Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

overthetopandhappybso i came across this film one rainy November afternoon in the days when an afternoon matinée was standard practice. sadly those afternoons are lost to TV movies, often Canadian and often mind numbingly bad. however, i digress, the holly and the ivy is a rarely seen British film from the days when a woman was considered middle aged at 30, and men never set foot in the confines of a kitchen. it is a slice of kitchen sink drama that takes place amid a cosy rectory, with real coal fires burning and lots of snow falling outside. although the individual stories of the characters are now outdated, i can't help but get a warm, nostalgic feeling when the film starts. it is with a little sadness, in the sure knowledge that we can never return to those days, that i watch this seasonal gem of the fifties.celia johnson gives her usual, beautifully spoken performance, and margaret leighton is wonderful as her prickly sister. denholm elliott is rather good as the younger brother whom by today's standards would be considered saintly, but back then he managed to achieve the disdain of nearly all his relatives for making rather merry, even tho it was Christmas. ralph richardson was a little too young, and his part should have gone to an older actor in my opinion, but that said, he didn't detract from my enjoyment of the film.for managing to transport me back to a Christmas of long, long ago, and for giving me 83 minutes of sheer joy, i give it 10/10. if you're lucky enough to lay your hands on a copy of the DVD, i urge you to buy it, take it home, put your feet up, and sit back and enjoy - preferably with a crackling log fire, as snow falls silently outside

imballfan I saw this in England when it was new and have wanted so much to see it again but it was never available. I am so thrilled to report that I just received it on DVD in the North American format. I assume I cannot mention the vendor but I found it by searching the internet. Although it is somewhat dated it is nevertheless the only meaningful realistic Christmas movie I've ever seen. It depicts the sorrow that ensues when family members feel they cannot be honest with each other. And it also shows how easy it is to place a clergyman in an ivory tower where he neither wants nor deserves to be. The acting from a renown cast prevents it from sinking into maudlin sentimentality.

Sebastian (sts-26) For a while there, in Canada - in the eighties and nineties, when the television landscape was forever expanding - I could be guaranteed of seeing this movie; there was always some new station looking for filler, particularly during the Christmas season. What a treat!This movie is not just a great film about the real meaning of Christmas, it is also a relic of a period that is not so long ago in terms of years, but is eons away in terms of social convention, manners, etc.Even better, although the film was made in a gentler, more genteel time, serious issues (illegitimacy, alcoholism, reckless self-sacrifice) are explored with depth. If this had been a lesser movie, it would have come off as something to be shown in a religion class, but the extremely talented cast runs with the story and helps create a film that is magical and meaningful.I have a tape of this somewhere, and am always on the lookout for a DVD version. I only hope The Holly and the Ivy makes it to digital transfer soon, and is rediscovered as the Christmas classic that it is.

mlraymond I've always loved this movie, ever since it used to show up on an obscure Minnesota cable channel, but I haven't seen it for at least ten years. Ralph Richardson plays an English parson in a small village, whose adult children come home for Christmas. Before the picture is over, many secrets have come out in the open, and the family has been forced to deal with their unspoken unhappiness. A wonderful British cast makes this story come to life, in a bittersweet recognition that Christmas isn't always a happy time for every family. The film ends on an optimistic note, and is a fascinating glimpse into a time long gone in post World War Two England. Beautifully acted and written, if a trifle slow paced. Well worth the effort of viewing, if you can find it.