Customer Reviews

The Christmas Gift

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This movie has been a holiday favorite of mine since I first saw it. I've always been a huge fan of John Denver, his music, and have loved him as an actor as well. I think he really shines in this movie. It's warm, meaningful, and fun as well. It always brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes, especially as the main character John Denver plays, George Billings, sings a song to his movie daughter about finding love again.

Here is a man not looking forward to the Chrismas holiday season, as he lost his wife a year before at Christmas. He wants to throw himself into his work, get away from his New York apartment and everything that reminds him of his wife and his loss.

He takes his daughter to Georgetown, Colorado(oh how I would love and give just about anything to live in a town like this!) on a "supposed" vacation, which is actually a mission from his slave-driver, money-grubbing boss to search out the "pickings"...i.e., find out if this quaint, beautiful town can be turned into a money-making resort.

What George doesn't expect is to fall in love with this town and it's wonderful residents who all amazingly, from child to oldest adult, have a deep belief in Santa Claus.

I love all the quirky fun characters in this movie. I love seeing the antagonist, George Billing's boss, Mr. Renfield, get taken down a peg or two by the town standing together to keep him from buying out their town. I love Aunt Hennie, her jolly brother Bud Sawyer of Busy Bee cab company, Susan, George's new surprising(to him) love interest, Jake Richards, Scruff, and the wonderful Alex, George's daughter, excellently played by Gennie James. (I wonder what happened to her?).

This movie will always be a favorite of mine, moreso now since I have experienced the same thing as George Billings. 5 years ago, at Christmas time, I lost my husband. Christmas had always been a favorite holiday of ours, along with our son, and losing him at that time was so hard. I lost interest in the holiday for a long time.

Happily now, I have a wonderful new husband of one year and am ecstatically looking forward to the holidays. Yes you can find love again! I am proof of that! And he is awesome! Now if I can just find us a place to live in the beautiful tress with seasons and snow at Christmas, I will truly be in heaven. (big smile)

I encourage everyone to buy this movie and make it a family holiday tradition as I have. It will warm your hearts. Oh yes, I absolutely believe in Santa Claus! =D

Now if only I could find a copy of this move on DVD....

I am a Christmas movie addict, but if forced to choose only one Christmas movie, this would be my pick! I love everything about this movie from the stars (John Denver, Jane Kacmarek, Gennie James) to the setting (Georgetown, Colorado) to the story (big-city father and daughter help save small, folksy town and learn the real meaning of Christmas). This is a classic that I have enjoyed for years. I wish it would come out on DVD -- my VHS is wearing out and I dread the day that it wears out. I will be devastated. At any rate, I highly recommend this movie. It is a beautiful Christmas classic. I feel like I am stepping back in time and into a better place every time I watch it.

Love, love, love this movie!!! This is one of my VERY favorite Christmas movies...I look forward to watching it every Christmas. It has such a warm, hometown feel about it, where neighbors care about each other, and the true spirit of Christmas is shared amongst each other. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough...it is definitely a keeper!!!

I keep checking to see if they have put this movie on DVD yet...what's the holdup? This is my favorite Christmas movie! It reminds us that we all need to slow down and watch the snow! The way Georgetown was decorated reminds me of how my old hometown used to be decorated. It's wonderful to see all of their lives in Georgetown intermingled...they cared about each other and about their town! Of course, Johnny Denver is one of my favorite singers and his acting in this movie is outstanding. The other actors and actresses were perfect for this move as well! My VHS is wearing out...please put on DVD!

This movie owes a lot to the Jimmy Stewart classic, "It's A Wonderful Life." George Billings is really a George Bailey sort of character, even the initials are the same. George Bailey had dreams of being an engineer. George Billings is an architect. Both are likeable guys trying to deal with life's heartaches. Yet, this movie works for many of the same reasons IAWL worked: likeable leading men we can identify with, a decent romance, a reaffirmation of life and the goodness of people, and Christmas. Certainly John Denver is no Jimmy Stewart when it comes to acting, but both can deliver an honest decency to their character. I just wish this were on DVD.

Very hard to find classic movie which we have been looking to purchase since it was on TV. Unfortunately, the video quality is 'fair'and not any better than our original recordin. Hopefully, some day it will be remastered into DVD format.

The Feeling of Christmas....It may be something we've all lost touch with over the years. Especially after discovering that Santa Claus wasn't "real" in those younger days. Today, that feeling of joy and warmth I've lost touch with for so long now, came back into my heart. It made me feel wonderful. I felt like a little girl again. It came back to me while watching "The Christmas Gift". I'd have to say it's my favorite Christmas movie ever, right next to that old black and white film "Miracle on 34th Street" that I loved so much during my childhood. To me, that movie served as a testament to my firm belief in Santa, as well as the joy that comes in the true spirit of Christmas. Today I found a movie that gave a similar message, only it was deeper than that. Christmas isn't just a holiday. It's a Feeling. It's that spirit of Love and Giving. And boy, it feels good to remember those feelings. To relive them. It's so nice. Like finding a piece of yourself that you remembered, but had long forgotten to feel. John Denver, and all those people in the film, were perfectly cast. Wonderful people.

I was thinking about this movie and today it was on the Hallmark Channel. It makes the top 10 in Christmas movies for me. I don't own it, but would love to. I see it's only available in VHS. It's on my wish list. It's the ultimate feel-good Christmas movie, and portrays the best about the Christmas Spirit.

I absolutely love this movie! I first watched it on the Disney Channel before they started using commercials (back in early 90's) and taped it at the time. I would watch my tape numerous times every year at Christmas. The setting in Colorado reminds me so much of my beloved Snow Village collection of lighted houses which added even more to my enjoyment. Several years later, my movie was taped over in error by my daughter, and I spent several years trying to find it with no success. I tried taping it again, but by then it had so many commercial interruptions that it just wasn't the same. I finally found it on ebay about 4 years ago and even purchased 2 copies should anything happen to one. It is such a sweet loving story and makes you appreciate the simpler things in life. I think it is a wonderful Christmas classic and would so love for it to become available on DVD.

Due to it be an old VHS - the quality wasn't the best, but the story line was very cute. Will keep it to share with the little ones for the holidays