The House Without a Christmas Tree

Along with "The Homecoming", this is my favorite Christmas television drama. I didn't catch it the when it debuted in December 1972, but my mother gave it a glowing review, and when it was rerun next year I make a point of watching it. Right away, I could appreciate its worth, and it's overall excellence. For the next few years it made an annual appearance during the holiday season, and also was so successful in the ratings that in the following three years, there was a Thanksgiving, Easter and Valentine's Day special. While all were good, this first was the most memorable.Addie Mills (Lisa Lucus) is a ten-year-old girl who lives in the tiny, rural town of Clear River, Nebraska with her widower father James (Jason Robards) and his widowed mother (Mildred Natwick). Addie's mother died of pneumonia a few months after Addie's birth, and James has never gotten over it. This has colored his relationship with Addie, although he loves her, he is distant and withdrawn most of the time. Addie gets most of her affection and nurturing from her warm hearted Grandma. It's the Christmas season 1946, and what Addie wants most in the world for Christmas is something her father has never allowed, their very own Christmas tree. He uses the excuse that since they spend Christmas Day with their other relatives, a tree isn't necessary and would be a waste of money. James is careful with his cash. However Addie is a bright, energetic young lady who is determined to succeed this year. She does, but it causes a family explosion from her infuriated father, that reveals the true reason why James has never allowed a Christmas tree in their home.It's beautifully executed on all levels, and touches the heart, beginning with three stellar performances. This teledrama introduced Lisa Lucas as Addie Mills, and she delivers a flawless performance. The bespectacled, plain-featured Addie is not the run of the mill adorable moppet. She's independent, feisty, outspoken and intelligent. Already she has a clearly defined career goal, to be a famous artist and travel to Paris, and has no thoughts of marriage and motherhood. Ms. Lucas is a natural, she treads a delicate balance, Addie is extremely self confident, and can tend to be sometimes a trifle bossy and outspoken, but in Ms. Lucas nuanced portrayal, you can see the vulnerability, wistfulness and yearning for her father's love. The best compliment I can give is that she more than holds her own with two seasoned, exceptional actors. The dark, haunted eyes of Jason Robards as James Mills shows the private internal grief and lonliness of this morose man who so misses his wife. To his credit, Robards is such a great actor that he can etch sharply this character who at times can be harsh and stern and yet not lose the audience sympathy. The third outstanding performance is the marvelous character actress Mildred Natwick as Grandma Mills, who is the warm, loving, cozy grandmother anyone would be lucky to have. She is the heart and soul of the Mills household smoothing the troubled waters of the Addie/James relationship, and helping explain and try to bring understanding of each to the other. Ms. Natwick is simply wonderful. In smaller roles Alexa Kenin as Addie's best friend Carla Mae, and Kathryn Walker, who briefly was the second Mrs. James Taylor, as their schoolteacher Miss Thompson provide fine support.The story is touching in it's simplicity, the script by Eleanor Perry was an Emmy winner. The drama was videotaped not filmed, and it works to the advantage, the viewer feels as if they are right there an invisible onlooker in the Mills home. Not a lot of dollars were used in the budget, but the love and care are evident from all the participants. The settings and costumes are true to the time and place, a small town in the American heartland in 1946, where the nascent postwar boom and prosperity hasn't hit as yet. There is a nostalgia factor for the feeling of community that seems to be missing these days, all the people in this little town of Clear River all know one another, and care for one another. For example, when Addie and her friends go Christmas shopping for their teacher at the local drugstore, they are short on funds for the perfect present, the pharmacist who knows them all kindly marks the item down so they can afford it.One of the main reasons I like the film is that it touches on one of the true meanings of Christmas, besides celebrating the birth of the Christ Child, it is also a celebration of family and the love we share as members of our families. Although he has trouble expressing it, James does love Addie and it will touch and warm your heart as they come to the realization and understanding of it.The character of Addie Mills as personified by Lisa Lucas in the specials, and as written in the books they were based upon by Gail Rock is a wonderful role model for young girls. She is her own person, not afraid to express her individuality and march to a different drummer. She has a firm resolution to be an artist and live in the city, and though this is scoffed it by her father and others, she isn't swayed. We find out right at the beginning in the prologue narration by the grown Addie that she is an artist and lives in the city, it's encouraging to young females that she realized her dream.There are no extras on the DVD regrettably, but I'm delighted it finally made it to DVD. Three of the four Addie Mills specials made it to VHS, "The House...","The Holiday(Thanksgiving) Treasure", and "The Easter Promise", I have them all and highly recommend them all. I'm hoping the last two will make it to DVD as well, and certainly if you liked these, by all means read Gail Rock's books upon which they were based.

