Lectures For Lifelong Learners!

Who can resist the heartwarming moment in It’s a Wonderful Life when Jimmy Stewart hugs his daughter as she adorably tells him, “Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings”? Or the romantic embrace between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr on Christmas Eve at the end of An Affair to Remember? And who could forget the final spectacular number in White Christmas featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney delivering a show-stopping performance of “White Christmas”? These films, with their joyous affirmations of the holiday spirit, have become cherished traditions in their own right. In a celebration of Hollywood’s finest, this presentation offers a dazzling toast to an enchanting selection of classic film scenes that capture the essence of Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, and the entire festive season. Delving behind the scenes of beloved movies like After the Thin Man, The Apartment, Avalon, Christmas in Connecticut, Fiddler on the Roof, Holiday Inn, It Happened on Fifth Avenue, and Young at Heart, this lecture will explore how distinct stars, directors, and genres have shaped these films and why they continue to resonate in our collective imagination.