The Man Who Saved Christmas

It's Christmas time once again and amid the anti-Christmas media coverage, I happened onto this film. What a pleasant and refreshing surprise! This is a story to warm the hearts of those in my generation who long for the days when everyone said, "Merry Christmas!" and people were proud of their country. The best part of this film is knowing that the film is based on a real person's life: A.C. Gilbert. The Scrooge-type figure of A.C.'s father, played by Asner, is believable and helps make this story enjoyable. Thanks for the memories of the days when Christmas was important, patriotism was shared, and no one thought about political correctness.

After his latest series bombed and he was reduced to doing Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials, Jason Alexander makes a refreshing return to TV in this true story based on the life of toy inventor A.C. Gilbert, who created the now-famous Erector Set. During World War I, Gilbert was persuaded to have his factory staff produce weapons and ammo for American troops fighting overseas instead of toys. The decision caused him to forget about the true meaning of the holidays and neglect his wife and son. With their persuasion, however, and his older brother missing in action in Europe, Gilbert and his staff decided to start marketing toys again and took their decision all the way to the Supreme Court.

Alexander gives a wonderful performance, and Ed Asner does a remarkable job playing Gilbert's father, who also tends to have a Scooge-like attitude during Christmas but is finally rejuvenated at the end of the movie, when his presumed-dead son returns home from Europe after the end of the war.

A very charming feel-good seasonal tale of a man with strong dreams and expectations. Jason Alexander plays Erector Set inventor, A.C. Gilbert, who is asked by the Government to urge citizens to cancel Christmas during the first world war and buy bonds instead of toys. Gilbert turns his toy manufacturing plant in a war supply plant making gas masks, bomb casings, chemical suits and bayonets among other things. Gilbert has a change of heart and goes with his deepest and long fostered dreams. He goes before the nation's Defense Counsel and gets permission to go back to making his toys. The toy maker still kept manufacturing war supplies, but also turned his own home into a producing center for more Erector Sets. After the war, Gilbert continued manufacturing Erector Sets, Chemistry Sets , Magician Trick Sets, trains and other toys for over forty years.

Alexander is outstanding in this role and light-years away from his obnoxious role on TVs "Seinfeld". Also in the cast are Kelly Rowan, Ari Cohen, Ed Asner and Jake Brockman. Entertaining for all ages.

I caught The Man Who Saved Christmas in the wee hours of this Christmas on Book Television, and I have got to say, it become a favorite of mine. I am planning on ordering the DVD and adding it to my collection of my other holiday classics.

Outside of his voice acting in the "Aladdin" series and sequels, I've never been a big fan of Jason Alexander's work. That was, however, before I saw this movie. His performance as A. C. Gilbert was believable and touching, as was the other aspects of the movie.

While "The Man Who Saved Christmas" is a Christmas movie, it is one that I believe can be viewed at any time of the year. It gives one hope during a difficult time.

I stumbled across this movie yesterday on WGN. I really enjoyed watching it. I collect old toys and knew a little bit about the AC Gilbert company. Movie takes place from about 1910ish to Xmas 1918. Alexander was very good in the role--only yelled once in the film. The props were mostly right on. The Dictaphone machine used was incorrect--an authentic Dictaphone from the time didn't use a horn to speak into. Plus they were electric by this time. Also the cylinders are longer than the one used. I also noticed a fan in the factory that was made well after WWI. Another critic noticed AC jr was born in 1919. Otherwise, props were appropriate for the time period. Film moved nicely from beginning of the business through the end. I thought the young FDR was done well. I'd recommend the film both as a Xmas tradition and a history lesson about AC Gilbert. If you ever owned an American Flyer trainset, chemistry set or Erector set, you've been in touched by AC Gilber.