Arkansans tied to films with Christmas themes

Malvern native Billy Bob Thornton shows why this 2003 movie, in which he plays the title part, is called Bad Santa. The classic of its kind is beloved by Christmas sourpusses, who might be cheered to know that Bad Santa 2 is coming like a low-altitude reindeer, maybe next year.
Malvern native Billy Bob Thornton shows why this 2003 movie, in which he plays the title part, is called Bad Santa. The classic of its kind is beloved by Christmas sourpusses, who might be cheered to know that Bad Santa 2 is coming like a low-altitude reindeer, maybe next year.

Christmas movies make the screen glow like a fireplace, and Arkansas plays a part in these classics, available for gift-giving on home video:

A Christmas Story (1983). Hope native Melinda Dillon plays mom to young Ralphie, the boy who wants a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas.

It Runs in the Family (also titled My Summer Story, 1994). North Little Rock native Mary Steenburgen takes over as Ralphie's mom in this lesser-known follow-up to A Christmas Story.

Steenburgen also stars in the Disney movie, One Magic Christmas (1985), as a tragedy-stricken mom who must learn what the day really means.

Mr. Christmas (2005). Camden native Beth Brickell directed this PBS movie, filmed in Eureka Springs, about a family's Christmas experience during the Great Depression.

Bad Santa (2003). Malvern native Billy Bob Thornton wears the scraggly beard in this black-as-coal comedy about a seedy department-store Santa and his sidekick, a crooked elf.

-- Ron Wolfe

Style on 11/29/2015

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