The Man Who Saved Christmas

Just before World War I, A. C. Gilbert (nicely played by Jason Alexander) and his brother are struggling to make a success of their toy business. The store where they are trying to sell erector sets wants to replace them with more popular items. The brothers must show how much fun their erector sets are, and the toys become a big success. The father of the two brothers (a gruff Ed Asner) wishes the sons were doing something worthwhile, especially since A. C. has a medical degree. Eventually, the war gives the brothers a chance to make a real difference. Several government officials, including a pre-polio Franklin Roosevelt, convince A. C. to convert his factory to a munitions plant. He agrees, which pleases his father. The brother gets drafted and eventually is reported missing in action. Later, the government convinces A. C. to lead a movement asking children to give up their toys--and their Christmas. He does so reluctantly. Later, A. C. wonders if he did the right thing. It's a nice story, with the unpleasantness of war (one of his workers loses a son, for example).

A very charming feel-good seasonal tale of a man with strong dreams and expectations. Jason Alexander plays Erector Set inventor, A.C. Gilbert, who is asked by the Government to urge citizens to cancel Christmas during the first world war and buy bonds instead of toys. Gilbert turns his toy manufacturing plant in a war supply plant making gas masks, bomb casings, chemical suits and bayonets among other things. Gilbert has a change of heart and goes with his deepest and long fostered dreams. He goes before the nation's Defense Counsel and gets permission to go back to making his toys. The toy maker still kept manufacturing war supplies, but also turned his own home into a producing center for more Erector Sets. After the war, Gilbert continued manufacturing Erector Sets, Chemistry Sets , Magician Trick Sets, trains and other toys for over forty years.

Alexander is outstanding in this role and light-years away from his obnoxious role on TVs "Seinfeld". Also in the cast are Kelly Rowan, Ari Cohen, Ed Asner and Jake Brockman. Entertaining for all ages.

I stumbled across this movie yesterday on WGN. I really enjoyed watching it. I collect old toys and knew a little bit about the AC Gilbert company. Movie takes place from about 1910ish to Xmas 1918. Alexander was very good in the role--only yelled once in the film. The props were mostly right on. The Dictaphone machine used was incorrect--an authentic Dictaphone from the time didn't use a horn to speak into. Plus they were electric by this time. Also the cylinders are longer than the one used. I also noticed a fan in the factory that was made well after WWI. Another critic noticed AC jr was born in 1919. Otherwise, props were appropriate for the time period. Film moved nicely from beginning of the business through the end. I thought the young FDR was done well. I'd recommend the film both as a Xmas tradition and a history lesson about AC Gilbert. If you ever owned an American Flyer trainset, chemistry set or Erector set, you've been in touched by AC Gilber.

It's Christmas time once again and amid the anti-Christmas media coverage, I happened onto this film. What a pleasant and refreshing surprise! This is a story to warm the hearts of those in my generation who long for the days when everyone said, "Merry Christmas!" and people were proud of their country. The best part of this film is knowing that the film is based on a real person's life: A.C. Gilbert. The Scrooge-type figure of A.C.'s father, played by Asner, is believable and helps make this story enjoyable. Thanks for the memories of the days when Christmas was important, patriotism was shared, and no one thought about political correctness.

What a pleasant surprise this movie was. Those of you used to seeing Jason Alexander as George Costanza will be amzed by the totally different character he plays here. Unlike the selfish neurotic he is known for, Alexander plays Gilbert as a wonderful boss, marketing genius, and CEO with a conscience.

If anything the movie does not go into enough detail about this amazing man. AC Gilbert was a Olympic gold medal pole vaulter (nope I wouldn;t have bought Alexander in any scenes from the Olympics), Harvard cum laude med student as well as a toy maker. The Erector set was considered "The Greatest Toy Ever". It was only the first of many toys that Gilbert invented.

The movie's story is simple but touching. Man invents toy, becomes a success. He is asked to put aside his toymaking to support the war effort. The movie is very fair in presenting this issue. The Gov't types who ask Gilbert to support the war effort did not do it to rob kids of Xmas. The US got into WW1 quite suddenly and was behind the eight ball is producing supplies to support the troops. Asking factories already in production for other goods to reconfigure was teh quickest was to do it. Gilbert is forced to chose between doing what he loves and supporting his country in time of need. He does so with a heavy heart and is equally successful as an arms maker. However, the horrors of war and it's impact on one his staff as well as his own family makes him re-think his decision. How he comes around to the man of the title of the movie probably didn't really happen that way in real life, but it makes for a touching story anyway.

At a time now when many of us are torn between supporting a war overseas as opposed to enjoying the comforts of home, this moview is especially timely. I taped it for my family and it will be a moview we will enjoy during the holidays for years to come.

That God we didn't see Jerry or Kramer as a couple of Gilbert's toy makers...

10 out of 10