Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

David Bowie may or may not win the Times Union’s Tournament of Carols, which finds his duet with Bing Crosby‘s on the medley “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” going head-to-head with Der Bingle’s own “White Christmas” in the readers’ poll for best holiday song. (The winner will be announced on Christmas Day.)

But win or lose, Bowie has another proud claim to the holiday season – a starring role in 1983’s decidedly non-warm ‘n’ fuzzy POW drama “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” in which he starred opposite another musician-actor, composer and former Yellow Magic Orchestra keyboardist Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Don’t rent this one thinking that you’re gonna be snuggling around the fireplace for an uplifting, lighthearted holiday comedy. That ain’t gonna happen.