Christmas Eve (1947)

When her unscrupulous nephew (Reginald Denny) attempts to declare his eccentric wealthy Aunt (Ann Harding) incompetent in order to swindle her out of her money, her three long missing adopted sons reunite and come to the rescue on Christmas Eve. Directed by Edwin L. Marin (TALL IN THE SADDLE). A sentimental Christmas dramedy movie which could be referred to as a portmanteau film as the Aunt story has three different stories within its narrative. The three stories are about the sons: 1) a bankrupt playboy (George Brent) is in trouble because of some bounced checks, 2) a nightclub owner (George Raft) lives in South America because he's wanted by the FBI in the U.S., 3) a hard drinking womanizing cowboy (Randolph Scott) seems to have no aim in life other than to have a good time. Curiously, outside of Raft's story, no reason is given for the sons' estrangement from their adoptive mother who they all seem to love. The Raft storyline is the serious one, the other two have comedic elements. I found it modestly entertaining and enjoyed it more than IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946). Remade as a TV movie in 1986 with Loretta Young in the Ann Harding role. With Joan Blondell, Virginia Field and Dolores Moran as the romantic interests for the sons.