"The Olden Days Coat" is a Canadian 24-minute live action short film in the English language that was released back in 2981, so over 35 years ago and it also scored a solid deal of awards attention back in the day, especially in Chicago. The director is Bruce Pittman, an earlier career effort from him. It is based on a book by Margaret Laurence and for writer Susan Marcus it is the only career effort apparently. It is a mix of holiday drama with fantasy, but nothing really too serious overall. I think it is a good watch for younger as well as grown-up audiences and I liked the whole setting that had a great deal of harmony and nostalgia to it. And at the very same time, they succeed in telling a little interesting story. You will probably not find any greatness in here, but it's also a film with no glaring weaknesses and I would say it succeeds with pretty much everything it is trying to be. Lead actress Megan Follows was still very young when she made this, even if it is not one of her very earliest career efforts. The fact that she is still successful and prolific today means that she is probably the only cast member who is still somewhat known today. Her performance is also among the better aspects this film has to offer. If you are still looking for stuff to watch during the upcoming Christmas season, this one is a solid addition. I give it a thumbs-up. Go check it out.
10 Reviews
Charming!!
eaglespiritnews-5694317 November 2018
Nice Little Film
Christmas-Reviewer8 September 2016
Truly a classic by one of Canada's finest authors Ten-year-old Sal is disappointed when she and her parents spend Christmas at her grandmother's house, instead of at home, like they did before Grandpa died.
What is nice about this film is that not everything is spelled out to the viewer. It lets you in its world and lets your create the ending you want. The acting is very good. The film makers did a wonderful job. This film is usually comes in a DVD set with other films.
This film is worth seeking out. Running Time is 20 minutes. Its 20 minutes of magic.
What is nice about this film is that not everything is spelled out to the viewer. It lets you in its world and lets your create the ending you want. The acting is very good. The film makers did a wonderful job. This film is usually comes in a DVD set with other films.
This film is worth seeking out. Running Time is 20 minutes. Its 20 minutes of magic.
A wonderful, underrated Christmas film.
Norton-912 December 2005
Although the person who wrote the previous comment seems to fixate on what he (or she) deems a one-dimensional plot (whatever that means), and the fact that it's length is only half-an-hour, I feel that this short film is that rare breed-a near perfect adaptation of its source material. The Olden Days Coat is a story about family and looking back. It's an old fashioned story told in an economical way with wonderful acting and beautiful writing. How anyone can possibly mention this gentle film in the same breath as Back to the Future is simply wrong. There is no comparison. If ever you have the opportunity, do yourself a favor and see this. It's a holiday story with a heart-something we could use more of these days.
You won't forget this
alexabara11 July 2017
This is one of those films that you might have watched in school. It starts off a little ?? but it grows on you fast.
While at her grandmother's house, a ten-year-old girl finds a coat in the closet. As she inspects it, she is suddenly taken back in time.
There is a since of awe and wonder packed into a short amount of time. I also love the connection this film makes with the past and the present.
If you are a grandmother and have a grand daughter then watch this together. It will be an experience to treasure.
While at her grandmother's house, a ten-year-old girl finds a coat in the closet. As she inspects it, she is suddenly taken back in time.
There is a since of awe and wonder packed into a short amount of time. I also love the connection this film makes with the past and the present.
If you are a grandmother and have a grand daughter then watch this together. It will be an experience to treasure.
Time travel-themed short
Leofwine_draca3 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
THE OLDEN DAYS COAT is a short fantasy film from Canada that clocks in at around half an hour in length. The plot seems to be inspired by the British children's novel TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN which is one of my favourites. A girl heads up into the attic of her grandparents' home and tries on a coat which sends her back in time decades before. Although this is obviously a low budget production without much in the way of concrete plotting, it does build up a wistful atmosphere and the child actors are invested in their roles, although TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN is a much richer experience.
Short but sweet Christmas film
Out-of-Print-Video10 October 2000
This live action film has pretty much a one dimensional plot. And that is appropriate...this didn't have to be stretched out into a feature length film. The story idea is good, they develop the idea nicely and then pull off an unexpectedly effective "goose bumps" inducing, moving, emotional ending. A 10 year old girl (Megan Follows) is "forced" to spend "old fashioned" Christmas at her grandmother's house in the country, when she would rather be in the city celebrating a "modern Christmas" with her young friends. While staying at her grandmothers She finds a coat that whisks her back to a Christmas past and she returns to the present with a new understanding and respect for her grandmothers view on christmas. Take one part "Back to the Future" add two parts of Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and then streamline the storyline to fit into a 1/2 hour format and you have The Olden Days Coat. An excellent film to put on your family's Christmas schedule...but remember it is only 1/2 hour long!
This made me miss my Grandma
bevbrown-7230218 February 2018
I watched this because a friend of mine (thanks you) said watch it! I just got it today and I was shocked that I connected with this film on so many levels.
The holidays have been very hard over the past few years for various reasons. When I was a child my Grandmother however always made sure we had a great Christmas when we came to visit her. This little film just reminded me of not only her but her home as well. Not the house featured in this film but the the many wonderful things she had in her home and had a story for each of them.
The story of this film is about a child while at her grandmother's house,l finds a coat in the closet. As she inspects it, she is suddenly taken back in time.
The holidays have been very hard over the past few years for various reasons. When I was a child my Grandmother however always made sure we had a great Christmas when we came to visit her. This little film just reminded me of not only her but her home as well. Not the house featured in this film but the the many wonderful things she had in her home and had a story for each of them.
The story of this film is about a child while at her grandmother's house,l finds a coat in the closet. As she inspects it, she is suddenly taken back in time.
Good things come in liitle packages
lvsteve31 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Christmas time and time travel are the main themes here. It is very good. The story will give you doubts at first but what a great ending.
In this film an adolescent girl is going with her parents to Grandma's House for Christmas. Once she arrives she goes in the attic of her Grandmothers house and she get a surprise. She put on the coat and "Magic".
If you can get a Grandmother and Granddaughter to watch this together it would create a joyful experience for both!
In this film an adolescent girl is going with her parents to Grandma's House for Christmas. Once she arrives she goes in the attic of her Grandmothers house and she get a surprise. She put on the coat and "Magic".
If you can get a Grandmother and Granddaughter to watch this together it would create a joyful experience for both!
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