Widow Mutterance (Katherine Helmond) has a run a candy store for years. She lives in the place's back quarters with her two adopted children, Amy (a tiny Melissa Joan Hart) and Wallace (Kimble Joyner). On the second floor, the building's grumpy owner, Snyder (Sid Caesar) makes his home. The candy sales have been rather poor lately, even though Christmas is very near, which makes Snyder even more touchy. Now he tells the widow that she is going to be evicted at the end of the year and he is turning the downstairs into a laundromat. Goodness! Naturally, Mrs. Mutterance is distraught, for the store is also home to her family. No amount of pleading or begging melts Snyder's heart. However, on the day before Christmas, it snows and Snyder suddenly turns up missing. The kids are happy, for they believe their problems will be solved. But, the widow insists that they go "look for" Snyder around the neighborhood, for he may have injured himself out in the cold and it is the right thing to do. Will they find the old codger? This is a lovely film with heart and good messages for families everywhere. Only 45 minutes in length, it nevertheless packs a punch into every minute. Regrettably, Helmond and Caesar, two great comedians, don't really get to show their comical sides but they are very touching as the film's stars. Hart and Joyner are wonderful as the kids and the other minor cast members do a nice job, too. The setting, costumes, and camera-work are merely average but the strong story and direction make the film a success. If your family, like others, needs a diversion in the days before the holiday actually arrives, this is a good viewing choice for families during the Christmas season.
9 Reviews
A nice, different Christmas story
SimonJack9 January 2017
This is a movie based on a story by Paul Theroux, "London Christmas." An old curmudgeon, Snyder, plans to bounce a long-time tenant of his building out onto the street. Widow Mutterance, Mrs. M, owns a candy shop that has become a neighborhood tradition. The widow has a couple of young children whom she seems to have adopted when their parents died or disappeared. The widow and kids live above the candy shop, as does Mr. Snyder. He wants to put in a coin-operated launderette and he wants the whole upstairs for himself.
This is an independent TV Christmas film that ran on NBC. It's an unusual plot that won an Emmy in 1986. It stars Katherine Helmond as Mrs. M and Sid Caesar as Snyder. The two children have nice roles. Melissa Hart is Amy and Kimble Joyner is Wallace. All the cast are very good. The story has some extra twists and a nice ending.
Katherine Helmond is particularly good. Most will enjoy this as a Christmas film.
This is an independent TV Christmas film that ran on NBC. It's an unusual plot that won an Emmy in 1986. It stars Katherine Helmond as Mrs. M and Sid Caesar as Snyder. The two children have nice roles. Melissa Hart is Amy and Kimble Joyner is Wallace. All the cast are very good. The story has some extra twists and a nice ending.
Katherine Helmond is particularly good. Most will enjoy this as a Christmas film.
A Nice Story
Christmas-Reviewer27 November 2016
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 . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.
When her mean-spirited, old landlord decides to evict a long time candy store tenant because he can make more money at the location if it was a laundry mat.
AS night approaches a freak Christmas Snow Strom comes and changes the lives of everyone in the story.
This is a sweet little movie. It runs only one hour, IT moves swiftly and it is very creative. The children act like "Real Children" and story never drifts into melodrama. What I love most about this film was the fact that acts of kindness does have it own reward.
This is a film I will watch every year. It is family safe and its a perfect film to start off your Christmas Season.
Well Worth a Purchase
When her mean-spirited, old landlord decides to evict a long time candy store tenant because he can make more money at the location if it was a laundry mat.
AS night approaches a freak Christmas Snow Strom comes and changes the lives of everyone in the story.
This is a sweet little movie. It runs only one hour, IT moves swiftly and it is very creative. The children act like "Real Children" and story never drifts into melodrama. What I love most about this film was the fact that acts of kindness does have it own reward.
This is a film I will watch every year. It is family safe and its a perfect film to start off your Christmas Season.
Well Worth a Purchase
Nice Story
stantonheckjr2 June 2017
The makers of this film wisely decided to make this a short film rather than stretching out this out into a 2 hour time slot. We we have is a story that moves at a quick pace and you never are bored.
In this film television icon Katherine Helmond co stars with another icon Sid Caesar. Katherine plays Widow Mutterance a candy store owner in the 1940's. She is being evicted because the landlord (Sid Caesar) wants her out so he can turn the space into a laundry mat. By doing this he can make more money.
Later on the landlord ends up "Missing". There is a freak Snowstorm that is happening and the only person willing to look for him is the Widow Mutterance.
This is a well made film. The message here is "Kindness has rewards"
In this film television icon Katherine Helmond co stars with another icon Sid Caesar. Katherine plays Widow Mutterance a candy store owner in the 1940's. She is being evicted because the landlord (Sid Caesar) wants her out so he can turn the space into a laundry mat. By doing this he can make more money.
Later on the landlord ends up "Missing". There is a freak Snowstorm that is happening and the only person willing to look for him is the Widow Mutterance.
