CHRISTMAS EVE

US, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Loretta Young, Trevor Howard, Arthur Hill, Kate Reid, Ron Leibman, David Cassidy.
Directed by

Christmas Eve is a pleasing adult fairy tale for Christmas. The strength of the film comes from Loretta Young, one of the few telemovies she made in the '80s (Lady in a Corner). She portrays a matriarch of a wealthy family, at odds with her son Andrew (played with stern skill by Arthur Hill). Trevor Howard has a good role as Maitland, her companion and butler. In the supporting cast are Ron Leibman as a private investigator, Kate Reid as a homeless woman, David Cassidy as one of the grandchildren, Season Hubley as another grandchild.

Mrs Kingsley wants Andrew's children, who have been alienated by his relentless and impersonal treatment of them, to come home for Christmas Eve. To this purpose she hires the investigator who tracks down the children. In the meantime, her son wants to have her committed because of her changing of her will.

Needless to say, everything works out for the best. But there is a genial spirit about the film and a pleasing humanity.

1.Entertaining Christmas telemovie? For an adult audience at Christmas?

2.New York settings, Christmas, the wealthy apartment, the streets and the homeless, jails, courts? The private investigator tracking down the children in California and Canada? Musical score?

3.The the title, expectations? The themes of family and the variety of generations? Audience identification with particular characters according to age and relationships?

4.Loretta Young as Mrs Kingsley, her strong screen presence? Her relationship with Maitland and his support of her, management of the household? The maid and her Puerto Rican background? Her relationship with Andrew, her wealthy dead husband, Andrew and the management of the business? Her lavishness with her money, toys for children, helping the homeless - even in clashing with the police and being arrested, coming out on bail? The discussions with Andrew, the changing of her will, his wanting to have her committed, the discussions with the lawyer? The court sequences and her handling of the situation, Maitland, the maid and the various people in support? Her outwitting her son? The hiring of the investigator, the discussions with him, the reasons for the separation from her grandchildren, their not wanting to hurt her? The progress reports? The court scene - and her telling the judge her grandchildren would come for Christmas? Grounds for Andrew to delay the decision? The waiting, the tension, the private investigator's arrival, the children eventually arriving, the reconciliation with Andrew? The gift of family love for Christmas?

5.Maitland, Trevor Howard's very British style, the formalism of his place in the household? The buying, the driving? Supporting Mrs Kingsley? Advice? Bailing her out, helping her with her gifts? His testimony in the court - and the wit and anticipation of the questions?

6.The maid, the support from Mrs Kingsley, work and the apartment, in the court and the discussions about bringing her whole family from Puerto Rico?

7.The investigator, the reason for Mrs Kingsley hiring him, his tracking down each of the grandchildren, discussions with them, the impersonal tone, giving them the facts? His return, the invitation to Christmas Eve, his coming? The attraction towards the granddaughter - and the future for them?

8.Andrew, impersonal, managing the business, the responsibilities of business? Widower and absent at the death of his wife? The alienation of his children and their not even telling him where they lived? The board meetings, decisions about the estate? Discussions with his mother, exasperation? Her changing her will, his anger, the hearings? Taking her to court? His postponement of the decision because he thought his mother was having delusions? His discussion with her about his father loving his mother so much that he felt excluded? Mrs Kingsley's shock to find that he was so alienated? Wanting a reconciliation? Christmas Eve, coming, his children, discovering his grandchild, the change of heart?

9.The grandchildren: the singer alienated and going off for his musical career, meeting in the bar, the discussions with the investigator? The daughter and her going to California, her work in the theatre, the attraction towards the investigator, their time together? The older brother, the Vietnam draft and his going to Canada, disappearing, the support of the other draft resisters? His family? Their decision to return, coming on Christmas Eve?

10.Molly, on the streets, treatment by the police, the New York weather, the riot, prison? Molly and her illness, transferred to the hospital, the flowers, Mrs Kingsley's visit, the funeral?

11.The court proceedings, the lawyers and the interrogations? The judge and his decisions?

12.Themes of family, alienation, need for reconciliation? Money and affluence? The depersonalising of families? The themes of reconciliation?