Holiday means classic films

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 25, 2004

The holidays are a time for old friends, good cheer and holiday classics.

What would December be without George Bailey running down Main Street? Would Christmas Day be the same without a 24-hour marathon of

“A Christmas Story?”

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While television rolls out memorable performance one after another from the vault, Hollywood tends to get in the act too, releasing new Christmas movies.

Movie studios release their best films between Thanksgiving and Christmas in order to get the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization responsible for the Oscar awards.

This is also the time of year when the film industry makes the most money.

“Between Halloween and New Year’s is when the movie industry makes 60 to 80 percent of its money,” said William Dinkins, the new manager of Cahaba Twin Cinema on Highway 80. “It’s just like in retail. Things slow down after the holidays, then it starts picking back up in April and picks back up again in the summer months.”

Dinkins added that the films people watch between Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to show up in the Oscar nominations this January.

At Cahaba Twin Cinema, Dinkins managed to obtain two movies that meet the average movie-lover’s holiday requirements of being Christmas-themed or Oscar worthy.

Starting this week the two movies playing at the theater will be “Christmas with the Kranks” and “Ray.”

“Christmas with the Kranks,” based on the John Grisham book “Skipping Christmas,” is a comedy about a couple whose daughter goes out-of-town for the holidays, so they decide to ignore the holiday all together, to the disdain of their neighbors.

In “Ray,” actor Jamie Foxx portrays the interesting life of Ray Charles. The film details the famous musician’s life and fast rise to fame.

Dinkins says he is in the beginning stages of bringing more big name movies to Selma, but he needs the support of the community.

“I need box office receipts to get first run movies here,” he said. “As long as I get community support, I can get first run movies here.”

Both of these films will be playing at the movie from now until Christmas. With all the buzz surrounding the film “Ray,” there is even a chance movie-goers will see the film nominated for an Oscar.

As for Dinkins, he says he does not have a particular favorite movie to watch over the holidays. He likes them all.

“I watch them all, classic movies, modern day movies and whatever,” he said.