If you’re of a certain age, you likely remember a time when It’s a Wonderful Life was on television practically every day during the holiday season. It hasn’t been that way for quite a while, but December’s programs at Philadelphia-area repertory theaters will remind you of the old days, with nearly daily chances to see the Jimmy Stewart classic in the next 30 days.
Here are the highlights for December, including numerous classics both holiday-themed and not.
Gremlins
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Saturday, December 4, 1:30pm
The 1984 monster film for kids will have a showing in Phoenixville. Directed by Joe Dante, this isn’t the one that was an extended riff on 80s-era Donald Trump; that was the 1990s Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr
Tuesday, December 7, 7pm; Wednesday, December 8, 1pm; Saturday, December 11, 1pm
Hiway Theater, 212 York Road, Jenkintown
Wednesday, December 8, 7pm
Ambler Theater, 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler
Thursday, December 16, 7pm
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Sunday, December 19, 1:30pm
As stated earlier, there are many chances to see the 1946 Jimmy Stewart classic It’s a Wonderful Life this December. In addition to those, BMFI is running a Cinema Classics Seminar with Jennifer Fleeger, PhD, on December 8.
Elf
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Saturday, December 11, 1:30pm
The 2003 comedy classic with Will Ferrell as an elf who winds up in New York City is on TV plenty, but it’ll get a big screen showing in Phoenixville.
White Christmas
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Sunday, December 12, 1:30pm
Another holiday classic, the 1954 picture featuring Bing Crosby lands in Phoenixville mid-December.
A Christmas Story
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Saturday, December 18, 1:30pm
Another one that’s on TV all the time during the holiday season gets a theatrical appearance. The tale of a kid in the 1940s who really wants a BB gun for Christmas comes to Phoenixville just a week before Christmas.
Batman Returns
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Saturday, December 18, 9:45pm
The second theatrical Batman movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Batman had Danny DeVito’s Penguin and Michelle Pfieffer’s Catwoman doing villain duty. It’s showing in 35mm and is presented by the Manayunk comic book store Johnny Destructo’s Hero Complex.
Trading Places
The Colonial Theater, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Sunday, December 26, 1:30pm
And on the day after Christmas, this Philadelphia-shot 1983 classic comes to Phoenixville. A pair of billionaire plutocrats make a stock trader (Dan Aykroyd) and a street hustler (Eddie Murphy) trade places, before the two team up to get revenge.
Read the full article at broadstreetreview.com