The Man Who Saved Christmas (2002)

A.C. Gilbert figures out a way to keep Christmas alive after the war threatens to take it away in his name.

Director:

Sturla Gunnarsson

Writers:

Joseph Maurer (teleplay) (as Joe Maurer), Debra Frank (teleplay)

Stars:

Jason Alexander, Kelly Rowan, Ari Cohen

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Alexander	...	A.C. Gilbert
Kelly Rowan	...	Mary
Ari Cohen	...	Frank Gilbert
C. David Johnson	...	Sam Ryder
Jayne Eastwood	...	Mrs. Gilbert
Daniel Kash	...	Hiram Harris
Jake Brockman	...	Al Jr.
Kenneth Welsh	...	Newton Baker
Edward Asner	...	Charles Gilbert
David Talbot	...	Ben
Jonathan Higgins	...	Franklin Roosevelt
Brad Borbridge	...	Guard
Bill Lake	...	Secretary Daniels
François Klanfer	...	Secretary MacAdoo
Craig Gardner	...	Admiral

Storyline

Although their own father, bank Charles, refuses them a loan to start a novelty American toys company to rival the established German import, the brothers A.C. and Frank succeed, especially with constructive and educational products. When the US gets dragged into Word War I, Frank enlists and Woodrow Wilson's government recruits A.C. as consultant to convert factories like theirs for the war effort. Yet his gifted preteen son, whose schoolmates meanly turned on the 'Christmas killer's kid', ends up convincing him to refuse canceling Christmas and even resume toy production.

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Plot Keywords:

patriotic | patriotism | inventor | 1910s | soldier | 

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Taglines:

He couldn't stop the war, but he wouldn't let the war stop Christmas.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | War

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Goofs

Titles at the end of the film state that Erector Sets are known in the rest of the world as Meccano Sets, Meccano although very similar is in fact a different product from the UK that pre-dates Erector Sets by a decade. Errector Sets are now in fact made by Meccano.

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Quotes

Frank Gilbert: [after giving a Christmas gift to A.C. Gilbert] You don't know how hard it was finding you something you didn't invent!

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Soundtracks

Deck the Halls
(uncredited)
Traditional tune, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant

User Reviews

One man making his dreams worthwhile.

A very charming feel-good seasonal tale of a man with strong dreams and expectations. Jason Alexander plays Erector Set inventor, A.C. Gilbert, who is asked by the Government to urge citizens to cancel Christmas during the first world war and buy bonds instead of toys. Gilbert turns his toy manufacturing plant in a war supply plant making gas masks, bomb casings, chemical suits and bayonets among other things. Gilbert has a change of heart and goes with his deepest and long fostered dreams. He goes before the nation's Defense Counsel and gets permission to go back to making his toys. The toy maker still kept manufacturing war supplies, but also turned his own home into a producing center for more Erector Sets. After the war, Gilbert continued manufacturing Erector Sets, Chemistry Sets , Magician Trick Sets, trains and other toys for over forty years.

Alexander is outstanding in this role and light-years away from his obnoxious role on TVs "Seinfeld". Also in the cast are Kelly Rowan, Ari Cohen, Ed Asner and Jake Brockman. Entertaining for all ages.

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Man Who Saved Christmas

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Atlantis Communications, Orly Adelson Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1