The Christmas Star (1986) (TV)

Director:

Alan Shapiro

Writers:

Carol Dysinger (writer)
Alan Shapiro (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Family

Tagline:

Two kids made a believer out of him.

Plot:

An escaped convict hides out in a suburban neighborhood and is befriended by two neighborhood children who think he is the real Santa Claus.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Kids And Family

Cast

Edward Asner	...	Horace McNickle
Rene Auberjonois	...	Sumner
Jim Metzler	...	Stuart Jameson
Susan Tyrrell	...	Sara
Karen Landry	...	Clara Jameson
Alan North	...	Captain Whittaker
Philip Bruns	...	Lucky
Nicolas Van Burek	...	Billy Jameson
Vicki Wauchope	...	Trudy Jameson
Zachary Ansley	...	John
Fred Gwynne	...	Waters
Peter Bibby	...	Jeremy
Lillian Carlson	...	Mrs. Thurgood
David Glyn-Jones	...	Night Watchman
Anthony Holland	...	Old Con

Runtime:

Greece:94 min | USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | UK:PG (Video rating)

Company:

Walt Disney Television

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Elf (2003)

Read the cast list for heaven's sake

Yes, a small gem of a Canadian film. Ed Asner is great as usual. I saw it as a little kid (one of my classmates - also once a friend - starred in it. It has been rerun countless of times since and still holds up the test of time. Not a great piece of cinema - but as far a family films and Christmas films go, this is one of the best.

For all the "reviewers" who keep adulating about Barrett Oliver's performance and how he was the best child actor of the 80's - well here is a shocker: Oliver does not star in this film!! He is confused with the talented Nicolas Van Burek. Please get the info straight before you subject us to your opinions...