The Christmas Box (1995) (TV)

Director:

Marcus Cole

Writers (WGA):

Richard Paul Evans (book)
Greg Taylor (teleplay)

Release Date:

17 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

A ski-shop owner reluctantly moves himself, his wife, and his daughter in to an estate as live-in help for an elderly widow. While struggling to balance his career and family life, he has recurring dreams about an angel. |

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Christmas | Christian Symbolism | Salt Lake City Utah | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win

Cast

Richard Thomas	...	Richard Evans
Maureen O'Hara	...	Mary Parkin (Mrs. Parkin)
Annette O'Toole	...	Keri Evans
Kelsey Mulrooney	...	Jenna Evans
Robert Curtis Brown	...	George
Michael Ensign	...	Stephen Hoover
Greg Brouwer	...	Clerk
Nicole Forester	...	Dream Angel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lily Nicksay	...	Dream Angel

Directed by
Marcus Cole

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Paul Evans		(book)
Greg Taylor		(teleplay)

Produced by
Erica Fox	....	producer
Michael Green	....	executive producer
Chris Harding	....	executive producer
Allan Henderson	....	executive producer
Beth Polson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Richard Gibbs		(as Richard Kendall Gibbs)

Cinematography by
John Newby		(director of photography) (as John C. Newby)

Film Editing by
Jim Oliver

Casting by
Lisa Beach

Production Design by
Mimi Gramatky

Set Decoration by
Anthony Bashford

Makeup Department
Jeff Angell	....	makeup artist (as Jeffrey Angell)
Dorothea Long	....	hair stylist
Elizabeth Rabe	....	hair stylist (1995)

Production Management
Margaret E. Fannin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Clark	....	first assistant director
Dodi Lee Rubenstein	....	second assistant director (as Dodi Rubenstein)

Art Department
John A. Keim	....	property master (as John Keim)
Renee Heimann	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Teri Anne Kopp	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Coogan	....	boom operator
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Hankins	....	supervising sound editor (as Dave Hankins)
Walt Martin	....	sound mixer
Anthony Mazzei	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Stensvold	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Hays	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dennis Dion	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Casey Hotchkiss	....	camera operator (as Case C. Hotchkiss)
Alex Klabukov	....	key grip
Dayton Nietert	....	gaffer
Butch Pierson	....	first assistant camera
Jeff Zucker	....	gaffer (as Jeffrey Zucker)

Casting Department
Bruce H. Newberg	....	casting associate (as Bruce Newberg)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jean Rosone	....	key costumer
Sheryl De Paolo	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Stella Starlight	....	dresser (uncredited)
Stella Starlight	....	seamstress (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Rick Downey	....	negative cutter
Brian Fassett	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Will Kaplan	....	music editor
Christine Cholvin	....	music editor (uncredited)
Jeff Vaughn	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Detweiller	....	transportation coordinator (as Robert Detweiler)
Charlie Carpenter	....	driver (uncredited)
Thomas O'Donnell	....	mobile lighting operator (uncredited)

Other crew
Elizabeth S. Barton	....	script supervisor (as Liz Barton)
Curtis Collins	....	location manager
Gregg Edler	....	production coordinator
Tiffany Hegerty	....	assistant to producer (as Tiffany Hegarty)
George Halstead	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bonneville Producers Group
• Hallmark Entertainment
• Polson Company, The (in association with)

Distributors

• Sonar Entertainment (II) (1995-) (USA) (all media)
• Alpha Media (2004) (China) (TV)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1995) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Background Players  extras casting
• Bonneville Producers Group  author: Berne Convention
• FotoKem Laboratory  color by (as Foto-Kem Laboratory)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals (as Howard Anderson Company)
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  post-production sound and sound editing by (as Todd AO Glen Glenn)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

100 min | USA:92 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:G (DVD)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bonneville Producers Group

Trivia:

This was Maureen O'Hara's first television film role since The Red Pony (1973) (TV) 22 years earlier. She would go on to make two more (one in 1998, the other in 2000) before retiring for good.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Timepiece (1996) (TV)

Nice, family-friendly film for the holidays

Richard (Richard Thomas) and Keri (Annette O'Toole) have moved to a new city near ski country. They sold their house in order to get Richard's ski shop off the ground, instead living in a cramped apartment with their daughter, Jenna. Keri sees an ad for a couple needed to take care of an older lady in her home. The home turns out to be a mansion and the lady chooses Richard's family to be her caretakers. Keri is ecstatic, as they are given a complete wing of the large home for their quarters and her duties are not very taxing. But, the lady of the house is sad and lonely and harbors many secrets. Also, there is a mysterious music box in the attic that plays music on its own, at times. Richard begins to have strange dreams as well. What is going on here? This is a lovely story about love, family, and friendship. Thomas, O'Toole, and Maureen O'Hara are excellent as the key players, who learn valuable lessons in giving and receiving love. The script is humorous and heart warming, although far-fetched at times. If you would like a new tradition in film at holiday times, this movie is a great choice. It upholds the values everyone should hold dear.