The Christmas Gift (1986)

A widowed New York City architect and his young daughter take a Christmas vacation and end up in a small mystical town in Colorado where everyone believes in Santa Claus.

Director:

Michael Pressman

Writers:

Christopher Grabenstein (screenplay), Christopher Grabenstein (story)

Stars:

John Denver, Jane Kaczmarek, Edward Winter

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Denver	...	George Billings
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Susan
Edward Winter	...	Thomas A. Renfield
Gennie James	...	Alexandra 'Alex' Billings
Pat Corley	...	Bud Sawyer
Mary Wickes	...	Henrietta Sawyer
James T. Callahan	...	Robert Truesdale (as James Callahan)
Kurtwood Smith	...	Jake Richards
Anne Haney	...	Clara Huckle
Harvey Vernon	...	Hank Huckle
Twirp Anderson	...	Band Member
Pamela Beebe	...	Receptionist Louella
William Eric Bookland	...	Scruff
Ann Bradley	...	Helen the Maid (as Anne H. Bradley)
Cash Cashman	...	Band Member

Storyline

A widowed New York City architect and his young daughter take a Christmas vacation and end up in a small mystical town in Colorado where everyone believes in Santa Claus.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

El regalo de navidad

Filming Locations:

Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rosemont Productions International, Sunn Classic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Denver stated in an interview that he was shooting this movie when the Challenger space shuttle disaster occurred in January 1986. When he was informed of the crash, he sat down, started playing his guitar and created his song "Flying For Me".

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Goofs

George gets upset when the Post Office won't mail his film. He complains about "letter day" causing the problem. However, since it is a Sunday, if it was not letter day the Post Office would have been closed anyway, and there would have been no pick-up regardless.

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Soundtracks

Love Again
Written & Performed by John Denver

User Reviews

The Christmas Gift-what a story for our time

The GREAT NEWS is that this film is now AVAILABLE on DVD from http://treasureflix.com for all those who wish to own it as well as on video.This is good news as it is one of my favourite films!

I watched this film for the first time in the 80s and it is compulsory holiday viewing. Living in the small market town called Tewkesbury, picturesque and with its own traditions,of reenactments,and traditions we are also a cosy tight community. We are now also faced with large housing developments which threaten to destroy the Community and you can see why I love this film First of all-and most important, there are LASHINGS of snow!!!! Then there is the lovely legend of the Christmas Tree and also the Christian denouement as all the community cough up the money to help the destitute farmer save his farm and stay in the community. The evil developers-only after the money are sent packing as the whole town pledge their money to help protect what they have , which is very special. I love the way the whole community send their message to Santa via the post office which is misunderstood by the hero . He and his daughter have a long journey to make after the death of the wife and mother of the family. (There is a likely candidate for this)-even a sleigh ride and most heartwarming of all is that the taxi driver, whose engine is broken is mysteriously given a new one on Christmas morning and no-one had engineered it! There is a lovely moment where Denver sings a lullaby and an exciting search. Great gentle film for everything Christmas is really about.