Product Details

• Actors: Loretta Swit, Jackson Davies, Anthony Holland, David Alexander, Fairuza Balk
• Directors: George Schaefer
• Writers: Barbara Robinson
• Producers: George Schaefer, Adrienne Luraschi, Merrill H. Karpf
• Format: Color, NTSC, Full Screen
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Regency Home Video
• VHS Release Date: February 16, 1989
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005OCR8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,765 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Grace Bradley (Loretta Swit) is called in to direct the community church's child production of the Christmas play. Unfortunately, this is the year the six Herdman children--the dirtiest, most feared neighborhood kids--decide to bully themselves into the lead roles. Barbra Johnson wrote the teleplay based on her novel for this 1978 TV broadcast that has become a favorite over the years. A 9-year-old Fairuza Balk makes her debut as Grace's daughter and narrates the story centering on the seemingly parentless troupe of ragtag ruffians. Of course, the town believes the play is hopelessly lost, but this is Christmas Eve and miracles do happen. Kids can find meaning in the Bible's tale and the Herdmans certainly can bring a fresh take on the age-old story. Not as rambunctious or preachy as later modern-day Christmas tales, the less-than-an-hour production stays away from giving anyone his or her comeuppance and is easily digestible for the whole family (Doug Thomas).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

113 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Herdmans Strike Again!, December 15, 2001

By 

Donna (Poway, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Based on the children's novel by Barbara Robinson, with teleplay by the author of the book (hurray!), this video remains true to the book by the same name. A local church is doing the Christmas pageant for Christmas, and the family of 6 unsupervised, undisciplined children decide to get involved. They bully the other children so that they will get the main roles. Everyone is worried that this will be the WORST Christmas Pageant because the Herdmans are involved. The mother, played by Loretta Swit (MASH), shows patience and diligence, with unending hope that the whole thing will have a great ending. Despite the fact that I've been reading this book aloud to my elementary school students for years, I ended up in tears during the scene where Imogene discovers what Mary is all about. Definitely, OWN this video if you love what Christmas is really about!

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Christmas Pageant Movie Ever, August 21, 2003

By 

K. A. Hicks "Village Fan" (Anywhere, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Herdmans are the worst kids ever! They cuss, they smoke, they torture animals and people. AND they want to be in the church Christmas pageant, even though they have never heard the story of Christmas. This movie truly captures the true meaning of Christmas. See Faruza Baulk as a little girl as she narrates the story. I highly recommend reading the book first. It's a fast and easy read. It makes the movie SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great Christmas movie!!!, December 5, 2005

By 

P. Albright (Illinois) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever DVD (DVD)

One of the great Christmas movies. The Herdman's really can teach you the true meaning of Christmas. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!!