One Christmas (1994)

Hailed as a "rewarding gift" and "and unexpected pleasure, " One Christmas is a timeless holiday treasure based on Truman Capote's bittersweet tale of a young boy's adventures with the ... See full synopsis »

Director:

Tony Bill

Writers:

Truman Capote (short story "One Christmas"), Duane Poole (teleplay)

Stars:

Katharine Hepburn, Henry Winkler, Swoosie Kurtz

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Katharine Hepburn	...	Cornelia Beaumont
Henry Winkler	...	Dad
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Emily
T.J. Lowther	...	Buddy
Tonea Stewart	...	Evangeline
Pat Hingle	...	Bus driver
Julie Harris	...	Sook
Troy Simmons	...	Toby
Marilyn Allen	...	Miss Ivy
Mary Lucy Bivins	...	Miss Julene
Henderson Gilliland	...	Glenn Gilmore
Joe Inscoe	...	Mr. Farris
Joe Maggard	...	Dixon Hobbs
David Lenthall	...	Billiard player
Thomas Myers Jr.	...	Salesman

Storyline

Hailed as a "rewarding gift" and "and unexpected pleasure, " One Christmas is a timeless holiday treasure based on Truman Capote's bittersweet tale of a young boy's adventures with the father he's never known... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

new orleans louisiana | intimate | aunt niece relationship | child's point of view | christmas | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Truman Capote's One Christmas

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Karpf-Davis Entertainment Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Katharine Hepburn's last film appearance.

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Goofs

In the restaurant when Buddy and his father are eating oyster's, the Tabasco bottle on the table is not vintage from the 1930s. It is the present-day bottle with a red plastic top. That would not have been a 30s bottle.

User Reviews

A Flower That Never Blossoms

This is the story of Buddy (T.J. Lowther), an 8-year old boy who leaves Alabama to go live with his father (Henry Winkler) in New Orleans, and has a terrible time while he is there.

So, we have Katharine Hepburn in her final performance (and looking like she could die at any moment) and a brief appearance from the almost-as-legendary Julie Harris... seems like this should be a classic of some sort, but it never quite makes it.

I want to give credit to Henry Winkler. While he may not be known as a serious actor (he is stuck being branded as the Fonz), he went all out here. He had a wide range from loving father, to con man, to angry and misunderstood outsider. Is he ever truly likable? Maybe not, but that just means Winkler nailed the role, I think.

Some reviewers have said that they could not get into the film because Buddy was a whiny brat, and I think there is some truth to that. While his father seems to be at the heart of the story (and we wonder if he can change), the narrative follows Buddy. And, frankly, he really is not that great of a character. We can feel bad for him to a point because his mother is gone (either in New York or in a sanitarium, depending on whom you believe) and his father is a scam artist. But he seems demanding and ungrateful too often, and how can we love that?