The holiday season is in full swing, and Christmas is just a few days away. It’s time to pick up that last-minute gift, bake those cookies, and plug in those festive lights. After you’ve finished your shopping and decorating, it’s time to kick back and enjoy a last-minute Christmas movie or two. While there are tons of new favorites to discover, nothing quite beats the charm of classic films. Indeed, some of the best holiday movies are decades old, dating back over 70 years ago to the 1950s, the Cold War era.

During the 1950s, many things were uncertain. World War II had just ended, but the Cold War had just begun, and America would find herself engaged in yet more wars, from the Korean War to what would become the Vietnam War. In addition, the United States also faced a lot of changes with the civil rights movement. With so many things happening, many people visited the cinema for a brief escape from their everyday lives. This would have been especially true in December when everyone wanted to forget the turmoil of the wars and just enjoy the holidays. Therefore, it’s no surprise to discover that the 1950s has many charming Christmas movies. Here are some of the best from that decade.

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8 The Great Rupert

     20th Century Fox

The Great Rupert is a cute but corny 1950 black-and-white film that features a dancing squirrel, plenty of laughs, and a feel-good Christmas tale. Meet Louie Amendola (Jimmy Durante), a former vaudeville performer who is struggling to find work to provide for his family. He finds them a place to stay but is wondering how he will pay for it. Luckily for him, there is always hope for a Christmas miracle. While Jimmy Durante gives a strong performance, the special effects have not aged well, especially when it comes to Rupert, the animated squirrel.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Santa Claus

     Azteca Films Inc.

Santa Claus (or Santa Claus vs. the Devil) is a delightfully unconventional Christmas film about the power of good triumphing over evil and about the true meaning of Christmas, the joy of giving. Join the father of Christmas himself, Santa Claus (José Elías Moreno), as he fights the power of the devil (Jose Luis Aguirre) to bring gifts to millions of good children all over the world.

However, even Santa Claus needs a little help every now and then, and that’s where his magical assistant, Merlin (Armando Arriola), comes in handy with a little Christmas magic. Despite the film’s special effects being extremely outdated, Santa Claus is still an enjoyably wacky movie about the magic of Christmas and the power of good.

6 The Holly and the Ivy

     London Film Productions

The Holly and the Ivy is a heartwarming 1952 tale about an English minister and his family who meet at Christmas. Each has their own secrets and grievances to overcome, which all quickly come to the surface once they are all together. However, each person is able to overcome their obstacle and becomes a better person for it. While The Holly and the Ivy does feel almost like a stage production with its setups and happy makeups, it’s a charming tale of a family that grows closer together.

5 Susan Slept Here

     RKO Radio Pictures

Susan Slept Here follows the story of 35-year-old successful screenwriter Mark Christopher (Dick Powell) who finds himself struggling with writer’s block after winning an Academy Award. He is trying and failing to write a script on juvenile delinquency. However, all his problems soon become solved when his friend, Sergeant Sam Hanlon (Herb Vigran), brings 17-year-old homeless Susan Landis (Debbie Reynolds) to his apartment to stay with him until after Christmas when her arraignment is finished. Mark protests, but it’s either that or Susan spends Christmas in jail, something Mark will not allow.

After learning that Susan will likely stay in a juvenile detention facility until she is 18 and of age, Mark impulsively takes her to Las Vegas and marries her but refuses to consummate the marriage. What happens next is a fairytale come true. The pair fall in love, with Susan persuading Mark of all the reasons why they should stay married. Susan Slept Here works because it’s Susan who is trying to convince Mark, not the other way around, which would come off as Mark being a creepy old man or perhaps a child predator. Still this film is unconventional and probably wouldn’t fly by today’s standards; even the title is a little strange.

4 We’re No Angels

     Paramount Pictures

What happens when three convicts, Joseph (Humphrey Bogart), Albert (Aldo Ray), and Jules (Peter Ustinov), escape Devil’s Island Prison then flee to a nearby town? Well, in We’re No Angels, they meet the Ducotels, a kind family who takes them in and teaches them what Christmas is all about. Along the way, the three criminals decide to put their “talents” to good use and help the Ducotels, who are financially struggling and are in danger of losing their business. Naturally, mayhem and plenty of shenanigans ensue before the three convicts realize that the outside world might even be tougher than prison.

3 The Lemon Drop Kid

“Silver bells, silver bells. It’s Christmastime in the city. Ring a ling, hear them ring. Soon it’ll be Christmas day.” Have you ever wondered where the famous Christmas song Silver Bells came from? The answer is the 1951 musical screwball comedy, The Lemon Drop Kid, which follows con artist Sidney Milburn (Bob Hope), nicknamed “The Lemon Drop Kid” due to his fondness for lemon candies, as he goes on conning overdrive to pay back a big-time gangster.

Bob Hope shines in this classic and delivers one of his best performances on screen. The Lemon Drop Kid is one of those films that’s often forgotten about, which is a shame considering it’s very entertaining.

2 A Christmas Carol

     Renown Pictures

There have been many adaptations of Charles Dickens’ classic tale over the years, but the 1951 United Kingdom version, A Christmas Carol, also called Scrooge, is widely considered to be the best one. Alastair Sim plays the title character of Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich, self-obsessed miser who hates the holidays and everyone around him until he learns the true meaning of Christmas and changes his ways. Sim shows off his acting skills by delivering a memorable performance. While this movie had a modest budget, it became an instant Christmas favorite and set the standard for future productions of A Christmas Carol.

1 White Christmas

White Christmas features a star-studded cast with memorable actors from the era: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Join the cast as they work together to put on one of the biggest and most fun musical extravaganza Christmas shows to support a former commander in World War II. This musical classic has everything you’d want in a Christmas movie and more — singing, dancing, romance galore, and one of the best unscripted musical numbers between Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as they reprise the song, Sisters. White Christmas will have you smiling from start to finish and dreaming of your own Christmas miracles.