Christmas Eve

Loretta Young plays Amanda Kingsley, who is a rags to riches older widow. Even though Amanda is very wealthy and eccentric, she never forgot the poor people of the world. She is a lady who is very classy, and very charitable. Amanda spends her nights giving out food and cash to homeless people, along with her loyal English butler, Maitland.

Amanda finds out she has an aneurysm and will die soon, but she keeps it a secret from her son Andrew. She only tells Maitland who is always by her side. Because the end is near Amanda sets out to hire a down-and-out private investigator, Morris Huffner and pays him a large amount in cash for him to find her three estranged grandchildren. They left home many years ago because they were at odds with their father, Amanda's unemotional, straight-laced, business man son, Andrew.

Andrew is constantly at odds with his mother too and he especially doesn't like the way Amanda spends her money. When Amanda changes her will to ensure her son only gets 49% of the family business stocks, Andrew tries to declare her incompetent.

P.I. Morris Huffner doesn't have much to go on to find Harley, Melissa and Josh. But knowing he gets a bonus for every grandchild he finds before Christmas motivates him. He doesn't realize how emotionally attached he will become to this family and how much this case will change his life.

Will Morris find the grandchildren, who don't want to be found, before Christmas? If they are found, will the grandchildren be willing to come back home and face their father? Will Amanda be found incompetent by the courts? Will Amanda die before Christmas? Why is Andrew such a hard person when his mother is so kind? Will Andrew finally see the light?

The way the conclusion is played out makes everyone in my family either cry or get choked up. We know the ending. We've watched it every year for nearly 20 years, but it never fails to make us emotional! This movie is worth watching, if only for the ending that hits you hard emotionally. A real tear jerker! Every year Christmas Eve never fails to put us in the Christmas spirit! This is the best Christmas movie ever!

Rich widow Loretta Young has learned she's dying and that it's only a matter of time. She wants to see her grown-up grandchildren, despite the fact that her son and them don't get along. Her son Arthur Hill is very selfish and mercenary, and is rather a cold fish when it comes to emotions. He lives and breathes money, status and more, more, and more. When Loretta wants to change her will, he's outraged. He says father wouldn't like it, but really that's just something to say. He isn't going to have it and his only recourse is to accuse her of not being of sound mind. That's a nice way to put it. By the way, another thing he doesn't like is her giving money to bums, cash, in person -not deductible. Meanwhile, she hired a p.i. to find her grandchildren, but it seems the wounds are too deep for them to consider coming home, even to see their grandmother. They are not told she is dying. This very fulfilling Christmastime TV-movie features one of Hollywood's most gracious, special, and beautiful actresses, Loretta Young; in fact I think she is even more beautiful here than in her earlier years and that's saying something. She adds much elegance to this rather predictable movie, but the performances by all actors are so genuine that we don't feel a false note or emotion from this tale. It all comes together very realistically and this has to be one of the best Christmas movies ever shown on TV. Maybe even better than The Gathering Part I. If you love Christmas movies and you love Loretta Young, you must find this right away. Unfortunately, that will be hard, since it hasn't been on TV since the late 1990s. I taped it then and that is why I have a copy now. I am hoping someday some way others will discover and enjoy this treasure!

Loretta Young shows what a Golden Age movie star can do with a juicy role. Trevor Howard, Ron Liebman and Arthur Hill provide ample support. I think I like this film so much because it focuses on what the holidays are all about -- family. Loretta Young's character wants just one thing for Christmas -- to gather all her family around her. It's not easy because the family (like many families) has grown apart due to a rift between her son and his children. Young's unshakably belief that the family will reunite for Christmas drives the movie. Young is simply radiant in the role. Liebman is marvelous as the private detective she hires to find her grandchildren. Despite the conventional nature of the plot, the end is unexpectedly poignant.

This is another Christmas tale about an elderly woman who befriends the homeless and volunteers her time with children. She learns she has an incurable illness and, therefore, hires a private investigator to locate her family around the country to reunite with her during Christmas Eve.

I caught this movie on TV a few times when I was a teenager and, though dramatic films weren't my cup of tea back then, I enjoy watching meaningful Christmas movies and this one was no exception. While the plot is slow at times, the movie captures the essence and spirit of the season, as I remember seeing the woman talking to another with an elegant Christmas tree bath in golden lights in the backdrop. And, this movie gives you an uplifting message about being together with family.

Overall, it's a good one to watch during Christmas time.

Grade B

Christmas movies are meant to be soft-hearted and this one certainly fits the bill but more important, it leaves you feeling uplifted. An elegant, philanthropic widow Amanda Kingsley (Loretta Young), who befriends the homeless and hands out cash, is pitted against her business tycoon son Andrew Kingsley (Arthur Hill), who wants to demolish a tenement and displace the residents to make way for a development.

Trevor Howard is Maitland, the dutiful butler, chauffeur and companion to Mrs. Kingsley. Ron Leibman is the private investigator Morris Huffner, who locates missing members of the family Mrs. Kingsley attempts to bring together for a Christmas reconciliation. The initial conflict is over the inheritance and putting money towards a shelter for the homeless in her neighbourhood. For her own family, her deepest wish is to heal the relationship between her son Andrew and his children.

Loretta Young is the epitome of mature elegance and gentility. Trevor Howard fits the bill as the rock solid butler she has come to lean on. Ron Liebman, as the private eye, is sceptical about Mrs. Kingsley's efforts but stays the course until the tearful finale. Very sentimental for sure but one of my favourite Christmas movies.