This is a well made film. The message here is "Kindness has rewards"
Great
lindalopeza16 July 2017
I never herd of this movie! I saw the IMDb score and I had to watch this to see what the fuss is all about. Well after I watched it I understand the fuss. Set during the 1940's this is a story about how money is not everything and love and kindness is. Also miracles are all around us and, we need to open our eyes more in order to see them.
In this film a woman has small children. She is a widow who runs a candy store. She just found her landlord is tossing her because he can make more money if he put it a laundry mat.
When a freak snowstorm hits she finds out the landlord is now missing and is somewhere outside and decides to find him herself when nobody else will help.
In this film a woman has small children. She is a widow who runs a candy store. She just found her landlord is tossing her because he can make more money if he put it a laundry mat.
When a freak snowstorm hits she finds out the landlord is now missing and is somewhere outside and decides to find him herself when nobody else will help.
Warm story of the rewards of a positive spirit and turning the other cheek
ktbarton38 August 2005
This very heartwarming story involves a widow who's family through several generations have owned and operated a little candy store/factory in a small picturesque town. The widow(Katherine Helmond) has 2 children, one adopted from a deceased employee. Enter Scrooge-like Mr Snyder (Caesar) who decides he needs more revenue and plans to make big changes. Refusing to believe anything could happen to her beloved Candy shop, the widow continues with her busiest of all seasons.
The snow scenes in the quaint little town and candy shop are a balm to the spirit. The excellent performance as the crotchety,cranky Mr Snyder combined with the ever cheerful positive thinking widow (Helmond) make this a great addition to anyones Christmas collection.
The snow scenes in the quaint little town and candy shop are a balm to the spirit. The excellent performance as the crotchety,cranky Mr Snyder combined with the ever cheerful positive thinking widow (Helmond) make this a great addition to anyones Christmas collection.
A Short film with a big reach
lvstan15 August 2017
This Christmas film is an excellent film. It might not be for everyone but it is a film everyone should see.
What this film is about is a Mrs Mutterance. A woman who has ran a candy store out of the same location for years. The landlord however decides to evict her because he can make more money if her location if it were a laundry mat. So she has to move. Not only does she have to move her business she has to move her home! Her home is a little place on top of the business. Then something happens a freak snow storm happens and the landlord goes missing on Christmas Eve nobody wants to find him! After all he is not exactly a nice man,
The blizzard gets worse and the lard lord remain missing ! So Mrs. Mutterance and her children set out to search for him. Upon his rescue, he has a new view on life. Katherine Helmond, Kimble Joyner, Melissa Joan Hart, and Sid Caesar star.
This is a film that put the value not on money but your self worth. Not to be missed!
What this film is about is a Mrs Mutterance. A woman who has ran a candy store out of the same location for years. The landlord however decides to evict her because he can make more money if her location if it were a laundry mat. So she has to move. Not only does she have to move her business she has to move her home! Her home is a little place on top of the business. Then something happens a freak snow storm happens and the landlord goes missing on Christmas Eve nobody wants to find him! After all he is not exactly a nice man,
The blizzard gets worse and the lard lord remain missing ! So Mrs. Mutterance and her children set out to search for him. Upon his rescue, he has a new view on life. Katherine Helmond, Kimble Joyner, Melissa Joan Hart, and Sid Caesar star.
This is a film that put the value not on money but your self worth. Not to be missed!
Nice Story
Christmas-Movie-Lover-19927 February 2018
When her mean-spirited, old landlord goes missing during a blizzard on Christmas Eve, Mrs. Mutterance and her children set out to search for him when nobody else will. What is shocking is the woman that sets out to find him is about to be thrown out of her home and business by the same man she sets out to find. Katherine Helmond, Kimble Joyner, Melissa Joan Hart, and Sid Caesar star.
This film is not perfect but it as overall wonderful feeling about it. I love the lesson it has "Between The Lines". The message is "Just because someone is mean and rude to you does not give you an excuse to act the same".
Watch with your family!
This film is not perfect but it as overall wonderful feeling about it. I love the lesson it has "Between The Lines". The message is "Just because someone is mean and rude to you does not give you an excuse to act the same".
Watch with your family!
It's always good to do the correct thing
alexpaulson-139249 February 2018
On Christmas Eve Mrs. Mutterance (a candy store owner) finds out her Scrooge like landlord will be evicting her because he can make more money if her store was turned into a laundromat. On the same day a freak snow storm hits town.
Later that night Mrs. Mutterance finds out her landlord is missing and she is the only person that is willing to go out and find him and this cold Winters night.
This film is less than one hour. Its very enjoyable. Like someone else stated "No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed".
A true winner here
Later that night Mrs. Mutterance finds out her landlord is missing and she is the only person that is willing to go out and find him and this cold Winters night.
This film is less than one hour. Its very enjoyable. Like someone else stated "No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed".
A true winner here
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