By far my favorite Christmas movie of all time. It's not just the movie but the memories it brings back growing up watching this during the holiday season with my family. Our kids have never been impressed with this movie. In a way that makes it even more special to me and my husband. They just aren't going to get the magic behind this movie and to be honest why should they? This was a part of our childhood and some times we are allowed to have our own treasures.What my husband and I do is wait til they all go to bed on Christmas eve and after setting out all the presents we turn off the lights, have the fire place going and the tree all lit and we cuddle on the couch and watch this along with The Homecoming the Waltons Christmas. It's our moment to embrace our favorite memories of christmas past when we were children growing up in the 70's.I bought a copy for my mother as well and she actually cried when she opened it up and was shocked I'd found it. I can vividly remember watching this along with The Homecoming the very first time they both ran on TV. I was 4 years old and just filled with the magic of Christmas. I can still picture me and my big brother laying on the floor in front of the TV watching this. Thank God for memories like that. My brother is no longer with us but treasured in our hearts and this movie definitely brings a smile and flood of treasured Holiday memories shared with him that death can never take away.To those who didn't grow up in the early 70's and didn't get the chance to experience the first run of this classic I guess I can totally understand the lack of interest or disappointment thinking by the ratings they have found a great movie only to be let down by the production value. There is no way you are ever going to appreciate the raw soap opera like production as actually being an added bonus to it's over all appeal. I can't say enough times for those of us who grew up watching this on TV this movie is pure magic.I actually think it's a shame you missed out when it first ran and only see the lack of all the bells and whistles of a better video quality. I privately think it's an insult to a movie viewer to think you have to have visual perfection or are easily enamored with "effects" so that it's not about the movie it's all the fluff. You really missed out on a time when there was actually excellent quality that didn't cater to fluff. In fact I can think of no TV Christmas Movie that will ever rival this one except The Homecoming and to a lesser extent Marlo Thomas in It Happened One Christmas which is the female version of It's a Wonderful Life. Sadly it is not on DVD currently but when it finally does I'll be the first in line to add it to the tradition of Christmas Movies my DH and I watch on Christmas Eve.Thank you for putting this on DVD. For those who are looking for The Holiday Treasure on DVD ( The Thanksgiving special that came after this one ) you can find it on line at Supersounds under hard to find movies.I'd give The House Without A Christmas Tree 100 stars if I could as it is a part of any 70's childs treasured past. We really are the lucky ones. We saw Rudolph, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, Little Drummer Boy, The House Without A Christmas Tree, and The Homecoming ( The Waltons) the very first time they were put on TV or they were just beginning their classic yearly return. I seriously doubt all the holiday movies they play over and over on the Hallmark Channel or Family Channel that are for this current generation will ever sustain the test of time and be defined as true American TV classics like The House Without a Christmas Tree.

I remember this from my childhood and watch it every year after finding it at my local library. 1946 Nebraska childhood, when times were simpler technology-wise but the human stories remain the same. Addie is a smart and tough little girl who desperately wants a Christmas tree, and her morose widower father's love and attention. Mildred Hardwick is fantastic as the grandmother and the sets and costume are spot-on for a period piece. Add this to your holiday watching for something nostalgic, touching (without being coy or twee), and just a darn good story.

Growing up, House Without a Christmas Tree was always an annual Christmas tradition in our home. Our video copy has long since worn out so I was very happy to receive my DVD copy. The print suffers and is slightly muddled but much better than any download I've viewed. Jason Robards does a really good job acting an understated widowed father who mysteriously does not want a Christmas tree in his house and would rather the festive season just go away. His daughter Maddy is now of age where she begins to question him and also directs her inquisitions to her "quirky" grandmother who has helped raise the motherless young girl.No need to give up more, watch it for yourself and feel your heart with the warmth of this special season!

This one was an absolute favorite for my sister and I and 40 years later, it still holds up.

Story about a Depression Era schoolgirl who longs for a Christmas tree, but, alas her widowed father won't let her have one. A Hallmark special from the early 70s that is sure to move you and remind you what Christmas is all about.

Excellent movie. A sensitive and strong story line that will move the toughest Scrooge.

Jason Robards plays grouchy better than any other actor. Great Christmas movie that should been seen more.