While shepherds watched their flicks by night

December 15, 2011

While shepherds watched their flicks by night

If you’ve already bought this year’s traditional Christmas issue of the Radio Times (highlighters at the ready!), you’ll have seen the results of their ‘Best Christmas Film Ever’ reader poll. It was no surprise to see ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at the top spot, but I have to take festive umbrage that the classic ‘Santa Clause: The Movie’ starring Dudley Moore, Melvyn Hayes and the lady who plays Hyacinth Bucket’s sister, didn’t figure anywhere in the list. A travesty.

Hollywood dominates the top 50 (it seems the UK is far too busy watching films about Christmas to actually bother making any), but as small as the British contingent may be, it’s perfectly formed.

At number 3 is Love Actually, ably demonstrating the fact that no matter how much the critics pan a film, if it has snow and Colin Firth in it, it ain’t going nowhere. Richard Curtis’ cinematic pick n’ mix also showcases the perfect (ie fantasy) London Christmas, complete with a twinkling Whiteley’s Shopping Centre and the actually very pretty skating rink at Somerset House. Even Selfridge’s is made to look remarkably romantic in the run up to Christmas.

Other Love Actually spots include the Grosvenor Chapel in South Audley Street, where Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejlofor get married, and St Luke’s Mews in Notting Hill, where Andrew Lincoln declares his love for Keira via the medium of felt tip.

The snow + Firth theme continues in Bridget Jones’ Diary, in at number 29. Like many ‘Christmas’ films, there’s only a bit of Christmas in it, but it’s the bit everyone remembers. It’s at Christmas time that Bridget encounters Mark Darcy for the first time (at her parents’ house, which is set in pretty Snowshill, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire), then it’s back to London for the romantic ending a year later. You can see ‘Bridget’s flat’ if you visit the Globe Pub in Borough Market, south of the river. If you want to re-create the scenes in which she chases Mark through the snowy London streets in her pants (good luck with that...), you’ll have to schlep across the river to the posh Royal Exchange, opposite the Bank of England. Not quite the 10-second those crafty film types would have us believe...

At number 22 it’s the brilliant Railway Children, which isn’t about Christmas at all but is perfect family viewing when you’re all a bit tired and emotional after eating too much. Plus, it’s the only film that makes my dad cry. The railway seen in the film is the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire, and most scenes are filmed in the pretty countryside around Haworth (famously home to the Brontë family). The local Bradford tourist board is thoroughly geared up for Railway Children devotees, and there’s a lovely 10km walking trail that takes you past The Three Chimneys, Perks’ house and the tunnel where the boy with the red jumper gets stuck.

Romcom The Holiday, in at number 17, isn’t exactly a full-on Britflick - half of the film is set in Los Angeles - but the bits set in the UK have it all: lots of snow, a chocolate box cottage with a lovely open fire, some quirky locals and Jude Law in a cosy overcoat. The village where Mr Law and Cameron Diaz full in love is Shere in Surrey, a very pretty spot less than an hour from London. You might not get as much snow as Jude and Cameron, but it’s the perfect place for your own romantic wintry weekend. Stay at the lovely Rookery Nook b&b.

Best of all though is Nativity! at number 27. It’s brilliant. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve got 10 days to find it before Christmas is over for another year.



Top of page