Christmas With A Bang: Part 1

Tired of Christmas being a simple, boring, and family friendly time of year? Do you prefer action, drama, pathos, and explosions? Try these movies that take place during the Holidays but center more on dramatic story telling and/or action.

Alias Boston Blackie (1942)

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Blackie decides to put on a variety show for the local prison during Christmas because, everyone needs to be entertained. However, when a prisoner escapes in Blackie's costume, the police begin to think that Blackie assisted the escape. Blackie then has to track the convict while proving his innocence.

A Clip from the Movie

Christmas Holiday (1944)

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A fairly basic film noir. The story centers around a hostess telling the story of the decline of her relationship with her unbalanced husband and the over protective mother-in-law. This description doesn't help much, but there is quite a bit that happens in this movie.

Part 1 of the Movie

Lady in the Lake (1947)

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Phillip Marlowe is hired for a missing person's case. After learning that this person has been missing for quite some time, Phillip becomes disturbed that he hasn't heard anything on the street about this. He soon becomes involved in case filled murder, dirty cops, and stolen identities.

Trailer

3 Godfathers

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3 outlaws being chased down by a posse, come across a woman who has just given birth to a child. She requests that the outlaws become the babies Godfathers and watch after the baby. The outlaws on the run decide to hang up their life of crime for the baby's sake, if they can get away alive. How is this related to Christmas? This is a loose re-telling of the 3 Wise Men.

Trailer

Mr. Soft Touch (1949)

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Just before Christmas, Joe Miracle returns home from the war. He then learns that his nightclub has been taken over by the mob, and his old partner was killed. To seek revenge, he robs the mob and finds refuge. When his identity and location are discovered, the mob begins to seek him out.

The Reckless Moment (1949)

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A mother of a seventeen year old daughter is rather upset the she is dating a man considerably older. The mother has written letters stating her dissatisfaction and even journeys to see him. Shortly after, he dies and his body is discovered by the police. She soon becomes blackmailed or the letters that she wrote to him will be turned in as evidence and she will become the prime suspect.

Part 1 of the Movie

I, the Jury (1953)

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Nearly Christmas, hot tempered Mike Hammer goes on a rampage to find the man who killed his partner. A fairly simple plot line in which he comes into contact with a lot of over the top characters.

Movie

The Odessa File (1974)

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Freelance journalist, Peter Miller, investigates a former SS Captain who used to command a concentration camp after reading the diary of a Jewish man that committed suicide. Peter then finds himself wrapped into a case with the powerful group called Odessa.

Trailer

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

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After returning from lunch, codename "Condor" discovers that everyone in his facility had been assassinated. He calls the CIA to bring him in, as he does work for the CIA but is not a field agent. When his supervisor comes to relieve him, he too is killed and "Condor" must find a place to hide until he can figure out what is happening.

Trailer

Mitchell (1975)

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"Mitchell" is a fairly simple, not very well made or written, cop drama with the main character attempting to take down heroin dealers and a murderer. Not much to say, because not many people really care for this movie.

Trailer

The Silent Partner (1978)

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A bank teller anticipates a robbery by depositing most of the money into his own personal safe before giving the robber a minimal amount. When the robber becomes aware that he has been outsmarted he seeks revenge and the rest of the money. The two then share in a battle of wits to be the man with the most cash.

Robbery Clip

Invasion USA (1985)

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Rostov plans to lay siege to the USA. But before he attacks the nation, he seeks revenge on the one man that once bested him and had him arrested. With an army to back him up, he tracks down and finds his nemesis in Florida. Unfortunately for him, even with an army, he is still going up against...Chuck Norris.

Trailer

Rocky IV (1985)

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After the death of his former rival/trainer, Rocky Balboa must face his biggest opponent yet. Leaving America for Russia for the ultimate boxing match that takes place on Christmas day.

Trailer

Brazil (1985)

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Taking place in a bureaucratic future, technology reigns supreme and the world is strongly enforced. A paper pusher dreams of one day being able to fly and be away from technology. During his job, he comes across a simple error in the paperwork that gets an innocent man arrested. Although he attempts to correct this mistake, it only makes matters worse for both the situation and for him on Christmas.

Trailer

Running Scared (1986)

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Two street cops are nearly killed by a Drug King. The two are forced to take a vacation after his arrest. Upon returning home from vacation, they learn that he made bail. They decide to find him and put him behind bars again during the holidays before they retire.

Trailer

Less Than Zero (1987)

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Returning home from college for the holidays, Clay is requested to assist his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, which happens to be his old best friend, who now is in serious debt and also a drug addict.

Trailer

Lethal Weapon (1987)

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Another buddy cop movie where the duo police officers seek to take down a drug smuggling operation during the Christmas season. However, one is suicidal and the other is straight laced and by the books. But they just seem to be the best thing for each other, spitting out one-liners all the way.

Trailer

Die Hard (1988)

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Recently in town to visit his wife and children for Christmas, John McClane gets wrapped up in a heist in his wife's business. Armed with his wit, humor, and a CB radio, John does what he can to take down the bad guys, one at a time. This ain't no sprint, it's a marathon.

Trailer