Unreleased Christmas Specials on DVD.

I'd like to see these come out on DVD...

Christmas Comes to Pac Land

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas

The Smurfs' Christmas Special 

'Tis the Season to Be Smurfy

What about the Emmy-winning 1966 version of Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory starring Geraldine Page?  The last time I saw it on TV was about 20 years ago on a PBS station.  So obviously the special still exists, so why no DVD release while the remake with Patty Duke is readily available?  It makes no sense!!!!  There are dozens of different versions of A Christmas Carol on disc, so why not both TV versions of the Capote short story?

Someone must know!!!!!!

(BTW, I posted about this some years back!)

The remaining R/B specials

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus (1974 animated Emmy-winner)

Muppet Family Christmas (complete version)

I'll Be Home For Christmas (1988 Eva Marie Saint/Hal Holbrook/Courtney Cox film)

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas

You have a very good memory, James- yes, both actors were featured.  In fact, I first watched that special as a kid because Ms. Feldon was in it!

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit with Fred Astaire. Unseen for many years here in the UK (about 1985 last seen I think on tthe BBC).

The TV version from the 1970s of Miracle on 3rth Street.

Would love to see "It Happened One Christmas" with Marlo Thomas.

I actually saw this made-for-TV-movie before I knew that Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" even existed! The last time I saw this was during it's original broadcast back in 1977.

There was also an animated version of "A Christmas Carol" that ran during the 1970s every year that has stuck in my mind but for the life of me I can't remember which version it was.

That was The Gift of Love, based on "The Gift of the Magi".

Good news- it's available on DVD! 

http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Love-Marie-Osmond/dp/B0000C2IQK/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1289765471&sr=1-1

Also, the O. Henry story was part of the all-star O Henry's Full House with Jeanne Crain and Farley Granger as Jim and Della, and that's also on DVD.

Like you, Brett, I had seen the Marlo Thomas version as a kid before the original!  I agree that it should also be on disc.

A short film called "On the Twelfth Day" about what happens when a woman actually gets everything mentioned in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas-by the end her house is overrun with all manner of fowl (partridges, geese, hens), etc. From England,1955, was nominated for an Oscar for short subject. I used to have a VHS that was from a very beat up copy. Very funny as I recall, used to see it as a filler on local TV many, many years ago.

Also "Mr Willowby's Christmas Tree" CBS(?) 1995 from Jim Henson Productions (per IMDB) with Robert Downey, Jr; Leslie Nielsen and Stockard Channing. I loved the book as a kid. Mr. Willowby's tree is too big so they lop off the top and toss it out, it's picked up by one animal after another-each time it's too big, cut down & tossed, everybody get's a tree. Sweet.

I also would like the original "A Christmas Memory" paired with "The Thanksgiving Visitor" sequel, both with Geraldine Page. And the Astaire Santa movie for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett*H 

Would love to see "It Happened One Christmas" with Marlo Thomas.
I actually saw this made-for-TV-movie before I knew that Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" even existed! The last time I saw this was during it's original broadcast back in 1977.

I second this. I would love to have this in my collection this holiday season!

Amahl and the Night Visitors the late 50s early 60s version. I just remember my family watching it at Christmas. Black and White it was.  I have a friend who wants all Captain Kangaroo Christmas shows.  He also wants all the prime time christmas specials he can lay his hands on.  He keeps his eye on Market Place pretty close.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Collins 

Amahl and the Night Visitors the late 50s early 60s version. I just remember my family watching it at Christmas. Black and White it was.  I have a friend who wants all Captain Kangaroo Christmas shows.  He also wants all the prime time christmas specials he can lay his hands on.  He keeps his eye on Market Place pretty close.

From what I read, the 1950's Amahl and the Night Visitors no longer exists.  It was taped over sometime in the 60's.  At least that is the NBC Urban Legend. 
 

The NBC Amahl would be a treasure.  I remember hearing that the 1950s one was destroyed, too, but even though earlier is often better, in this case the early 1960s production would be my preference.  It's one of the great recordings -- always an audiophile favorite, even though an RCA "Dynagroove" LP -- but aside from that, just a purely gorgeous musical performance.

