MovieChat Forums > One Magic Christmas (1985) Discussion > Two things I did not really understand.....

Two things I did not really understand...(beware spoilers)

posted 16 years ago by ncoleystowecroft
8 replies | jump to latest

I'm British and therefore I might not quite appreciate the cultural differences between the USA and the UK, but there are a couple of things that puzzle me each time I watch this film.

Firstly: it would appear that the huband's grandfather lives alone in a pretty big house which would seem to suggest that he is quite well off. Why doesn't he help his grandson's struggling family more in financial terms?

Secondly: after Ginny's husband has been killed and her children have been abducted she is allowed to go home on her own without any support from her extended family or support services or the police. I'm sure that this wouldn't happen in Britain - would it happen like that in the States?

I know that it's only a film but these things bother me despite the fact that I enjoy it overall and watch it each year at Christmastime along with other Christmas movies. Am I being too pernickety?

Happy Christmas to all IMDB fans!

[–] christremere 16 years ago

I think the Grandfather's house is more of an old farm house, that was probably in the family for a couple generations, and I believe the grandfather was with Ginny, as he came yelling when the kids got home.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] christremere 16 years ago

I took it as if Ginny was in shock. She broke down on the road, right after her car broke down.

I think it's an American movie, filmed in Canada. It was Disney, but a lot of films are actually taped up here.

[–] texgal43 15 years ago

I am watching this movie for the second time and each time I wonder the exact same thing. The grandfather seems a lot more well off than the poor grandson. I wondered too why he did not help his grandson. But then it was a movie so I guess they decided to make the great grandfather's house an old family farmhouse but it was nice.

[–] mattbg 15 years ago

At the end of the movie, weren't they living with the great grandfather? The part with them being kicked out of the company house did happen and, if not at GG's house, whose house were they in when they heard Santa on the roof at the end?

Also, there is such a thing as "house rich, cash poor". Having a big house doesn't mean you have lots of money, especially if on a pension. Maybe you can carry the property taxes and that's enough... in that case, the answer is to sell your house that you might have lived in most of your life and be very comfortable in and downsize in order to give cash to your grandson. I hope there aren't many grandsons that would allow that to happen.

[–] bimchim 9 years ago

Are they over at the great grandfather's house for Christmas Eve? Earlier in the film Mr Crump said that they had to be out by 1 January so chances are they still living in their own home? But with regards to the money Jack needs for the shop, you would think that the great grandfather would be able to help them out with that even if it was just a loan, as it's quite a small sum.

[–] druhanp 15 years ago

Good questions. I think the director just didn't want the story to get bogged down in the details. After the tragedy the father and neighbors are available, but not necessarily always in the scene. Also, this is 1985 and is actually a Canadian movie (more self-reliant). I think part of the reason you don't see people gathering around is to emphasize Ginny's isolation and loneliness

[–] 15 years ago

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