Newswise — In a time of high-tech, high-budget blockbusters, families still gather around to watch holiday classics like Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" or the original "Miracle on 34th Street" directed by George Seaton. Why have these traditional films stood the test of time?
"Films have reputations as standards. People are attracted to the characters and plots in what many people call the golden age of Hollywood," said Phillip Sipiora, English professor at the University of South Florida. "When you watch something really old such as these films, your natural tendency is to romanticize it " the plot, the characters, the setting."
A temporary escape into a classic film is a chance for people to reminisce about simpler times, even if they did not live in that era. Since the holidays are usually a time for reflection, a traditional film offers a quick trip down memory lane.
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