Continued from Mystery Christmas Movies
Is it really that time of year again, when folks start looking for those semi-remembered Christmas movies? Yes, it is!
Josh B. starts us off with the following:
Help! I am looking for a Christmas movie I used to rent at the video store in the mid-80's. I believe it was foreign and dubbed over in English. It involved a teacher taking kids to the North Pole or something...perhaps on a plane. The teacher sang a bit. I think one of the songs included lyrics that went something like this; "No more work, no more school....Christmas Day's on its way." HELP!
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And Alisa asks about this film:
OK, I have a movie that I saw as a little girl and for the life of me wish I could remember. They stopped airing it a long time ago, but I have always been on the hunt for it. I want to say it’s made from “clay” but not entirely sure…it’s not the Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas. I remember a scene of an old man who may have been a shoe maker? But, he helps a woman and her child and I remember him wrapping the baby up in a blanket. I think the stories were religious stories, but can’t quite remember. Help?! I hope!
Update: Thomas C writes:
It is a Claymation type (if not the real thing) of movie called Martin the Cobbler. It is based on a Tolstoy story.
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Jennifer M. asks:
My mom and I remember a Christmas movie - probably made for TV - probably late 70s or 80s? The story is about a cowboy that has to stop at a cabin in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. The old Grandma(?) has not made a Christmas for her 2 grandkids - too crabby. The cowboy wins her around to making a garment or doll for the girl and he carves a toy for the boy.....can't remember how it ends......want to see it again. Bad! Help anyone.
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Carrie and Steve want to know . . .
Help please this has been driving me crazy for years. Looking for a Christmas movie I believe early to mid 80's. All I remember was some kids I think they were siblings, they maybe were homeless or orphaned? They were dirty and in ragged clothes and didn't believe in Christmas. I remember them going to Christmas mass and one of the kids crying. it was a very touching movie I recall but that's all I remember. I hope I'm not mixing movies and memories up, does anyone know what this is?
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Yvonne has a fairly vivid memory of this one, and it sounds interesting . . .
One night in the 80's or 90's I saw the middle of a movie. I do not know the name or the main actors. The premise I gathered is that there were two wealthy society families. The parents of both lived very fake, appearance oriented, and ostentatious lives. They are very removed from their children emotionally. Two sons for sure in one family and at least a daughter in the other. They all left home for college and other pursuits, since they could not wait to get out of that environment.
The scene I saw was one where the younger boy and the girl were meeting during the holidays after several years of being away. The boy was a bit of a dork, and quiet when younger but is handsome, composed and successful. (Still wearing glasses, I believe.) He is very at peace with his family and who he is. He has nothing to prove or regret. He likes the girl, always secretly has, and wants to help her be at peace with herself and her family.
The girl always had a crush on the older brother because he was outspoken and called attention to himself and what he did not like about his parents society. She thinks that he is brave and knows how to handle the parents. She has been outwardly compliant, but inwardly struggling for years. She thinks this older brother is who and what she wants. She goes on a date with him, instead of the younger brother, and he bores her with odd poetry he wrote. She discovers that he is dull and has no purpose but using his families money and talking about himself. She starts to question which brother is the remarkable one. (I thought I recognized the older brother as actor Peter MacNicol from Ghost Busters 2 and Ally McBeal.)
Still confused about herself and her parents and what she wants, she shows up drunk wearing a wild outfit to holiday (Hew Year's Eve?) party. She tells everyone what she thinks of them, especially her overbearing mother. Her mother is constantly remarking on her appearance. (Mom reminds me of a character like actress Christine Baranski from Mama Mia and the lady love for Jim Carey in the Grinch.)
The younger brother is disappointed by her behavior and she wants to know how he survived their upbringing. He says he had every opportunity growing up, except a difficult home life that he wanted to get away from. He just took advantage of education, waited his time until he could have the education, ability, and blessing of family to choose to come and go. That was the way to survive. Something like that.
I never got to see the beginning or the end, but I really like this middle and watch every year to see if I can find it on TV or on sale in store or online. The acting was better than a B movie grade and so was the cinematography.
Was it a pilot of a show that never went anywhere?
A possible remake of an older plot or play?
Or a made for TV holiday special not available for purchase yet?
Or was it nothing special about the holidays, just a cute boy next door grows up movie that happened to have a holiday scene in the middle?..............................................................................
Thomas C. (who solved one of the mystery films above) asks about this interesting-sounding film:
Christmas movie (probably made for TV). I thought the star was Eli Wallach. It starts out in a mental hospital where they do a live Nativity scene with real animals. Three of the “residents” are tapped to play the Kings. In full kings costumes they hop on the camels and ride them out of hospital and on into Los Angeles “following the star.” . They end up in a tent city in LA where one of the kings who had been a Viet Nam medic was confined due to the inability to cope with the ravages of war delivered a baby for “Joseph and Mary.” The hospital ends up getting their residents back with two of the three kings well on the road to normalcy. Wallach (or whoever) was just satisfied to have been one of the kings.
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Jade L. admits this is vague . . .
I am also seeking the title of a Christmas movie I remember watching about 25 years ago (1985-ish). I cannot remember lots about it but would really like to see it again. It was an American film, I think set in New York. The main character is a homeless boy. I recall a scene where either he comes into money and buys maccas OR is finishing the leftovers on people's trays and scoffing the food down. I'm pretty sure the film also has a fair few scenes with Santa. Sorry this is really vague, no wonder I haven't been able to find it so far, but hope someone can help! Merry Christmas!
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Jeff H. asks about a movie that sounds kind of familiar about a retiring Santa . . .
I just found your site and wondering if you could help me out. I'm trying to figure out a movie probably from the 90's. It's been a long time and I only saw part of the movie so my memory is vague at best. Santa has retired (because he thinks no one believes in him anymore?). I think he has grandchildren and they discover that he has a collection of letters to Santa. He eventually comes out of retirement to save Christmas. Any chance?
If a reader has an
idea as to the titles of the movies described, please let us know at
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many thanks to our mystery-solvers - you've made our readers happy!
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