Not much info on IMDB, just a couple of comments, but check out the two trivia notes:

This production was originally presented as one of the first videotaped episodes of "NBC Television Opera Theatre". It was also one of the last episodes of that series. In 1964 and 1965, it was presented on the "Hallmark Hall of Fame".
 

WANT!

OK, then how about a new version for this century?  Maybe someone at NBC (or better yet, PBS) should consider the the idea of a new production.  From what I've heard it was pretty much the first operatic work written specifically for television, and a new high definition color version with multichannel sound would just be the perfect way to keep this early TV effort around for new generations.

"A Smoky Mountain Christmas" with Dolly Parton and Lee Majors, and a Region 1 release of "The Box of Delights".  Those would make my Christmas.

I also would kill for a decent release of Richard Williams' CHRISTMAS CAROL.  I have a DVD made from an old VHS copy to tide me over, but it absolutely screams out for a restored release.  It's one of the creepiest and finest versions of the story I've seen.  I adore it.

I'd also like to have Nelvana's animated special about the aliens.  I can't remember the title.  It's been decades since I've seen it.

James,

Although the original 1951 telecast of Amahl, starring Chet Allen, is not commercially available, the 1955 version, with Bill McIver, was released about three years ago by VAI.  It is a wonderful opera, and considering the age of the footage, it's in very good shape.  There is also a terrific interview with Rosemary Kuhlmann, who played Amahl's mother throughout the 50s until the new production in (I believe) 1963.  An interesting sidenote: with the exception of the boy singer playing Amahl (who changed periodically, due to voice changes), the entire rest of the cast: his Mother, the Three Kings, and the Page - remained the same throughtout the run of that original production.  It was the new production in 63 that earned NBC the eternal wrath of Menotti.

As far as new productions, when I was researching my article on Amahl over at TV Party, I came across some info that the BBC had done a new production in 2002, but it never aired once the producers found out they "did not have, and could not secure, the rights."  What does "could not secure" mean?  According to the Guardian, "The screen rights to Menotti's best-known work, which is often performed in schools, are held by an American company, Schirma, which plans to make its own film of the opera and will not sanction another version."  My guess is that until and unless that comes along, we won't see a new televised version.  A pity, because we could use something with that simplicity and beauty.

Thankyou Mitchell!!!  I still remember my family watching the show.  Thankyou so much for checking that out.  What a great PBS Holiday Special it would make if things were ironed out.   Happy Holidays to you Sir!!!

The Richard Williams Christmas Carol just came out!!!  The dvd is listed under Chuck Jones and talks of the Oscar and Richard Williams. I received an email only moments ago  and I quickly placed my order.  You may purchace the dvd from http://www.monstersinmotion.com  You can also place an order by phone. 714-577-8863  They promise to ship to you before Christmas. 

Thankyou again Mitchell for the Amahl info and Happy Holidays to you and your family.     

Mark,

The same to you and yours as well!  And thanks for the excellent news on A Christmas Carol!

ANDY HARDY FILM MARATHON ON TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES DECEMBER16th thru Decmber 17th starting from last to first of this great film series. 

I know this does not come under unreleased Christmas but it is a gift to me.  I love this series!!!  I saw it reported earlyer in the Forum but thought a reminder might help.  I also received confirmation this week that the Christmas Carol we have all been seeking has been shipped out to me.  

Happy Holidays to All !!!!

The best Christmas movie I've ever seen aired in 1987, called "The Three Kings." It starred Lou Diamond Phillips and Jack Warden, and aired ONCE! on ABC. They never even re-ran it. I would kill to have that one on DVD, especially since I haven't seen it since the original airing.

Let's not forget "The Gathering," which won the 1977 Emmy for Outstanding Special and was nominated for lead actress (Stapleton), directing, writing and art direction.  It has an eye-popping TV star cast -- Edward Asner, Maureen Stapleton, John Randolph, Gregory Harrison, Veronica Hamel, Lawrence Pressman, Stephanie Zimbalist, Edward Winter, Bruce Davison, Gail Strickland, etc. It's been remastered and is on sale for $19.95 from Warner Archive, and comes with the sequel though "Part 2" isn't remastered.