Mr. Krueger's Christmas (TV 1980)

An elderly widower relies on his daydreams and faith to get through a lonely Christmas.

Director:

Kieth Merrill

Writers:

Alan Henderson (story), J. Scott Iverson (story),

Stars:

James Stewart, Beverly Rowland, Kamee Aliessa

Cast

Credited cast:
James Stewart	...	Mr. Krueger
Beverly Rowland	...	Lead Caroller
Kamee Aliessa	...	Clarissa
Tamara Fowler	...	Clarissa's Mother
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mormon Tabernacle Choir	...	Themselves
Darro Glissmeyer	...	Caroller
Rolando González	...	Caroller
Leslie Peery Howa	...	Salvation Army Lady
Rita Jensen	...	Caroller
Gordon Jump	...	Narrator
Alan Nash	...	Mr. Hathaway
Oscar Rowland	...	Tree Salesman

Storyline

Willy Krueger, a lonely and aging widower, lives in a basement apartment with only his cat George for company. Finishing his work for the day as the custodian for the building, he ventures out on Christmas Eve to buy a tree and on the way, he imagines he is a well-dressed gentleman while peering at some fine tailoring in a shop window along the snowy street. Returning home, he falls asleep listening to an LP by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, dreaming that he is conducting them in carols of the season. Awakening to find some carollers outside his window, he beckons them to visit him offering hot chocolate, but they leave after only one song. In trimming the tree, he places upon it the mittens left behind by Clarissa, the youngest of the carolling group. Handling figures of the small nativity beneath his tree, Willy finds himself in the manger for the very first Christmas. He also finds the true reason to celebrate as he prayerfully thanks the infant Jesus for being his closest, finest ...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | mormon tabernacle choir | nativity | choir | salvation army | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Short | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sueño de navidad

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bonneville Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

26 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the digitally remastered 25th anniversary edition DVD released in November 2005, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir parts (including the "spontaneous" applause) have been re-recorded because the original recordings were not adequate. The Salt Lake Tabernacle (the Choir's home) is undergoing extensive seismic upgrades, so the recordings were done in the new 21,000-seat LDS Conference Center across the street. A few current Choir members actually participated in the original filming.

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Goofs

(at around 27 mins) After Mr. Krueger fixes the pipes, he returns to his apartment and begins to pet his cat. As he talks about be "all by himself" on Christmas Eve, you can clearly see a crew member standing to the right of the screen with his arms folded.

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Quotes

[George the cat meows]
Mr. Krueger: Yeah, I guess you're right George, we better trim that tree. If we don't hurry, we'll be too late !

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Soundtracks

"White Christmas"
Written by Irving Berlin (uncredited)
Performed by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir under the direction of Jerold Ottley

User Reviews

Great!

I watch this every year after I decorate my tree. It is a little tradition. It is one of the warmest moments of the Holidays for me. Jimmy Stewart was never more "real". The video is available from the "Mormons". I had recorded it off the TV and one of my former students who was a Mormon gave me a fresh copy one Christmas. Get it. It is touching and will help you to remember what Christmas is all about.