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The Christmas That Almost Wasn't

Original title: Il Natale che quasi non fu
  • 19661966
  • GG
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
3.5/10
895
YOUR RATING
The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
FamilyFantasy
Santa has to get a job as Santa to earn money to pay his overdue rent billSanta has to get a job as Santa to earn money to pay his overdue rent billSanta has to get a job as Santa to earn money to pay his overdue rent bill
IMDb RATING
3.5/10
895
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rossano Brazzi
  • Writers
    • Paul Tripp(story)
    • Rossano Brazzi(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Paul Tripp
    • Lydia Brazzi
    • Alberto Rabagliati
  • Director
    • Rossano Brazzi
  • Writers
    • Paul Tripp(story)
    • Rossano Brazzi(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Paul Tripp
    • Lydia Brazzi
    • Alberto Rabagliati
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos26

    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)
    The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966)

    Top cast

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    Paul Tripp
    • Sam Whipple
    Lydia Brazzi
    • Mrs. Claus
    • (as Lidia Brazzi)
    Alberto Rabagliati
    • Santa Claus
    Sonny Fox
    • Mr. Prim
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Jonathan, the Elf Foreman
    John Karlsen
    John Karlsen
    • Blossom
    Valentino Macchi
    Salvatore Furnari
    Salvatore Furnari
    • Elf
    Antonio De Martino
    • Elf
    Gaetano Guacci
    • Elf
    Adriano Cornelli
    • Elf
    Franco Doria
    • Elf
    • (as Francesco Doria)
    Arnaldo Fabrizio
    • Elf
    • (as Fabrizio Arnaldo)
    Domenico Imperato
    • Elf
    • (as Imperato Domenico)
    Rossano Brazzi
    Rossano Brazzi
    • Phineas T. Prune
    Ruth Enders
      John Spencer Howell Jr.
      • Boy Who Saved Christmas
      • (uncredited)
      David Tripp
      • David
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Rossano Brazzi
      • Writers
        • Paul Tripp(story) (screenplay)
        • Rossano Brazzi(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Trivia
        The movie was shot without live sound. While most of the actors mouthed or speak the script in English, in the American version all of the Italian actors, except for Rossano Brazzi, had their voices dubbed by someone else, so that their accents would not show up. Brazzi, who appeared in many American films, is the only Italian who speaks English with his native accent.
      • Quotes

        Sam Whipple: Wait a minute! If you are Santa, what are you doing here? You're early!

        Santa Claus: Christmas is not coming this year.

      • Connections
        Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996)
      • Soundtracks
        The Christmas That Almost Wasn't
        Written by Ray Carter and Paul Tripp

        Performed by Glenn Yarbrough

      User reviews26

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      Memories Vs Reality
      I vividly remember going to see this in the movies when I was 5 Years old. The commercials promoting it on TV stick in my head also. As another reviewer said, going to the movies was a big deal then. Now that I am 43 I have been getting very nostalgic. I was very happy to see that this movie was available on DVD. When I watched the movie I was really surprised at how bad it was, as Billy Joel says in one of his songs "The good old days weren't always good" To start with the opening song "A Christmas that almost wasn't" sounds more like a halloween song, a little haunting. The colors in the movie were also very dark and drab. As for Santa "my God" what a depressing Santa he was a little whiner, I wanted to grab him ala the Godfather and say "You can act like a man" The whole movie is just cheaply done, songs and everything. This is a case of my childhood memories playing tricks on me. Oh well there's always Rudolph.
      helpful•15
      2
      • mdibar1
      • Dec 1, 2004

      Details

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      • Release date
        • November 23, 1966 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • Italy
        • United States
      • Languages
        • English
        • Italian
      • Also known as
        • Weihnachtsmann in Not
      • Filming locations
        • Rome, Lazio, Italy
      • Production companies
        • Bambi Productions
        • Childhood Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        1 hour 29 minutes
      • Sound mix
        • Mono

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      By what name was The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (1966) officially released in Canada in English?
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