Santa's Magic Toy Bag (1983 TV Movie) User Reviews

Santa's Magic Toy Bag

[darrelltheclown · 1 December 2009]

The lead Character's name is Sherman (not Phil).

Sherman had worked in nearly every department before he came to the mail room. After some letters to Santa were almost burned because Sherman had them put in the wrong place, he was asked to leave there too. He got a chance to help work in the kitchen with Mrs. Claus. After that doesn't work out he finally gets to meet Santa who asks him if he is happy here. Sherman says that everything he does seems to go wrong, that he is trying but something seems to be missing. Santa entrusts him with the job of guarding Santa's Magic toy Bag.

Look for some very interesting toys made by Sherman and some other Elves.

He does indeed have a Jack-in-the-box named Danny, whom he talks to.

We still watch this every year.

Anyone who would like to see it is welcome to watch it with our family if you can find your way to Massachusetts.

Favorite lines of ours that comes to mind: "Not the ornament factory, PLEASE, Not the ornament factory!" "I already worked there... for 5 minutes, they said they didn't carry enough insurance" And when helping Mrs. Claus: "Oh Sherman, you don't bake gumdrops." "Does the same go for candy canes?" "You didn't!" DING "They're done!"

It's a shame they don't play this.

[agentmaxsmart · 10/10 · 26 September 2006]

This was one of my favorite Christmas specials of all time. It's about an Elf named Phil, who is a total mess. He just can't do anything right. Santa tries him in a bunch of different occupations, but each time, he just can't seem to get it right. Santa decides to entrust him with guarding his magic bag. But Phil even messes this up & the bag is destroyed. With the bag gone, Phil decides to make a new one. The one he creates looks hideous, but it doesn't matter. Because Phil made the bag with love & with the spirit of Christmas, it becomes a magic bag.

It's obvious Dork has never seen this special, or has it confused with another one. Alf does not appear in this, although Paul Fusco does provide the voice of Santa.

Beloved Holiday Special Finally Coming to DVD!

[vicki-874-97384 · 10/10 · 3 October 2014]

This is a wonderful hidden gem of a Christmas special. I know many fellow Santa's Magic Toy Bag fans always lament over the fact they can't find it anywhere ... or their VHS copies are so worn out from watching it over and over, they sadly can't enjoy it any more. I'm so glad to have just read that it is finally being released on DVD for the first time since it originally aired on Showtime Network in 1983! I would definitely recommend picking up a copy this Holiday season, I know I will! This is a unique chance for families and children to discover them again for the first time. Classic, wholesome, family entertainment at its best!

lack of information here

[rebeljenn · 3 January 2005]

I think I remember this show. It was a Christmas special on the television for ALF. I was only a young kid at the time, and I never did ever watch ALF - I think some of the humor was above my head at that time.

However, one year this Christmas special was on and I have remembered it since. It was a touching story... if I remember right, they rented a cabin in the woods and ALF came up missing and he ends up at the hospital with a couple who are about to give birth? Would like to have more information on it... I'm amazed that there isn't any.

If it's the one that I am thinking of as having watched, it was a good Christmas story. We recorded it and watched it again and again.

Sherman reminds all the elves what Christmas is all about!

[cmhealey2 · 10/10 · 25 January 2012]

This is one of my all time Christmas favorites! I HAD to comment when I read the first review-from Massachusetts! I watch this every year....and keep praying my VCR doesn't eat this great old' show (it's on a tape with several other "Oldies but Goodies"! I wish I could find them on DVD! I highly recommend this wonderful cartoon to everyone! who watches holiday cartoons. This came out back in the 1980's on Showtime and I remember watching it(again!!) while I taped it. Who can forget the jack in the box named Danny that Sherman used to talk to? And the toys that Sherman created-- I STILL wish I could have one or two of them! Bottom Line--They JUST Don't make them the way they used to!

This one was one of my favorites as a kid

[fishman1023 · 10/10 · 9 June 2008]

Actually, this was a movie about an elf that doesn't fit in to any department at Santa's toy factory. Feeling out of place, he is given a special job, caring for Santa's toy bag. He ends up washing the bag and shrinks, so he makes another one for Santa but finds that it doesn't have the magic. Santa grabs the bag and sees that the magic was in the bag all along. Great movie for kids!

It was all done with puppets and used to be one of my favorite Christmas specials. I used to have it on VHS but the tape was so old that a VCR eventually ate it.

I've been looking for a copy of it everywhere but cant seem to find it, so if anyone has seen or knows where I might be able to find it, that would be great!

A childhood favorite

[itsmyspambox · 10/10 · 10 December 2006]

I don't know what the other reviewer's problem is but this movie was a favorite of mine as a child and can't be found anywhere much to my chagrin (except Greenland, apparently). We taped this (on Beta) off of Showtime and watched it every year.

The poor elf is a screw-up whose only friend is a jack-in-the-box named Danny. After messing up in every department at the North Pole, Santa gives him the job of keeping an eye on his "magic toy bag" until Christmas Eve since he can't possibly mess that up. Guess what...

Not really deep, but a sweet little movie I wish I could get on DVD to share with my new baby at the holidays.

One of the best christmas shows I have ever seen

[kimberly_g_48180 · 20 September 2000]

My mom taped this show and we used to watch it all the time, til it accidently got taped over. I would love to see it again, its absolutely wonderful. Paul Fusco did an excellent job, this is a special part of my christmas past and I would like for it to be a part of my daughters christmas memories as well.

One of my favorites

[jerapold · 18 September 2000]

I just fell totally in love with this show. It was so cute. Made with puppets, the producer of Alf, Paul Fusco, created a master piece for the holidays. The really sad thing is I have not seen it in years. I have such good memories of the holidays, that include that show. I would LOVE to see it again.