"Harvey" (ITV1 0110) The perfect Christmas Eve movie "Harvey" stars the ever-wonderful James Stewart as alcoholic Elwood P Dowd whose booze-sodden brain imagines a friendship with a 6 foot 4 inch rabbit called Harvey. The only problem is, Harvey's invisible to everyone apart from Elwood so his friends and family begin to think that the demon drink has finally gotten the better of him and make plans to have him carried off by the men in white coats. Whimsical, warm, and funny, this is Stewart at his comic best in a movie that effortlessly walks the thin line between the real and imaginary.
"Casablanca" (C5 2000)
"Play it again, Sam" may be one of the most (mis) quoted lines in cinema history, but no-one would have ever guessed that when "Casablanca" was being made. Conceived as nothing more than a throwaway B-movie, this black and white classic has become one of the pivotal works of cinema - the movie that made Bogart more than just a star and turned him into an icon. In the supporting roles, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains are fabulous but there's no getting away from the fact that this is Bogie's movie and his performance as world-weary nightclub owner Rick is the role he'll always be remembered for.
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"White Christmas" (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ2 1810)
As quintessential a part of the yuletide season as "It's a Wonderful Life", Bing Crosby's double billing with Danny Kaye is a real Christmas cracker. Straight out of the army, Crosby and Kaye fall for the charms of the Haynes sisters (Vera Ellen, Rosemary Clooney) and a string of comic mix-ups ensue. The ever dependable Michael Curtiz ("Casablanca") directs his star cast through the script without ever acknowledging the fact that it's as insubstantial as a snowflake. Guaranteed to give all but the most cynical TV viewers a warm glow in the bottom of their hearts. And that theme song is a zinger.
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"The Mummy" (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ1 2005)
Harrison Ford is getting a bit old for the Indiana Jones role, so it's no wonder that young buck Brendan Fraser stole his crown in this multi-million dollar spectacular. Plenty of state-of-the-art SFX, some very silly comedy, and a hammy turn from John Hannah make this a great slice of blockbuster cheesiness. Director Stephen Sommers knows the smell of Gorgonzola when he sniffs it. He turns the proceedings into outright camp while ensuring that Fraser's muscled physique and chiselled charm are matched in the eye-candy stakes by Rachel Weisz's curvaceous Egyptologist heroine - a woman who the nasty old mummy claims is his ancient soul mate. Looking like Weisz does, he would do, wouldn't he?
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