Minor reverie based on Truman Capote's short story about a trip he made as a youngster to meet the father who to that point was a stranger to him. What he finds is hardly the stuff of fairy tales. His father is a shyster living a flashy front but hollow beneath. On top of that he's a selfish, thoughtless, sometimes cruel man who has no idea how to relate to his lost needy little boy.The biggest deficit the film has is Henry Winkler in the lead. He's just not believable as a film-flam man who has the women of the town falling at his feet and pushing money in his pockets. He doesn't give a bad performance but he doesn't fit the part in the least. Then there's T.J. Lowther who plays the young protagonist, he has big mournful eyes and a quiet manner but he doesn't register enough on screen to keep the viewer interested in his plight.Fortunately the cast does include Swoosie Kurtz who makes anything she's in better as she does here and in a small role Julie Harris who does a great deal with her few minutes on screen. She's actually more memorable in her tiny bit that either father or son throughout the entire movie. The film has a lovely spic and span look, too clean to actually be real places but nice to look at nonetheless. This Hallmark holiday special marks the end of Katharine Hepburn's career. Playing Swoosie's rich aunt she is required to do little more than to grumble and grouse until loosening up a bit towards the end. By this time her palsy was severe enough to be ever present and impeded any real characterization but her star power is still there no matter how frail she is. It's certainly a more dignified exit from the stage than many of her contemporaries were able to manage. A respectable rendering of Capote's story, nothing magical but worth catching once to see a legend take her final bow.

Truman Capote's story rises above some mediocre acting. I love his writing so I watched this. I didn't enjoy it as much as his Thanksgiving story, but it had its moments.I felt Winkler was badly cast. He seems like a New Yorker among Southerners, not sure if this was on purpose. Katherine Hepburn is fine despite her failing health.The boy was not a brat, as some reviewers have said. He is a troubled boy who Misses his mother and wants to know where she is. Sadly, his father does not tell him the truth, and this causes him to wish to be back with his aunt. Julie Harris is wonderful as his aunt. All in all, it's worth watching if you can overlook some of the performances.

This is the story of Buddy (T.J. Lowther), an 8-year old boy who leaves Alabama to go live with his father (Henry Winkler) in New Orleans, and has a terrible time while he is there.So, we have Katharine Hepburn in her final performance (and looking like she could die at any moment) and a brief appearance from the almost-as-legendary Julie Harris... seems like this should be a classic of some sort, but it never quite makes it.I want to give credit to Henry Winkler. While he may not be known as a serious actor (he is stuck being branded as the Fonz), he went all out here. He had a wide range from loving father, to con man, to angry and misunderstood outsider. Is he ever truly likable? Maybe not, but that just means Winkler nailed the role, I think.Some reviewers have said that they could not get into the film because Buddy was a whiny brat, and I think there is some truth to that. While his father seems to be at the heart of the story (and we wonder if he can change), the narrative follows Buddy. And, frankly, he really is not that great of a character. We can feel bad for him to a point because his mother is gone (either in New York or in a sanitarium, depending on whom you believe) and his father is a scam artist. But he seems demanding and ungrateful too often, and how can we love that?

One Christmas was an autobiographical short story written by Truman Capote. Buddy, in the story, is Capote. Capote's father was actually a scam artist who spent time in prison. This story along with "A Christmas Memory" and "The Thanksgiving Visitor" make a wonderful trilogy. This movie doesn't do justice to Capote's beautiful, bittersweet prose, but might be worth seeing if you are a big fan of Capote (like I am) or of Katherine Hepburn, as this was one of her last appearances. Also, the wonderful Julie Harris plays Sook, who is the heart and soul of the movie (and the stories mentioned above.) However, if you are looking for a "happy, happy, joy, joy" Christmas movie - you should probably skip this one.