The Christmas Box (1995) (TV)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Marcus Cole

Writers (WGA):

Richard Paul Evans (book)
Greg Taylor (teleplay)

Release Date:

17 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A ski-shop owner and his wife and daughter move in with an elderly widow who needs help; he suffers recurring dreams. |

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Christmas | Christian Symbolism | Salt Lake City Utah | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win

Cast

Richard Thomas	...	Richard Evans
Maureen O'Hara	...	Mary Parkin (Mrs. Parkin)
Annette O'Toole	...	Keri Evans
Kelsey Mulrooney	...	Jenna Evans
Robert Curtis Brown	...	George
Michael Ensign	...	Stephen Hoover
Greg Brouwer	...	Clerk
Nicole Forester	...	Dream Angel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lily Nicksay	...	Dream Angel

Directed by
Marcus Cole

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Paul Evans		(book)
Greg Taylor		(teleplay)

Produced by
Erica Fox	....	producer
Michael Green	....	executive producer
Chris Harding	....	executive producer
Allan Henderson	....	executive producer
Nancy Meyer	....	associate producer
Beth Polson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Richard Gibbs		(as Richard Kendall Gibbs)

Cinematography by
John Newby		(director of photography) (as John C. Newby)

Film Editing by
Jim Oliver

Casting by
Lisa Beach

Production Design by
Mimi Gramatky

Set Decoration by
Anthony Bashford

Makeup Department
Jeff Angell	....	makeup artist (as Jeffrey Angell)
Dorothie J. Long	....	hair stylist (as Dorothea Long)

Production Management
Margaret E. Fannin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Clark	....	first assistant director
Dodi Lee Rubenstein	....	second assistant director (as Dodi Rubenstein)

Art Department
John A. Keim	....	property master (as John Keim)
Renee Heimann	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Teri Anne Kopp	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Coogan	....	boom operator
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Hankins	....	supervising sound editor (as Dave Hankins)
Walt Martin	....	sound mixer
Anthony Mazzei	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Stensvold	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Hays	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dennis Dion	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Casey Hotchkiss	....	camera operator (as Case C. Hotchkiss)
Alex Klabukov	....	key grip
Dayton Nietert	....	gaffer
Butch Pierson	....	first assistant camera
Jeff Zucker	....	gaffer (as Jeffrey Zucker)

Casting Department
Bruce H. Newberg	....	casting associate (as Bruce Newberg)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jean Rosone	....	key costumer
Sheryl De Paolo	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Stella Starlight	....	dresser (uncredited)
Stella Starlight	....	seamstress (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Rick Downey	....	negative cutter
Brian Fassett	....	assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Will Kaplan	....	music editor
Christine Cholvin	....	music editor (uncredited)
Jeff Vaughn	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Detweiller	....	transportation coordinator (as Robert Detweiler)
Charlie Carpenter	....	driver (uncredited)
Thomas O'Donnell	....	mobile lighting operator (uncredited)

Other crew
Elizabeth S. Barton	....	script supervisor (as Liz Barton)
Curtis Collins	....	location manager
Gregg Edler	....	production coordinator
Tiffany Hegerty	....	assistant to producer (as Tiffany Hegarty)
George Halstead	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bonneville Producers Group
• Hallmark Entertainment
• Polson Company, The (in association with)

Distributors

• Alpha Media (2004) (China) (TV)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1995) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Background Players  extras casting
• Bonneville Producers Group  author: Berne Convention
• FotoKem Laboratory  color by (as Foto-Kem Laboratory)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals (as Howard Anderson Company)
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  post-production sound and sound editing by (as Todd AO Glen Glenn)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bonneville Producers Group

Movie Connections:

Followed by Timepiece (1996) (TV)

Very good Christmas movie

I didn't plan to see this. Instead I just sat down while my wife was watching it and ended up seeing it all the way through. It was difficult not to get emotionally involved, mostly because of the acting of Maureen O'Hara. Yes, some of the plot mechanisms are clichés. Yes, the overall message of knowing what to truly value most has been done many times by Hollywood. But the understated performances from O'Hara and Richard Thomas along with a good story really make this movie well worth watching. I ended up being so affected that it drove me to write this review in the hope that it might influence someone else to see it. And perhaps enjoy it as much as I did. Merry Christmas everyone...