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La Mission secrète du père Noël

Original title: It Nearly Wasn't Christmas
  • TV Movie
  • 1989
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
263
YOUR RATING
La Mission secrète du père Noël (1989)
AdventureComedy

Feeling unneeded, a disillusioned Santa Claus (Charles Durning) quits Christmas. Through the selflessness of a little girl looking to reunite her parents for Christmas (and the help of his b... Read allFeeling unneeded, a disillusioned Santa Claus (Charles Durning) quits Christmas. Through the selflessness of a little girl looking to reunite her parents for Christmas (and the help of his bumbling chief elf, Philpot (Bruce Vilanch), Santa and the child travel across America and ... Read allFeeling unneeded, a disillusioned Santa Claus (Charles Durning) quits Christmas. Through the selflessness of a little girl looking to reunite her parents for Christmas (and the help of his bumbling chief elf, Philpot (Bruce Vilanch), Santa and the child travel across America and Santa discovers that people really do need him and care about other people.

  • Director
    • Burt Brinckerhoff
  • Writers
    • Stanley Isaacs
    • Golda David
    • Alan Jay Glueckman
  • Stars
    • Beverly Rowland
    • Charles Durning
    • Risa Schiffman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    263
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Burt Brinckerhoff
    • Writers
      • Stanley Isaacs
      • Golda David
      • Alan Jay Glueckman
    • Stars
      • Beverly Rowland
      • Charles Durning
      • Risa Schiffman
    • 16User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

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    Top cast40

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    Beverly Rowland
    • Mrs. Claus
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Santa
    Risa Schiffman
    • Jennifer Baxter
    Annette Marin
    • Laura Baxter
    Wayne Osmond
    • Jeff Baxter
    Tip Boxell
    • Jeff's Boss
    M.J. Bench
    • Stubby
    Dottie Bench
    • Roly Poly
    Debbie Christensen
    • Muffin
    Kenneth Kunz
    • Trouper
    Bruce Vilanch
    Bruce Vilanch
    • Philpot
    Star Herrmann
    • Mother
    • (as Star Roman)
    Brett Webb
    • Son
    Gary Barnes
    • Father
    Paul Grace
    • Mugger
    Alan Nash
    • Ticket Clerk
    Jason Ball
    • Bus Driver
    John Daryl
    • Cop - Chicago
    • Director
      • Burt Brinckerhoff
    • Writers
      • Stanley Isaacs
      • Golda David
      • Alan Jay Glueckman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    5.8263
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    Featured reviews

    10dos16686

    great family show

    all i can say is there was no sex , no murders, no blood , no violence, so if you this is the stuff that you want to see, this show is not for you, sorry about that. but it was a great show for families with young children , and i hope to see it every year so my grand children can see it . thank you for this show. i loved Waynes song and feel it falls in the traditions of the Osmonds Brothers and Christmas, clean and beautiful. the story gives the feelings of hope kindness and love. i liked all the characters and the plot was also very good. you cant please everyone and some would like a character like Freddy from Friday the thirteenth. you cant make everyone like the same thing, but please don't put this movie on the shelf lots of people are waiting to see it again.
    10twisted_ktea

    Love it

    This movie reminds me of my childhood, when it was played on television every year at Christmas time. My sister, brother and I used to get so excited, yelling and screaming every time we knew it was coming on TV. Although it may not have any mention of religion (not ALL of us are religious) it is a very cute tale that brings warm happy memories to mind. I don't understand why they stopped playing it every year, as far as I'm concerned it's just as important as the Grinch movie. What can I say, I am a sucker for Christmas movies... I just wish I could find it on DVD!! Anyone know where to find it? Looked everywhere but this movie cannot be found!?!?!
    johnclones

    Very poignant

    I saw this movie in 91 and again in 2003. I liked it. It is very poignant. The themese are the innocence of children and that there is good in the world. I remember Merle Osmand form the Osmand Brothers when I was a child. i didn't know that he was in to acting. We always hear about Donny and Merie. The acting is good. Some of the actors are famous and some are not. It is a good story about Santa Clause. There are other movies which Santa looses hope. Personally, I think that Chrismas is a special time of year and people sometimes get discouraged with all of they hype. Rent this one you will like it!
    9auntsis59

    I think this movie is great, and it should be released on DVD

    Sorry to disagree with you, but I highly enjoyed this movie and have been waiting patiently for it to be released onto DVD. I thought it was a good movie, and I saw it several times on TV, before they stopped showing it. I think Charles Durning is very believable as Santa, and that Bruce Vilanch as Philpot is genius. I also think Wayne Osmond as the father is very believable too. As Santa Claus is all about things that could never happen, a movie about the fantasy of Christmas is very appropriate. It's not about Jesus, therefore, anything goes. I think this deserves to be just as highly thought of as The Santa Clause, and sequels, in that vein. And children probably loved the movie too. So to the powers that be that can say this movie can go to DVD, please do so. :)
    10susieq-2

    How can we get this?

    There is something that I don't understand why such a wonderful movie was never released on VHS or on DVD. I have not met a person who has seen it that didn't love it and want to buy it. Even today the demand is great for it. No one knows who to ask though. I remember that for a while they use to show it every year so I didn't bother to tape it when I had the chance. Big mistake for me. I think that with the garbage they are coming out now with. that it nearly wasn't Christmas would be a breath of fresh air. can anyone help us? Thank you, from all of It nearly wasn't Christmas fans every where and we are many. I assure you.If you know of any company or any one person we can contact to show our interest it would be greatly appreciated. This generation would love this story and we need to see good quality programming especially in these trying times. So, please, please if you can help us, please let us know. Thank you.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The shopping mall where Wayne Osmond's character performs is actually in Utah.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 11, 1990 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • It Nearly Wasn't Christmas
    • Filming locations
      • Utah, USA
    • Production company
      • Osmond Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    La Mission secrète du père Noël (1989)
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