Hailed as a "rewarding gift" and "an unexpected pleasure," One Christmas is a timeless holiday treasure based on Truman Capote's bittersweet tale of a young boy's adventures with the father he's never known. It's a classic... more » family story featuring acclaimed performances from an award-winning cast including the legendary Katharine Hepburn, Henry Winkler, Swoosie Kurtz and Julie Harris. It's Christmas 1930, and 8-year-old Buddy (T.J. Lowther) finds himself in New Orleans spending the holidays with his estranged father (Winkler). Leaving behind his Aunt Sook (Harris) and the peaceful Alabama country life, Buddy now endures a conniving, hard-living, deceitful, con man of a dad who seems to care more about fast buck scams than earning his son's affection. With Buddy looking for a relationship with his dad, and his dad looking for something real in a life of lies, the greatest thing they realize is that they have each other. It's a gift that comes just in time for one unforgettable Christmas. Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Henry Winkler, Swoosie Kurtz, Julie Harris.« less
Dubai MovieGuy | Houston, TX United States | 11/07/2002
(2 out of 5 stars)
"We love Christmas movies but this was probably our biggest disappointment thus far. Expectations were high with the quality of the stars (Hepburn, Winkler) and the writer, but the quality scenes were just too few and far between. I suspect that people who liked the movie loved the book where the characters were presumably better developed and more likeable. Not having read the book, I found that I just didn't like the people on the screen and by the time they finally get into the spirit of Christmas, I just didn't care! Take a pass on this one."
Average DVD add-ons, magical cast
J. N. Valente | Evora, Portugal | 03/01/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From a truly wonderful bittersweet story by Truman Capote (as has been said) comes an adequate adaptation with an all-star cast. Katharine Hepburm seems to be the central character and even if her acting may seem full of mannerisms to some, by now that is neither here nor there. Julie Harris and Henry Winkler rise above many past ill-choices, and the whole cast superbly gives life to what may come through as a Christmas cliché but is just that extra bit more that has us glued to the screen.
On my part, kudos to Katharine, Swoozie and Julie!"
"Reality Christmas"
Mark Ebert | Lancaster OH | 12/18/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
""One Christmas" was a film I happened upon some years ago. I did not know that it had been a story or a play, etc. I viewed it because I was familiar with the talents of the late Kathrine Hepburn and the talented Henry Winkler. The story is not typical Christmas fare, but it is more real than many of the idylic Christmas movies. It is a tribute to the truth that many people struggle 365 days a year--their imperfections not taking a holiday.Anyone who enjoys the talents of Winkler/Hepburn will enjoy this film; it is not stellar, not is not neccesarily their best performance, but it is a nice piece of "reality Christmas", if you will."
Teacher
Dubai MovieGuy | 12/21/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a well done version of the Truman Capote story by the same name. As always, the actual story is better, but Henry Winkler comes aross well as a gigolo trying to be dad for Christmas. You can view it with your kids, or use in in school to follow the reading of the story."
Bitter sweet...
myfriendscallmejen | London, Ohio | 08/01/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think this movie was heart wrenching just because I think the child wanted so badly to be with his mom and dad but unfortunately it just couldn't be that way. I can't give the end of the film away but I'll tell you it is very bitter sweet. A nice clean family movie, worth buying, worth watching."