories and characters from the BBC, I was enjoying this at the time but I missed the last few episodes. I think I need to remedy that.
Call the Midwife
I lost track of the series a while ago now, but Christmas aint Christmas without the Call the Midwife Christmas special! Hard hitting but cosy at the same time, I don't know how they keep doing it.
Cranford
I wasn't a massive fan of Return to Cranford, which was actually a sort of Christmas special, but the original series seems very Christ-massy somehow. There's so much death you couldn't exactly call it cosy, but it's very warm with lovely characters and brilliant acting. Again, the Victorian setting and the great music somehow make it feel all warm and Christmassy. And I think it ends at Christmas too?
A Little Princess
An Edwardian winter setting, Christopher Columbus directing, a touching family film with that soaring, emotional music that comes with all the family films of the 90's, this is definitely one to watch at Christmas!!
Emma
The most Christ-massy Jane Austen, as it comes with some Christmas scenes, and again the music! This is one of my favourite Austen adaptations, as there's a lovely warm quality to it, and there are just the right amount of episodes. And did I mention the music?
Ballet Shoes
I don't know whether I associate this with Christmas because it was first shown at Christmas, or because the book has some Christmas scenes in it, or because Meg Ryan talks about it in You've Got Mail, and for some reason I always think of that as a Christmas-sy film. Made-for-TV family films are always Chritmas-sy though, aren't they?
Downton Abbey
I'm not the biggest fan of Downton, but I'll be the first to say that the first Downton Christmas special was far and away the most perfect Christmas special I've ever watched. Except for the Bates/Anna scenes, which I always fast-forward. What possessed them to set the second Christmas special in summer, I'll never know.
Larkrise to Candleford
I was a massive Larkrise fan back in the day (so cosy! and actually really well written! - well, the first series anyway...) and the Christmas special isn't my favourite, but it's perfect Christmas special fodder. Ghost stories are Christmas tradition of course, and then we have Alf playing carols on the accordian. What more could you want?
What are your favourite period dramas for Christmas?
Yes, I loved the 1994 version of Little Women. They did a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT.
I'm really excited for the new film, but I don't know it's going to beat that one!
DeleteFABULOUS list!!!! There are a few on here that I def need to check out!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI've never seen A Little Princess - I'm going to have to check it out! Thanks for the list.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://44thoughts.cottonwoodwhispers.com/2019/12/03/top-ten-tuesday-holiday-reads-for-children/
It's lovely! Make sure you get the 90's one though, not the Shirley Temple one! (Although that's quite sweet too, haha)
DeleteI love that version of Little Women too! And remember watching Emma, but not well enough, so I may have to re-watch it soon. I also really like Mrs. Santa Claus with Angela Lansbury.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT.
I think it improves with rewatching too :) Will have to look out for that one, Angela Lansbury's always great!
DeleteI love a good period movie, especially at this time of year! Something about the wintry, festive feel, like you point out. And I feel like I need to have my yearly watch of White christmas soon too haha! Great list.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I should've included that one!
DeleteI love Call the Midwife! And Little Women is a story that always reminds me of Christmastime. I need to re-read it before the newest movie adaptation comes out.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Susan
www.blogginboutbooks.com
I'm going to try and re-read it too, the new version looks promising!
DeleteLittle Women does feel Christmassy, but I tend to get frustrated with aspects intrinsic to the story. The only recent version I've seen has been the modern, indie version. Not too pleased that Britain is trying to do American classics.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't period drama, but we tend to think Narnia around Christmas sometimes. I think The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe more so.
Hey, it's about time you had a taste of your own medicine! haha - what about that old black and white Pride and Prejudice? Or Wuthering Heights? There are so many! I love the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Christmas too. That scene where they get the gifts especially :)
DeleteI've not seen the old Pride and Prejudice nor managed to finish a Wuthering Heights (but that was the Tom Hardy one, what one are you talking about?). The most egregious thing I can think of was Anne Hathaway in Nicholas Nickleby, bad "accent" if you could even call it that and acting all in one. Some of the LotR accents are pretty bad too though. I hadn't been exposed to many accents the first time I watched but now YIKES.
DeleteI've seen an old black and white Wuthering Heights with Laurence Olivier? - who I know is English but it all seemed very Hollywood. You can't beat Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins but yeah, Anne Hathaway really needs to stop doing English accents! (I don't mind the ones in LotR, I've never really noticed anyway!)
DeleteAHHH!! The perfect list!! I love that you included Little Women in general. I'm with you--that version is my favourite as well. I look forward to any adaptation but like I just cannot love it more! And the fact that you included Dickensian??? Yes!
ReplyDeleteThanks! There are things to like in all the Little Women adaptations, but it's hard to beat that one :) I really need to finish Dickensian!
DeleteLove this list! I quite liked the new Little Women, but the Winona Ryder version is always going to be my favourite. There's something about it that other versions I've watched don't quite have, but I couldn't tell you what that something is. I also need to catch up on Call the Midwife and Dickensian, and I LOVE A Little Princess - even though it still makes me weep every time. I'm quite looking forward to the new adaptation of Emma - it looks really fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I really loved Saiorse Ronan as Jo (and all of the casting really) and some of the stuff they did with the new version. But you're right, the Winona Ryder one just has something extra special. For me I think it's got the best screenplay, and maybe a bit of nostalgia as well. :) I'm excited to see how they do Emma - especially with Miranda!
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