Do you enjoy watching holiday movies? Me and my family sure do. We have a list of “must see” movies that we make sure to watch at least once during the holiday season. Some are classics like Miracle on 34th Street (the original), and It’s a Wonderful Life. Others are not necessarily considered a classic, but we see it that way. Movies such as Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story and Elf are “classics” to my family.
Not only do we enjoy watching holiday movies, we also enjoy watching holiday special for our favorite television shows.
Now available on DVD is an hour long holiday special by the Honeymooners.
The Honeymooners Christmas Carol stars Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Jane Kean in their respective roles of Ralph, Ed, Alice and Trixie.
The special was filmed live, the way it used to be, back in 1977. This is in color, not the black and white most fans of the show is accustomed to.
Here is the official synopsis.
Ralph is looking forward to his vacation to Miami with Alice. It’s all Alice can talk about.
When Ralph learns that his boss, Mr. Marshall, needs someone to direct his wife’s annual charity play production, Ralph agrees to do it. He feels that Mr. Marshall will give him a promotion like he has for others who have directed his wife’s charity plays.
Needless to say that Alice is NOT happy about Ralph messing up their vacation plans.
Some how Ralph is able to get Alice, Ed and Trixie to join him in making the play. Ralph even goes so far to re-write the Dicken’s classic.
This could either go in Ralph’s favor, or go terribly wrong. To find out which way it goes, pick up a copy of The Honeymooners Christmas Carol. Look for it where ever DVDs are sold.
This television special/movie runs for over 45 minutes. There are also bonus features available which features an interview with Jane Kean (Trixie) and The Honeymooners’ Women’s Lib skit from 1973.
For me, it was strange to see the Honeymooners in color. When I was a young girl and would watch the show on television (I was born post-black and white), all I ever saw was the show in black and white. I found watching it in color peculiar.
If you are a fan of the show, this special will be a pleasure to watch. It features the same type of humor and “snarkiness.”
I loved seeing the old time stuff, like the iron Alice uses, and how sparse their apartment was with the vintage sink, stove and fridge. It’s hard to believe people lived that way and used those things at one time. I don’t even think anyone irons anymore. Ha ha.
This is not your typical holiday special, but I found it to be charming and it did put me in the holiday state of mind.
My son sat on the couch (on his phone of course) when I was watching this on our television. A few times he looked up and watched what was going on. I told him it was filmed in front of a live audience, which is why he heard laughing. He also thought it was “corny” (to quote him). He’s also in his 20’s, so this show was long before he was even a thought in my mind (ha ha). It was fun to see the show through his eyes too.
If you are a fan of the Honeymooners, or you enjoy classic television, you’ll want to pick up a copy of The Honeymooners’ Christmas Carol. I did see it on Amazon.
Kimberly
*I received a free copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
I would so love to watch these again during this holiday season thanks for sharing reminds me of when I was a kid.
I enjoyed watching the Honeymooners when it was on! Seeing this makes me want to watch binge watch the show!