Nov. 11 - 4 fabulous Christmas classics Holiday Affair (49) All Mine to Give (57) Blossoms in the Dust (41) It Happened on Fifth Avenue (47)

A widow with two children faces criticism when a new man comes into her life. Sove lovely Christmastime vignettes and exteriors, snowy scenes in this rarely seen charmer. And Barbara Stanwyck gives a splendid performance.

A must for light-hearted holiday time viewing. Christmas is in the air as an hilarious trio of escaped convicts (Bogart, Ustinov and Ray) decide to settle the personal lives of the family whose store they plan to rob. A beautiful widescreen color presentation to boot.

There are few lovelier Christmas stories than O'Henry's "The Gift of the Magi", beautifully rendered here by Jeanne Crain and Farley Granger.

Hopefully, this supremely enjoyable film will be on DVD by next year. In the meantime, dig up an old VHS copy to appreciate the magic of Barbara Stanwyck and screenwriter Preston Sturges in a film as emotionally powerful and unforgettable as It's a Wonderful Life and rip-roaringly funny as well.

For a picture-perfect, comforting, sentimental and optimistic slice of Americana, it is hard to top Louisa May Alcott's beloved story of 4 young girls coming of age during the Civil War. And its feel-good spirit was never conveyed better than in the 1949 MGM version. The Christmas and winter scenes are especially lovely.

For those who like their winter entertainment more suspenseful and tense, it's hard to beat Nicholas Ray's film noir masterpiece with its nature symbolism and its violent, embittered city cop protagonist who finds unexpected redemption when sent to investigate a murder case in the country. Ida Lupino is luminous and Robert Ryan gives one of the truly phenomenal performances of the 50s.