The Gift of Love

Take in this movie at Christmas or any time you want to be reminded what it really means to love someone. The protagonists are likable, the conflicts are genuine, and even the man to whom Beth Atherton is unwillingly engaged (played by James Woods) isn't the villain you'd expect; he's rather sweet and gentle in his own unique way. The antagonists are equally easy to dislike: narrow-minded, misguided, and in some cases self serving, they choose to ignore the time honoured cliché that money cannot buy happiness. This film is basically a beautiful and ironic lesson about true love wrapped in a heart-warming and reasonably entertaining story.

Marie Osmond plays a rich girl being raised by her uncle and aunt (June Lockhart). Her guardians encourage a courtship and possible marriage to a nice but boring guy (James Woods). Osmond does not want to spend the rest of her life as pampered wife who does nothing but give society parties. She meets an immigrant, played by Timothy Bottoms, and they fall in love. However, her guardians disapprove of the match because Osmond's late mother allegedly threw her life away by falling in love with a poor man. Bottoms has his own problems--he's only supposed to stay in America long enough to make a little money, then go back home and enter into an arranged marriage.

This movie is based on an O. Henry story called, "The Gift of the Magi". It's a very sweet and romantic tale with a Christmas theme. Osmond and Bottoms are very believable as the young couple.

Marie is an orphan. Her rich uncle takes her in, and raises her for a couple years. When she turns 18, he arranges a marriage for her (with an all-but-complete stranger). She has to take it ... or else she will be thrown out on the street. She accepts (and so, uncle will give her a big chunk of money upon the marriage).

Marie had scarlet fever growing up, and when her hair came back, promised her father never to cut it. Mmm. By now it's well-over 4-feet long, lush and beautiful. Soon after her engagement, she meets Timothy Bottoms (in an outstandingly cute performance). They start flirting, but before things go very far, he has knocked her to the ground twice.

June Lockhart plays an air-headed high society lady to the hilt, always focused on the next event. And, the movie is opened and closed by David Wayne, as O'Henry, introducing his story: "The Gift of the Magi." This has warmed my heart several times; it is quite a good Christmas movie.

I thought that this was a very cute, touching love story. Marie Osmond always has such a kindness and sweetness about her that I couldn't help but care for her character and feel for her when she was being forced into a arranged marriage all the while her heart was with another man. I thought that the movie was very well done and it is the type of movie you walk away moved by.