The Littlest Angel

This show really sent shivers up and down my spine. I remember seeing this as a child, and it just left such an impression on me. The part when he went fell off the cliff and went to heaven was just wonderful. When he went to return to his house to get a gift for God, played by E.G.Marshall, and his mom was crying and couldn't see him right there was just sad. The end of the show where his gift was the most special gift of all will always stay with me. It also taught me the value of a gift when it comes from the heart. I really want to see it again. I know its on video tape somewhere.

Its a Christmas treat! I hope people will show this show their kids. I think it should go down as a holiday classic.

Like newscat, I was so taken by this film as a small child, that I asked my Dad to make me a wooden box for my treasures.

I found it to be such a moving story;the angel's giving his most treasured possessions to Jesus made a deep impression.

I don't think he knew why I wanted it, but I'm 43 and still have it.

After many years, I'm hoping to find a copy so I can see it again. and to share it with my husband who would be seeing it for the first time.

Yes, I'm sure the production values aren't up to today's standards and that it may look really cheesy. But I'm looking forward to seeing it to relive happy childhood memories.

This is a beautiful story of a little boy who has a fatal fall and goes to Heaven. His guardian angel is Patience (played by Fred Gwynne). Michael (Johnny Whitaker) refuses to acknowledge that he is now an angel, and wants to go home. Even after flying lessons, he wants to go home to get his treasure box, and Patience allows him to do so. He arrives back in Heaven just in time for the birth of Christ, and decides to give the Holy Child his treasure box.

By today's standards, the special effects are somewhat "hokey" and very stage-like. I was surprised at the singing talents of some who were in it. Johnny sings like the young boy that he was at the time. Fred Gwynne sings pleasantly and on key, and Tony Randall later went on to make a career on the musical stage (playing Applegate in "Damn Yankees" in several productions, for instance). Cab Calloway delighted me, as did several other lesser known singers. The songs are less than memorable, but at least they were sung well.

This show is now out on DVD. I was able to purchase mine at the Hollywood Collectors and Celebrities Show, but I'm told its available other places. There are no special features with the DVD.

We may be able to petition Hallmark Channel, which still owns the rights to their Hallmark Hall of Fame Special, to run this show at Christmastime.

Donna

This film brings back a lot of great Christmas memories. Yes, the special effects are dated and the costumes a bit cheesy (it's from the 60's, for Pete's sake, give it a rest!). However, the music is actually good and is still worth listening to (anyone who thinks the music is sappy, perky, etc. probably didn't particularly like any of it in the first place).

I also think it would be great if this particular film could be redone with better special effects/costumes/etc. However, I wouldn't change the music (arrangements) as it really fits the overall mood and message.

I have to admit that looking at it again in later years (I've had a copy of the VHS tape for a long time) there are a few elements about the film that were rather morbid (like the child visiting his parents after his death to get his box and they had no idea that he had actually died).

I suppose everyone has their own take on the film. For me, the overall message and appeal is still there and has made it a Christmas staple for me; it's one of the elements that gets me "in the Christmas spirit". Time seems to go backward and, for a little while, I can remember what it was like to be a child.

For me, "The Littlest Angel" will always be a classic.

I saw it for the first time as a kid in the 1990's at Catholic school, with little knowledge of 1960's television or that it was from that far back, and found it kind of enjoyable, although I felt bad for the kid dying and missing his home. (And I blinked and missed that he fell off a cliff, and thought he had died of exhaustion from climbing the mountain trying to catch the bird). I rewatch it as an adult recently (knowing more about 60's television), and am like, this movie was that old? The angel boy was the kid from 'Family Affair'? The guardian angel was Herman Munster? Also, I'm re-seeing the trippy 60's effects, which went over my head as a kid, and while I didn't see their names anywhere in the credits, if someone told me Sid and Marty Krofft had a hand in production, I would believe them. Overall not a bad movie, with 60's stars.