Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (TV 1995)

A single Christmas tree becomes the source of cheer for the people and animals living around Mr. Willowby's estate. Based on the children's book of the same name.

Director:

Jon Stone

Writers:

Robert Barry (book), Mitchell Kriegman (teleplay)

Stars:

Robert Downey Jr., Leslie Nielsen, Stockard Channing

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview:
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Mr. Willowby
Leslie Nielsen	...	Willowby's butler
Stockard Channing	...	Miss Adelaide
Bill Barretta	...	(voice)
Julianne Buescher	...	(voice)
Kevin Clash	...	Father (voice)
Bruce Lanoil	...	(voice)
David Rudman	...	(voice)
Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit the Frog (voice)

Storyline

A charming tale about a family of mice living in the wealthy and eccentric Mr. Willowby's house. They decide to start the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree (namely, chopping off the top of the perfect tree Mr. Willowby has brought home). However, while they continually attempt to take their piece of tree, the top of the tree is passed around from humans to animals, each one taking just enought of the tree to make it the perfect size for them. Through this adventure, the mice see how others celebrate Christmas.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | christmas tree | the muppets | based on book | character name in title

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Muppets unterm Weihnachtsbaum

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jim Henson Company, The, Jim Henson Productions, TN Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Hey Cinderella! (1969)

User Reviews

This is a great Christmas Special that deserves to be aired again!

I really wish this special would either be aired again or at least put out on DVD. The performances are wonderful and the music is second to none. I just found out that the script is based on a book from many many years ago by the same name and my family and I will be reading it this Christmas. We sing the "new" lumberjack song (not the Monty Python one) each year when we bring in the Christmas Tree. "We crunch and trudge through ice and snow, we're lumberjacks that's all we know: We cut and saw and chop and hack, the perfect tree we whack whack whack!" (the whack whack part always gets a laugh out of the kids!) I can't wait to see if that part is in the book as well as all the great words and phrases Downey says! If you get a chance to see it, you will be amazed that this one hasn't been aired again. It is every bit as good as Frosty or Charlie Brown and should be a classic! Downey and Leslie Nielson make a great pair in this one.