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Parents' Guide to

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't

By Tracy Moore, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Maudlin tone and overly long, but some lessons in kindness.

Movie G 1966 89 minutes
The Christmas That Almost Wasn't Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T, Santa has a new landlord at the North Pole, a one Phineas Prune, and he's raising the rent and demanding back payment or else. Without payment, Prune will take all the toys the children are anxiously awaiting, a tactic that just so happens to accomplish his evil dream of ending Christmas once and for all. It's up to Santa to find his way out of this -- will he be forced to take a job masquerading as himself? Can his old friend, the attorney Sam Whipple, help? And will they ever get to the bottom of what makes Phineas Prune hate Christmas?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

This 1966 Christmas tale has a few things going for it: wonderful sets, an excellent cast, and a heart of gold. But it's also a bit of a downer, and the gothic set, cobwebs, and funeral wallpaper as well as the heavy themes of disenchanted, bitter grownups could be alienating for younger kids. What's more, the plot largely hinges on this tricky back-payment-of-rent issue, which may be hard to explain to a 4-year-old.

That said, kids who like the creepier side of things may enjoy this old, maudlin tale, and the lessons here -- about compassion and warmth and kindness (and the legalities of back rent!), even in the face of capitalist greed and longstanding bitterness -- are worthy ones for any age.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about compassion. What does compassion mean in this film? How is it used? How is it absent? What happens when people are compassionate?

  • Santa feels bad about asking others for help, but he discovers the good things that come from relying on people. Have you ever had to ask for help when you didn't want to? What happened?

  • What would Christmas be like without any gifts? Is it possible to enjoy the holiday without getting any toys or presents? What might you do instead?

Movie Details

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