Maureen O'Sullivan is top-billed in this Christmas story but she is simply a featured supporting player in this terrific little tale about troubled teen-aged boys at Christmas. David Saber stars as a slightly slow-witted kid who befriends his somewhat hoodlumish schoolmate Danny Richards Jr. Richards' mother is deceased and he is being raised by his violent father in a dump of an apartment. His only affection comes from an aunt who lives out of state who he constantly calls long distance, earning more of his father's wrath.Maureen is the nun who teaches the boys at the Catholic school they attend and is currently training them for a Midnight mass concert. Danny impulsively steals a lavish cake from a deli/bakery which leads to him having to hide out from the police.
This is a interesting little drama and clearly shows all family television in the 1950's was not locked into Father Knows Best/Donna Reed Show piousness despite legend. The young actors are excellent particularly Danny Richards Jr (best remembered today perhaps for his bit as the fresh bellboy in SOME LIKE IT HOT) but David Saber is terrific, too. Both of these young actors had many credits in the 1950's and early 1960's but appear to have not acted in the last 50 years or so. Miss O'Sullivan is charming in her supporting role and there's added bonus of seeing the wonderful Frances Baiver pre-ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW as Saber's mother. This program is available in the budget DVD set "Holiday TV Classics" (Beverly Hillbillies cover) released by Mill Creek and may be also available from other sources since it's apparently now public domain.
This is a interesting little drama and clearly shows all family television in the 1950's was not locked into Father Knows Best/Donna Reed Show piousness despite legend. The young actors are excellent particularly Danny Richards Jr (best remembered today perhaps for his bit as the fresh bellboy in SOME LIKE IT HOT) but David Saber is terrific, too. Both of these young actors had many credits in the 1950's and early 1960's but appear to have not acted in the last 50 years or so. Miss O'Sullivan is charming in her supporting role and there's added bonus of seeing the wonderful Frances Baiver pre-ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW as Saber's mother. This program is available in the budget DVD set "Holiday TV Classics" (Beverly Hillbillies cover) released by Mill Creek and may be also available from other sources since it's apparently now public domain.
