The Christmas Card (2006)

US soldier visits the town from where an inspirational Christmas card was sent to him by a church group that mails cards out to servicemen as a goodwill effort.

Director:

Stephen Bridgewater (as Stephen W. Bridgewater)

Writer:

Joany Kane

Stars:

Edward Asner, John Newton, Alice Evans

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Asner	...	Luke
John Newton	...	Sgt. Cody Cullen
Alice Evans	...	Faith Spelman
Lois Nettleton	...	Rosie Spelman
Ben Weber	...	Paul
Peter Jason	...	Richard
Andrew Sanford	...	Sammy
Kate Hamon	...	Selma
Glorinda Marie	...	Molly
Charlie Holliday	...	Rev. Ives
Kurt Johnson	...	Eric
Brooke Davis	...	Liddy
Nick Ballard	...	Jonesy
Chad Michael Collins	...	Lewis (as Chad Collins)
Brian Robinson	...	Edo

Storyline

US Army sergeant Cody Cullen's horror tour in Afghanistan ends when his fellow soldier Jonesy is killed in an attack while they are delivering medical supplies in Nurestan. Cody is put on leave and goes to return private possessions to Jonesy's bride turned widow. On his way home he passes Nevada City, California, where he meets Faith Spelman, who writes the parish's Christmas cards to lonely soldiers, who had coincidentally included him, an orphan. He happens to save her dad Luke from a serious car run-over. The Spellmans invite Cody home for dinner, then the Christmas tide. He proves a great help in the family logging firm. Vietenam vet Luke wants Cody as son-in-law, but although charmed, Faith still seems committed to rarely present fiancé Paul, a wine broker.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | dinner | ritual | party | jealousy | 

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Genres:

Family | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Christmas Card

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RHI Entertainment,Alpine Medien Productions,Larry Levinson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lois Nettleton's final role.

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Goofs

As the medical supplies are being delivered, the cot in the background is open, then partially closed, then open again.

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Connections

References Back to the Future (1985)

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Soundtracks

The First Noël
Traditional
Edited by William Sandys
Arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert
Sung in church by cast

User Reviews

Heartwarming and Cozy

I thought it was a truly heartwarming picture with a lot of scenes that make a person feel nice and cozy inside. I love the reference to the Vietnam veterans which is another war that seemed never to end and the fact that the characters were very believable.

Ed Asner's performance as usual is fantastic and very realistic.

However, on the downside, I felt that the Faith character needed more strength in her performance and that it definitely needed a better ending. The ending was way too fast for such a build-up. I mean, there are some assumptions that viewers can take for granted but for there just to be a quick embrace after-wards was just too fast.

Goof: The question I had is how or why was the diner open on Christmas day so that Faith could buy Cody the meal that she was carrying at the end of the movie. Seemed a bit far-fetched.

Nevertheless, I hope to purchase this movie for my collection.