Customer Reviews

O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi [VHS]

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

 

 

The O'Henry story is wonderful, but this depiction doesn't do it justice. Perhaps, this is one of those stories that does not translate well to film. It seemed as though this was a production put on by a theater company in a small town. Also, be aware that running time for this video is just twenty minutes, which makes it a pretty expensive videotape.

Several things are terrribly wrong with this video:

1) It seems that they were trying to create a faithful rendition of the story in video format by scripting it word-for-word from the original story. While reading O. Henry's exact words may be enjoyable, phrases like "imputation of parsimony," "mendicancy squad," "meretricious ornamentation," etc. do not transfer well at all to film. A more professional screenplay adaptation is necessary for the story to translate into something that makes sense for a video audience.

2) While the cast was attractive and fit the parts visually, the acting style seemed very amateur and much more reminiscent of a small town theater company as another reviwer noted. It was too over the top for the subtlety that video can capture. It simply didn't seem genuine. This can partly be blamed on the use of O. Henry's exact words, rather than properly adapting it for film.

3) The camera angles, lighting, and audio recordings are all poor in comparison with today's production standards. Although Amazon's editorial review lists several awards dated 2002 for this film, it looks like it was shot in the late 80's or early 90's...very low budget. The cost of the DVD should be reflected in the quality of the video. It's definitely not a collector's item that would cause one to overlook dated production values. This DVD is far too expensive for the product delivered.

When I purchased this, I was remembering a made-for-tv version (more of an "inspired-by" rendition) that I viewed when I was very young. I thought I was purchasing the one I remembered. Unfortunately, I was incorrect. After a bit of research, I discovered that the version I remembered is called "The Gift of Love" starring Marie Osmond and Timothy Bottoms, also available through Amazon on DVD. I realize that Marie Osmond is not an academy award winning actress. But I found a clip of her version on YouTube, and it has much more character and appeal than this version by Scott Mansfield. The story is still set in the appropriate time period, but the screen adaptation is far more engaging, and the production is far more professional than the version I purchased.

My recommendation? If you want an exact rendition of the book, and you're not concerned with a quality video production, buy this version. If you can settle for an "inspired by" version of O. Henry's story and want a DVD that is far more engaging to watch, buy "The Gift Of Love" instead.

This video production does not do justice to O. Henry's great story. I hope someday to find one that does.

I'm not sure what is worse, the acting, the screen writing or the mess they made of a great story. IT'S A BIG WASTE OF $16.00

The story was completly ruinned the setting was to be a small flat in NY's village the appartment in this movie looked like a victorian place. Thsy dresses well and the entire feel was wrong including an added twist of a grandmother telling hea child the story with some stupid put on twang. The whole production was really a waste. I guess the producer paid for the awards it won.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE A GREAT VERSION OF THIS BELOVED STORY BUY O'HENRY'S FULL HOUSE BY CIMINA CLASSICS I BOUGHT MINE ON AMAZON, IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE AND YOU GET 4 O'HENRY STORIES WITH A CAST OF GREAT OLD TIME MOVIE STARS. Just a wounderful collection of stories. I was so happy to find it, I lost a VCR copy I taped from TV years ago.It was never showen again.You won't go wrong.

I anxiously awaited the holiday season to show the video to students. Today I read O. Henry's short story, "The Gift of the Magi" to them and then put in the video. The story describes Jim and Della as almost destitute and describes their coats as old and the house as near shabby. The video portrays a couple that live in a very nice place with nice looking coats on the coat tree. The narrator (Della as Grandmother) tells her grandaughter how poor she and grandfather were then, but the flashbacks show a couple who look anything but impoverished. The couple's sacrifices to please the other were diminished when they were portrayed as capable of laughing it off and heading out to the store again! Too bad. I doubt I'll ever watch/show the video again--better to let the reader use the author's well chosen words to create his/her own image. I'm very disappointed. O. Henry deserves an apology! A video librarian is quoted on the case as saying the "video remains true to the short story...". She must not have read the same short story I read!

I still have not received this product that was ordered in March. I also attempted to order it in Dec. and had no luck! HELP!!! What does it take to get this item???

This short film is a timeless portrayal of selfless love and compassion in the "true" spirit of the Christmas season. It should be in everyone's video, CD collection.

The descriotion said it had George Wendt in it and he's nowhere to be found. Also the director listed was different. I already ahd this video and thought I was getting a different and hopefully better version of the story. I felt ripped off.