One Magic Christmas (1985)

Director:

Phillip Borsos

Writers:

Phillip Borsos (screen story)
Barry Healey (screen story)

Release Date:

22 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Miracles do happen!

Plot:

An angel must show a mother the true meaning of Christmas. It's not just presents and materialistic things, but the people she cares about.

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Christmas | Supernatural | Charity | Child

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Mary Steenburgen	...	Ginny Hanks Grainger
Gary Basaraba	...	Jack Grainger
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Gideon
Arthur Hill	...	Caleb Grainger
Elisabeth Harnois	...	Abbie Grainger
Robbie Magwood	...	Cal Grainger
Michelle Meyrink	...	Betty
Elias Koteas	...	Eddie
Wayne Robson	...	Harry Dickens
Jan Rubes	...	Santa Claus
Sarah Polley	...	Molly Monaghan
Graham Jarvis	...	Frank Crump
Timothy Webber	...	Herbie Conklin
Joy Thompson	...	Mrs. Monaghan (as Joy Thompson-Allen)
John Friesen	...	Mr. Noonan

Also Known As:

Disney's One Magic Christmas (UK) (video box title)
Father Christmas (Canada: English title) (working title)
Un drôle de Noël (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Collingwood, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Silver Screen Partners II

Quotes:

Abbie Grainger: My brother's never going to believe this.

Movie Connections:

References Gremlins (1984)

Best contemporary Christmas movie!

I've been watching this movie every Christmas since it first appeared on CBC in the '80s, and I have to say, I spend most of the movie misty-eyed. In this familiar story of a woman who has lost the Christmas spirit and rediscovers it through being shown how fortunate she is, there are several excellent performances

and a strong feeling of magic throughout.

Mary Steenburgen, who plays Ginnie Grainger, the woman who has lost the

Christmas spirit, undergoes an amazing transformation and some of the most

heart-wrenching moments I've seen on film. Harry Dean Stanton, as the angel

Gideon, plays his part with sensitivity, and Gary Basaraba is excellent as Jack, Ginnie's husband. Abbie, the six-year old daughter of the main character, steals the show, however. She never seems to be acting, and carries the innocence of childhood and the magic of Christmas with her. Keep an eye out for a very

young Sarah Polley as Molly Monaghan, and veteran Canadian actor Jan

Rubes as the best Santa Claus on film to date, if only for his amazing costume.

Keep a box of tissues on hand when you watch this movie! It demonstrates that a movie can be magical without overwhelming special effects, and that a

Christmas movie can be sentimental without being schmaltzy.