Something You Should Know — Secrets of Christmas Classic Movies & The Curious Story of Eggnog
Host: Mike Carruthers | Guest: Jeremy Arnold, Film Historian
Date: December 9, 2025
Episode Overview
In this special holiday bonus episode, host Mike Carruthers delves into the fascinating world of classic Christmas movies with film historian and author Jeremy Arnold. The episode uncovers memorable behind-the-scenes stories, explores what makes certain films timeless holiday favorites, and takes a deep dive into the lore of eggnog and its unusual journey to becoming a Yuletide staple. The tone is warm, nostalgic, and packed with little-known facts that enrich the annual holiday movie-watching tradition.
The Curious Story of Eggnog
[03:25–04:47]
- Origins in England:
- Eggnog traces back to medieval England as a drink called "posset," a hot, milky ale punch reserved for the wealthy due to expensive ingredients.
- American Adaptation:
- With easier access to milk, eggs, and cheap rum in colonial America, the drink became popular and festive.
- Christmas Connection:
- Winter was when farm households had a surplus of eggs, making it the perfect season for eggnog during gatherings and feasts.
- Key Quote:
- "Eggnog became the perfect warm, rich drink to serve." — Mike Carruthers [04:35]
What Makes Christmas Movies Timeless?
[06:00–06:34]
- The season primes audiences for transformation, compassion, and resolution in stories.
- Holiday films let us believe in love and kindness, reflecting values heightened during Christmas.
Quote:
"We're primed already by the season, by society, to want to accept characters transforming... those things that we all want so much at Christmas."
— Jeremy Arnold [06:10]
Debating What Counts as a ‘Christmas Movie’
[06:34–08:12]
- Die Hard as a Christmas Movie:
- Host Mike questions Die Hard’s Christmas status due to its violence; Jeremy argues its joyful tone, clever Christmas motifs, and transformation of holiday conventions justify its place.
- Quote:
"Die Hard qualifies, because it's an action film with violence... but it's not cruel or unpleasant, it's actually very joyous."
— Jeremy Arnold [07:09]
Deep Dives on Holiday Classics
It’s a Wonderful Life — The Enduring Classic
[08:19–11:45]
-
Why It Endures:
- Exceptional film craft by Frank Capra; honest in its portrayal of both holiday joy and despair.
- The famous snow was a technical innovation and shot during hot summer days on a massive set.
-
Quote:
"It has a joyful ending, 'It's a Wonderful Life.' But there's an awful lot of trauma along the way... that's made it really hold up."
— Jeremy Arnold [08:19] -
Behind-the-Scenes:
- Was not initially a huge hit — it only became an annual favorite thanks to TV syndication in the ‘70s–’80s.
- Quote:
"It's really in the 70s and 80s when it started showing on television ad nauseam, that audiences rediscovered it and rescued it from oblivion."
— Jeremy Arnold [10:39]
A Christmas Carol (1951, Alastair Sim)
[11:58–13:03]
- Initially marketed with caution due to its bleak, horror-like approach — Radio City Music Hall canceled its premiere for being too dark.
- Like 'It's a Wonderful Life,' found its audience through repeated TV showings decades later.
Defining the Christmas Movie
Meet Me in St. Louis
[13:03–13:56]
- Although not centered on Christmas, its significant concluding scenes and Judy Garland's rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" cemented its place in the Christmas canon.
- Quote:
"To me, that's enough to make it a Christmas classic because that is one of the great iconic Christmas songs."
— Jeremy Arnold [13:14]
White Christmas — From Song to Cinema
[14:08–15:47]
- The movie extends the song’s nostalgia; by the 1954 film, "White Christmas" became linked with longing for home rather than romance.
- Audience layers: veterans watching in the ‘50s nostalgically recalling the song’s WW2 importance.
- Quote:
"You have layers of nostalgia. It's almost a meta quality... that is why I think this film became by far the biggest commercial hit of 1954."
— Jeremy Arnold [14:08]
Notable Segment – Casting Twist:
- Danny Kaye replaced Donald O’Connor last-minute (due to illness) and was able to command a premium salary.
- Quote:
"He actually got this disease from the mule... and so he was replaced by Danny Kaye."
— Jeremy Arnold [18:59]
Home Alone — Child's Fantasy and Painful Slapstick
[19:55–21:49]
-
Its blend of fantasy and reality echoes earlier classics; notable for exploring Christmas through a child’s perspective.
-
Macaulay Culkin’s slapstick scenes are as "cartoonishly violent" as Die Hard but stay comedic.
-
Quote:
"Home Alone is kind of like Die Hard in a house with a kid."
— Jeremy Arnold [20:13] -
The franchise’s massive box office — director Chris Columbus originally set to direct Christmas Vacation but left due to conflicts, going on to direct Home Alone instead.
-
Quote:
"Home Alone... is still the most successful live action comedy in terms of box office, adjusted for inflation, that Hollywood has released."
— Jeremy Arnold [26:23]
Elf — Innocence Wins Out
[21:49–23:07]
- The film's appeal: blend of innocence and "comic cynicism," with a father’s transformation echoing Dickensian tradition.
- The "child-centered excitement of Christmas wins out"—plus, it's simply very funny.
Underrated and Overlooked
Remember the Night
[23:17–24:35]
- Hidden gem starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, mixing romance, comedy, and drama.
- Features a uniquely heartfelt holiday story seldom widely recognized.
- Quote:
"It's a real hidden gem and it's not hard to find."
— Jeremy Arnold [24:35]
Christmas Vacation & A Christmas Story
[24:35–28:29]
-
Christmas Vacation:
- Works best with an audience; its exaggerated but relatable family archetypes keep it relevant.
- Behind-the-scenes: John Hughes offered Chris Columbus the directorial job, but he clashed with Chevy Chase and was replaced—then given Home Alone.
-
A Christmas Story:
- Technically simple, but enduring thanks to its relatable characters; became a true classic only through constant TV play.
- Quote:
"As a movie, it's actually a very ordinary film... but its characters and story situations have really resonated."
— Jeremy Arnold [27:43]
Miracle on 34th Street — The Border of Fantasy and Reality
[28:29–29:33]
- The original never shows anything outright supernatural — the audience decides whether Kris Kringle is really Santa.
- Quote:
"There is not one frame of fantasy that is ever shown on screen... that back and forth, I think, is sort of the secret of that film."
— Jeremy Arnold [28:43]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On why classic Christmas movies last:
"Christmas movies that do explore the so-called dark side of the holiday are quite honest."
— Jeremy Arnold [08:19] - On holiday nostalgia:
"A lot of them feel like old friends that come back every year for Christmas."
— Mike Carruthers [29:33] - On family film favorites:
"We tend to have the equivalent of a crazy uncle or aunt or distant cousin. Someone who's just a little out there."
— Jeremy Arnold [26:02] - Jeremy’s two favorites:
- “It’s a Wonderful Life” [08:19]
- "Remember the Night" [23:17]
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
- Classic Christmas movies often gain their status not just through initial popularity, but from evolving traditions, repeated TV showings, and emotional resonance across generations.
- The genre bridges fantasy and reality, embraces both joy and hardship, and ultimately centers on transformation and togetherness.
- For holiday movie fans, there are plenty of hidden gems left to discover.
Guest: Jeremy Arnold, author of "Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season"
Available in show notes
Host: Mike Carruthers