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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.

When I was stationed in Belgium my sister-in-law recorded this excellent movie from the TV for us. Along with those stationed with us who watched this movie will agree it is one of the best Christmas movies ever produced for television. This will be a gift that will be remembered Christmas after Christmas. Enchanting as she was, Loretta Young brought the character of Mrs. Amanda Kinglsey to life. Her caring not only for her family, but those around her is a movie that will mist the eyes as she rescues a homeless street lady from dying in a county hospital to be rewarded with a private room and flowers to make her feel she was somebody. I can't believe of all the movies that have been re-released this one has not been re-released for DVD. If a vote counts there is one here in addition to my family of 30. This would be the greatest gift any distributor good give the American people to re-release this movie. If you've never seen a miracle at Christmas before, find and watch Christmas Eve. You'll find Christmas is about family and -- make you believe -- it is Christmas!!

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!

I just saw that movie and recorded it on DVD. It is sweet and has a wonderful music by johnny mandel. I personally enjoyed Ron Leibmans appearance, since this one is close to the kaz and co serials, he did in the 70s, which are just nowhere to find. The trombone player in the soundtrack seems to be Dick Nash. He is a master of the so called "sweet style" trombone. His solos fit in here very well. It is a little far fetched, that the detective could really find the grandchildren in different countries, and it's not really well explained, how he did that.But anyway the movie is nice and it is worth seeing it.

This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time and I am very disappointed I cannot find it on DVD. I do have it on video, but it is lacking the fade in and out to drawings at the beginning of a segment and at the end of a segment. Loretta Young is superb as the matriarch who will not stop giving to those that are in need. This includes cats/kittens. Ron Leibman is excellent as the private investigator who will stop at nothing to find her grandchildren. He is as stubborn in locating them as she is determined that they will show up for Christmas. This is a movie recommended for everyone. It will become your favorite too.