I Heart James Stewart

He's all arms and legs, gangly as a teenage boy right after a growth spurt. He's got a scratchy voice that trembles and he stammers, particularly around women. He's cute, for sure--but he's no Cary Grant. But I find him sexy as hell. In two movies in particular, both of which are holiday films. The Shop Around the Corner is a charming little classic about department store co-workers who are each other's secret pen pals, but don't know it. And of course they hate each other. (It's the film on which that other charmer, You've Got Mail, is based.)

In the days long before email and texts, they write each other rather passionate little missives like the one below. (Not sure how it got past the Hayes Code.) Oh, my Dear Friend, my heart was trembling as I walked into the post office, and there you were, lying in Box 237. I took you out of your envelope and read you, read you right there. Whoa. But if you want real sex appeal, check out the telephone scene with Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life. Poor George Bailey, determined to get out of Bedford Falls, is stopped in his tracks when his childhood friend Mary, played by Donna Reed, is suddenly all grown up.

Once he gets close to the luminous Reed, he's a goner. And so am I. There's lots of sighing and panting, and a kiss that knocks your socks off. (At least mine, anyway.) Merry Christmas, Jimmy. You were one wonderful guy.

♥ ♥ ♥