A Christmas Without Snow

I saw this movie when it first premiered, and missed it ever since. I only recently found it on a DVD, packaged with a collection of other Xmas specials. It was wonderful seeing it again, despite the fact that no attempt was made to restore the now seriously degraded film before digital transfer.

I remember two great TV Christmas films from my childhood and youth. One was The Gathering, which starred Ed Asner. The other was A Christmas without Snow. Both movies captured the spirit of Christmas from a time when the season was about faith, community and family, and reflection, rather than shopping, decorating and gluttony.

A Christmas without Snow is a charming film about the true meaning of Christmas, and the fact that keeping that meaning is rarely easy, but always rewarding. And the reward is, or should be, a sense of quiet satisfaction and contentment.

This is one of those TV movies that builds quietly and steadily to an emotional finish. Michael Learned plays a recently divorced woman who moves to another city with her slightly rebellious teenager. She has to build her life again among strangers, and she begins by joining a local church and their choir. The choirmaster, played with real spleen by John Houseman, is a perfectionist and they clash right from the start. Learned has many other pressures in her life, not the least of which is an ex-husband trying to gain favor with his son, and she begins to feel that the choirmaster is more an enemy than a friend. Just when she's ready to quit the choir, several things happen that reaffirm her faith in God and in herself, and she stays.

This isn't shown anymore, and is difficult to find. But it's worth a look if you run across it, and it's perfect for the Christmas season.

Trials and tribulations of the various members of a not-so-hot San Francisco church choir while preparing their snowless California Christmas concert of Handel's "Messiah". Revolving around a divorcee (Michael Learned) newly arrived from Omaha, where, Christmas come, it snows. Distinguished cast of veteran, largely stage, actors, portraying distinct characters with distinction, in a somewhat- less-sappy-than-Hallmarkesque heart-tugger, presided over by the inimitable John Houseman in a superb signature performance. An appreciation of choral music highly recommended for fullest viewing enjoyment.

As the title suggests, not just a run-of-the-mill holiday movie.

Thus Made for TV-movie is in public domain. That means anybody can release this film on DVD or broadcast it for free. So I am hoping that someone will release a decent looking DVD. If someone did they might make a small fortune,

In this film there is several stories going on and they all revolve around a church in San Francisco.

There is one story of a woman who is new to the area and recently single.

Another story is about a tough task master of choir director.

There is more but in general the whole film could of ended a little sooner. The song at the end felt an EXTENDED scene you would find as an extra on a DVD. I think this scene was extended out to fill out a running time.

The nicest thing about this film was it one of the few movies out there that entire cast is over 30.

If you find a decent looking DVD let me know. I might enjoy it more if I had a clear copy of the film

This seemingly forgotten telefilm is far and away better that the current crop of yuletide dreck being offered by the likes of the Hallmark Channel and various others. A Christmas Without Snow offers a great cast, intelligent writing, and characters we care about. As other reviews have stated, Michael Learned plays a divorcée starting over in San Francisco who, in an attempt to find some stability, joins a church choir which is about to attempt an ambitious mounting of Handel's Messiah. John Houseman is the no-nonsense director who demands perfection from his choir. As the choir progresses toward its performance of the musical masterpiece, we gain insight into the lives and personalities of various members. What other reviewers have missed is the sense of community among the diverse parishioners/choir members, something that reflects positively on the traditional Christian church. In almost vignette-type fashion, we get to know these people, their loves, hopes, hurts, and see them rally together to tackle the Messiah and also the various problems they encounter as a church and as individuals. There are no quick fixes, no tidy happy endings. Yet these people have each other and the satisfaction of working hard at their endeavors. There's support, there's love, and there's a lot that is healthy and thriving and growing. Intelligent and life-affirming without being syrupy. Recommended.