Christmas for a Dollar

The acting wasn't that great and the homes as everyone else keeps mentioning are well kept for poor people during the depression. The home that the Kamps lived in was very nice and large for a poor family with 5 kids. However, the story line was the true meaning of Christmas. I am one that doesn't look for perfection in movies. I look at the meaning. I am very sappy.

My son is a literary agent and every since he went to Film School, I have learned more about what goes into rating films than I ever wanted to know. He would have not liked the poor quality or the acting of the film. I liked the film because of the substance. I look at all the Christmas movies on Hallmark and UP every year (over and over) and all the others I can catch on other channels and I like them because I am a sappy person. I gave it an 8 because of it's substance. Had the quality been better it would have rated a 10. That is just my sappy take on it.

I had the pleasure of watching this tonight for the first time. I decided I wanted to review it and as I came to the page, I read one from someone who said the cast was awful. OMG, the first thought that came to mind was just how amazing the entire cast was. You might find a movie here and there with a great young child actor; maybe one with even two; but this movie had at least 5; probably 8-10 when you think about all of the children in the movie. The grownups were great too. Some have criticized the direction but hey, this was a movie that takes place during the depression. I thought they did a wonderful job bringing that time period to life. I found the movie looking for films with Danielle C. Ryan (Danielle Chuchran) who may be one of the most beautiful young actresses I have ever seen. She is also very talented and always brings her characters to life. I would and will highly recommend this movie.

This may not be a high budget movie with lots of top named actors but it is good story and fine actors. Great story and well played. Our family thoroughly enjoyed this show. Good, family based, clean cut, meaningful, touching. Actors all did a fine job. If you're wanting a good movie to watch with your family this is it. Takes you back to the simpler time of life. There is no sex, car crashes, violence, computer generated anything or foul language! Just a good clean, enjoyable film. You will feel good about sharing this with everybody in your family, kids, grand-kids, grandparents! In our opinion you will not be disappointed. The world needs less trashy movies and more like this one!

During the Great Depression, the Kamp family struggles to get by after Mrs. Kamp passes away. The children expect another Christmas without presents until their father brings home one dollar for them to spend on gifts.

The film is very enjoyable. It is one of those films you don't want to end. It reminds me on "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Waltons". If you like family safe films then please watch this film. Its so well made.

The film was made for "UP" cable channel. If you don't get that channel then buy it on DVD. After you are done loan it to friends.

"Christmas for a Dollar" is a good family Christmas film set during the Great Depression. It was filmed in Utah. The IMDb film page with writers credits lists Gale Sears and Bon Sowards, as based on their book. The DVD case has it a little different, saying the film is "Inspired by a true story."

Gale Sears wrote the 2009 novel of the same title, and Ben Sowards illustrated it. It's a story about the Kamp family that lived in Bakersfield, California. It takes place in 1931, the year after William Kamp's wife died at age 37. In the film, William has five children. The oldest daughter and son, Verna and Warren, help with the chores, the cooking and raising the three younger children. But, Norman, who has polio, and Ruthie with their pet dog, have the biggest roles.

It's a good family film for the Christmas holidays. As some others have noted, it has a little touch of the Waltons in the 1971 TV Film, "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story." The film setting is much more rural than the Bakersfield of 1930 that had a population over 26,000. Here the Kamp children are all in the same one-room schoolhouse.

The movie has a very noticeable continuity gap at the end. Mrs. Rathbone has brought her horse over for Norman to ride, and says she will see them all later in church. The family is outside their home as Verna leads the horse around the yard with Norman riding it. There's no sign of snow on the ground or buildings all around. The next scene opens with trees, a wooden fence, the ground and the church in the background all covered with a couple inches of snow.

This is a slower moving film, but one about a family enduring hard times, caring for others and sharing, and getting along.