Il Natale che quasi non fu (1966)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Rossano Brazzi

Writers:

Paul Tripp (book)
Paul Tripp (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 November 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

A more wonderful...more magical...more musical entertainment than this - there just isn't!

Plot:

Sam Whipple, an attorney in once-upon-a-time-land, is startled to receive a visit from Santa Claus shortly before Christmas...

Plot Keywords:

Santa Claus | Lawyer | Department Store | Christmas In Danger | Villain

Cast

Rossano Brazzi	...	Phineas T. Prune
Paul Tripp	...	Sam Whipple
Mischa Auer	...	Jonathan, the elf foreman
Lydia Brazzi	...	Mrs. Claus
Alberto Rabagliati	...	Santa Claus
Sonny Fox	...	Mr. Prim
John Karlsen	...	Blossom
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adriano Cornelli	...	Elf
Antonio De Martino	...	Elf
Francesco Doria	...	Elf
Ruth Enders
Arnaldo Fabrizio	...	Elf
Salvatore Furnari	...	Elf
Gaetano Guacci	...	Elf
John Spencer Howell Jr.	...	Boy Who Saved Christmas
Domenico Imperato	...	Elf
David Tripp	...	David, a boy
Glenn Yarbrough	...	Offscreen Singer: title song (voice)
Michelle Yellen	...	Little Girl

Also Known As:

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (USA) (dubbed version)

Runtime:

94 min | Netherlands:95 min | USA:89 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Bambi Productions

Trivia:

Although most of the actors mouthed the script in English (the movie was shot with no live sound), in the American version all of the Italian actors, except for Rossano Brazzi, had their voices dubbed by someone else, so that their accents would not show up. Brazzi, who appeared in many American films, including South Pacific (1958), is the only Italian in the film who is heard speaking English with an accent.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996) (V)

Creepy and loving' it!

I love this movie for how truly creepy it is. The shabby Santa and disturbing Mr. Whipple are just a delight. For my family it's a slice of rotten holiday fruit Cake perfect for goofing on. Crowd pleaser Mischca Auer, a desperate 6'+ elf from a nightmare, kind of makes you want to throw up. It's incredibly quotable... Paul Whipple to young boys " Up! Up! Up!" Mischca Auer, "Doesn't strike a spark somehow.." Mrs. Claus "Oh I do declare! You men are just children!" The musical soundtrack uses the "Gilligan's Island" sum technique explaining the plot in song during the opening credits. "Prune Prune was his name. He was a man who had no shame. Prune, Prune was his name if there was no Christmas, he's to blame. " Creeepeee and loving' it!