The Christmas That Almost Wasn't

Santa has to get a job as Santa to earn money to pay his overdue rent bill.

The usual problems of an Italian film are present here, most notably the bad dubbing. But actually the dubbing could be far worse. And the picture quality is surprisingly good for the era.

One could say the film lacks originally. There are obvious nods to "A Christmas Carol", for example. But it does have its own special appeal. The elves are interesting and their head bookkeeper happens to be a very well-known American actor... how he ended up in this mess is probably a story in itself.

I first saw this film back in 1966 at a Saturday matinée. Years later It popped up on HBO sometime in the early 80's. I have not seen it again until I saw the DVD on sale. Back around the time the film first came out. I was a kid living in New York City. This film holds special memoires for me. Paul Tripp was hosting a children's show called Birthday House at the time. I remember him talking to us kids watching at home about the movie. Sonny Fox was known for hosting Wonderama. Another children's show that aired on Sunday mornings on WNEW channel 5 in the New York area. Sadly this might be the only film record of these two people and the local children's shows that aired in the New York City viewing area during the 1960's.

This Italian film, "Il Natale che quasi non fu" ("The Christmas That Almost Wasn't") isn't a very good movie. However, at least it's not at the bottom with such godawful films as "Magic Christmas Tree", "Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny" or "Santa Claus" (1959)! In its own way, it's not entirely terrible.

The film was made in Italy with mostly Italian actors and was directed by Rossano Brazzi and also stars Brazzi as the villain, Phineas T. Prune. Most of them are dubbed by American actors and they seem to have spoken their lines in English, as their lips are in sync with their voices. But only a few of them really are using their own voices, such as Brazzi and Paul Tripp.

The plot is pretty simple. Mr. Prune hates Christmas and has managed to buy the North Pole. He wants rent from Santa...and if St. Nick cannot pay, he wants all of Santa's toys. Why? Well, Prune hates children and wants to make them miserable. Can Santa and his friend, Mr. Whipple, manage to earn the money needed to keep Prune away and save Christmas? And, can they do this even with Prune and his evil butler doing their best to stop them?

While the film is in color and looks good, the story is strongly hindered by too many songs...and not very good ones at that. The story also isn't particularly good nor enjoyable.

Overall, this is the perfect film to show bad children as punishment for all their misdeeds. For the exceptionally bad kids, I'd recommend instead that they see the films in my first paragraph...those are best shown to especially evil children!

I have wonderful memories of viewing this film. One of the staples of the Christmas season was the weekend matinées of "The Christmas That Almost Wasn't." I remember seeing it with my mother and brothers; I suspect I have the same nostalgia for it that Whittier expressed for his youth in "Snow-Bound." However, we have to be real: after a 35 year absence, I noticed the film in the TV listings and I practically forced my kids to watch it. It was only then I realized with some disappointment how...well...imperfect...the film was. Part of this was due to a rather awful print and the choppy way the station presented it (the startlingly touching finale involving Prune had been butchered out.) It is a part of our youth; it is probably best it remain there. I still love the film and my memories of the time in which it appeared and the big deal we made out of it; sadly, it just doesn't translate today.

For those who love this film, it's now available on DVD, which I just got through watching. I guess I discovered it much too late in life. The review accessible via the "external reviews" link here pretty much sums it up for me. I found Alberto Rabagliati to be a rather drab and depressive, even depressing, Santa, and in 1966 veteran character actor Mischa Auer was as frightening to behold as the Crypt Keeper himself. Also, Paul Tripp's portrayal of the lawyer Mr. Whipple reminded me that I never wanted to see another singing attorney since the cancellation of "Cop Rock."

Oh well, maybe I shouldn't sneer at this film. I did appreciate it as an interesting relic of the 60s, and I can see it's well-loved by people on whom it was imprinted when they were young. After all, that's the very reason I still get misty over "Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol." Merry Christmas!