Janet Leigh plays a young war widow who works as a comparison shopper. On Christmas Eve, she goes to Crowley's department store to buy a train set from salesman Robert Mitchum. He instantly suspects that she is a shopper and when she returns the train set the next day, he is fired after taking it back after listening to her sob story. Her young son (Gordon Gebert) thinks the train is for him and is disappointed to find out it was part of his mother's job assignment. But much to his surprise, he ends up with the train anyway, and it turns out that the now unemployed Mitchum has bought it for him as a gesture of Christmas good will. This is disappointing to Leigh's longtime friend WendelL Corey who has bought the kid a camera. It's apparent from the time that young Gebert meets Mitchum he wants him as a stepfather over the staid Corey. And when Leigh's in-laws come on Christmas day, it's also apparent that Mitchum is the man they approve of raising their grandson.
This is a charming holiday comedy/drama that some may consider a "Miracle on 34th Street" knock-off, but stands up on its own merits. There are some charming scenes at the Central Park zoo with Leigh and Mitchum getting to know each other in full view of the seals. It's apparent that there is more chemistry there, so it's nice to watch Leigh try to deny her feelings and become engaged to Corey in spite of how she really feels. As for Wendell Corey, he's better in film noir and westerns rather than straight romantic parts. Mitchum, then in the midst of his marijuana scandal, is understated great and no amount of scandal can obscure his talent and screen charisma. As for Janet Leigh, she does pretty good in a role that could be overly motherly or one dimensional. As her in-laws, Griff Barnett and Esther Dale add poignancy in a scene where Barnett appears ready to tell Dale off, but praises her for their 35 year marriage. It's nice to see Dale playing a gentle role as opposed to the aggressive or nosy older women she usually played. Barnett may accuse her of being nagging, but it's apparent he appreciates it and loves her for her concern. Henry O'Neill plays the gruff department store owner who ends up being very compassionate when visited by young Gordon Gebert. Very much worth watching.
This is a charming holiday comedy/drama that some may consider a "Miracle on 34th Street" knock-off, but stands up on its own merits. There are some charming scenes at the Central Park zoo with Leigh and Mitchum getting to know each other in full view of the seals. It's apparent that there is more chemistry there, so it's nice to watch Leigh try to deny her feelings and become engaged to Corey in spite of how she really feels. As for Wendell Corey, he's better in film noir and westerns rather than straight romantic parts. Mitchum, then in the midst of his marijuana scandal, is understated great and no amount of scandal can obscure his talent and screen charisma. As for Janet Leigh, she does pretty good in a role that could be overly motherly or one dimensional. As her in-laws, Griff Barnett and Esther Dale add poignancy in a scene where Barnett appears ready to tell Dale off, but praises her for their 35 year marriage. It's nice to see Dale playing a gentle role as opposed to the aggressive or nosy older women she usually played. Barnett may accuse her of being nagging, but it's apparent he appreciates it and loves her for her concern. Henry O'Neill plays the gruff department store owner who ends up being very compassionate when visited by young Gordon Gebert. Very much worth watching.