A String of Blue Beads

As a Jewish man I find it impossible to escape from all the Christmas movies. I am glad I can't because some of these films are very good. I like the films that are about having "Faith" and "Bringing Family Together".

This film is an old television show that my Grandson put on for us to watch. He loves the "Wizard Of Oz" and this special had that old witch herself Margaret Hamilton.

This very simple movie is how a string of blue beads change the lives of people that want them or possesses them.

Trust me it is very good!

A STRING OF BLUE BEADS is a slight little Christmas tale that was a pilot for an anthology series of short stories that never came to be. What makes this little film fascinating is it was one of the earliest color broadcasts on television and happily is one of the few early color productions for TV that can be seen in color now. Early color television productions seem to have had a limited color capability much like the early 1930's attempts at Technicolor. This actually adds to the charm of this little Christmas story giving in an "old time" feel.

Louis Jourdan stars as an antique shop owner who grieves for years over his fiancée. The "blue beads" in the title are a string of old beads he had priced high because he didn't want to sell them, wanting to give them to his girl as a gift. Beloved character actress Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz) has a very large role in this production as the compassionate shop cleaner who urges him to give life another chance.

This little 27 minute drama can be found on a number of low-cost DVD Christmas sets, the one I have Christmas CLASSICS VOL. 1 which pictures Betty White on the cover (the 90-minute disc has three 1950's half hour shows including a Christmas episode of White's sitcom A DATE WITH THE ANGELS, and a CROSSROADS episode "Our First Christmas Tree" starring Don Taylor.)

Louis Jourdan plays Peter, a man who owns a little shop and is desperately in love. In his shop he has a string of blue beads and instead of trying to sell them, he tells his customers a very high price. Why? Because she loves them and if he cannot sell them, she'll get them...and he'd rather do that. But into this seemingly sweet life comes tragedy when the lady is killed in a fire! Years pass and Peter is morose and miserable...and he still is holding on to that sting of blue beads. By the end, he's finally gotten rid of them...but how? And, to who did he sell these highly sentimental beads?

This is the first in a proposed anthology series that was never made. The show was made in color...rather unusual for its time. How good the series might have been...who's to know. I liked this show though it's a bit old fashioned and schmaltzy...so it's definitely not for everyone.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.

In this film it is Christmas Eve. A shop keeper has a special necklace of beads. When a customer offer to buy them she bulks at the price. She decides to pass. The shop keeper in reality is giving the necklace to his beloved.

To give away more of the story would give too much away. However keep in mind that it runs for 30 minutes.

I need to advice you that there is puppets at the beginning of this and you need to pay close attention to when they pop on.

This special is well made and is suitable for all ages. If you come across give it a try.

And I thought it was way too low. This is a great Christmas television program. Of you have never seen this film your lucky. What this is about A young man is crushed when he learns of the death of his girlfriend in a fire on Christmas Eve. He wallows in self-pity until a young girl reminds him of the true meaning of Christmas.

This is one of those things you don't want to give too much away but if you need a little "Christmas fix" or "Christmas Joy" then watch this. The story is very simple but sometimes those are the best stories. Most people might not like this because its not a "BATMAN" movie but it is nice CGI FREE program. Don't Miss it