Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep in the woods, there lived an old witch. She was feared and shunned by the villagers, who believed she possessed dark and sinister powers. With her tattered black cloak, crooked nose, and piercing eyes, she looked every bit the part of a witch straight out of a fairy tale. Despite her unpleasant appearance and ominous reputation, the old witch had a secret desire for something simple and beautiful - a polka dot ribbon. She had seen the vibrant colored ribbons adorning the hair of young girls in the village and found them enchanting. The polka dots reminded her of a time when she was not feared and her heart was filled with joy.
Well, don’t let those things deter you from seeing this film. Skillfully directed by Philip Borsos (The Grey Fox, The Mean Season) and featuring a cast of strong character actors, One Magic Christmas might be rather depressing, but the payoff at the end is well worth it. It basically gives you a worst-case scenario and turns it on its head with a little Christmas spirit.
Despite having a title that conjures up visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, this 1985 G-rated Christmas film offers up unemployment, robbery, murder, holiday depression, a fatal car chase, and the threat of homelessness. Happy to have her kids back, Ginny is still crushed by the loss of her husband and all of the other problems that have piled up on the family over the year.
The polka dots reminded her of a time when she was not feared and her heart was filled with joy. Determined to have a polka dot ribbon of her own, the old witch set off on a quest. She ventured to a neighboring village, where a kindly old woman owned a small shop filled with trinkets and treasures.
Sarah polley one magic chfistmas
Movie - One Magic Christmas is a wonderful little film that has been pretty much overlooked by most people. Released theatrically with little fanfare during the 1985 holiday season, the film is one of the live-action Disney gems that deserves more recognition.
It's Christmastime, but Ginny Grainger (Steenburgen) is not feeling the holiday spirit. The family is low on cash, her job at the supermarket is hardly fulfilling, and come January 1, they're moving out of their home. A Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is assigned to cheer Ginny up and show her all the wonderful things she has to be happy about this Christmas. What ensues from Gideon's quest is a magical journey for Ginny, her husband, their two kids, and even Santa Claus. One Magic Christmas is a heart-warming holiday drama/fantasy that undoubtedly appeals to adults, perhaps even more so than to children. Audiences of all ages will be entertained by the thoughtful and emotional story told. It should be noted that for a G-rated movie, there are some rather intense and dramatic moments, but these are essential to the plot. Overall, a charming Christmas film that is definitely worth checking out!
Anchor Bay DVD Note - Disney and Anchor Bay studios have a contract, whereby Anchor Bay was able to release a number of live-action Disney films from the 1960s through the mid-1980s. You might think Anchor Bay, being a small studio, would not be the best distributor to give these films the treatment deserve. On the contrary, Anchor Bay's DVD presentations are up to par and most likely better than what Disney would have done.
Video - For starters, Anchor Bay is able to include both the widescreen and pan & scan versions of the film (which clcoks in at just under 90 minutes) on one dual-layered disc. Disney, on the other hand, would rather include just one version of the film on the disc, and in the case of many upcoming releases, they're opting for the Pan & Scan version and not the original widescreen aspect ratio. Their reasoning includes space considerations, claiming that video quality would suffer by including both versions on a double-sided or dual-layered disc. The video quality of One Magic Christmas undoubtedly proves that claim wrong--the movie looks great! The level of detail is high and the snowy Canadian scenery is crystal-clear. One minor complaint is that the 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is not enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions, as at the time, Anchor Bay was not big on anamorphic DVD releases. Fortunately, it is a minor qualm for a beautiful-looking DVD.
Audio - The feature presentation also benefits from the inclusion of a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The audio is remixed and despite what you might expect from a somewhat low-key film, the surrounds are pretty active. The cold wind from the snowy exteriors is realized through surround usage. In addition, scenes involving travel to and from the North Pole utilize the 5.1 track with powerful effects. The 5.1 track is a solid addition, and a rather surprising treat for a family-friendly drama.
Extras - Though the packaging mentions a Theatrical Trailer is on this DVD, it is not. A trailer would have been nice or extras of some kind, but the lack of supplements doesn't take away from this otherwise quality DVD presentation. One physical extra worth mentioning is a post card reproduction of the original poster art for the movie. Definitely cool and similar to a trailer, the poster art shows you how the film was originally marketed.
Closing Thoughts - Anchor Bay has put together a nice little disc for an excellent little Christmas film. By including both viewing formats, Anchor Bay is able to please both crowds and that deserves two thumbs up. The widescreen transfer and the 5.1 audio track both contribute to the high-quality presentation of this film.
Movie - One Magic Christmas is a wonderful little film that has been pretty much overlooked by most people. Released theatrically with little fanfare during the 1985 holiday season, the film is one of the live-action Disney gems that deserves more recognition.
It's Christmastime, but Ginny Grainger (Steenburgen) is not feeling the holiday spirit. The family is low on cash, her job at the supermarket is hardly fulfilling, and come January 1, they're moving out of their home. A Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is assigned to cheer Ginny up and show her all the wonderful things she has to be happy about this Christmas. What ensues from Gideon's quest is a magical journey for Ginny, her husband, their two kids, and even Santa Claus. One Magic Christmas is a heart-warming holiday drama/fantasy that undoubtedly appeals to adults, perhaps even more so than to children. Audiences of all ages will be entertained by the thoughtful and emotional story told. It should be noted that for a G-rated movie, there are some rather intense and dramatic moments, but these are essential to the plot. Overall, a charming Christmas film that is definitely worth checking out!
The witch entered the shop, hoping to find the perfect ribbon to satisfy her longing. The old woman greeted the witch with kindness, sensing a sadness behind her fierce exterior. The witch timidly asked about the polka dot ribbons she had seen in the village. To her delight, the old woman led her to a small corner of the shop where a selection of ribbons was displayed. The witch's eyes lit up as she beheld a beautiful ribbon with red polka dots. She carefully picked it up, feeling the smooth texture and marveling at the vibrant colors. She knew she had found the perfect ribbon to bring a touch of joy to her life. As the witch paid for the ribbon and left the shop, she noticed the surprised expressions on the faces of the villagers she passed by. They couldn't believe that the feared witch had acquired something so innocent and delightful. Whispers spread throughout the village, and soon everyone knew about the old witch with the polka dot ribbon. Remarkably, the polka dot ribbon had a transformative effect on the old witch. The villagers started to see her in a new light, realizing that perhaps their assumptions had been misguided. They began to approach her, asking for her help and advice. With her heart no longer filled with bitterness and resentment, the witch discovered newfound happiness and purpose. She used her magical powers to benefit the villagers, mending broken hearts, recovering lost items, and bringing joy and laughter into their lives. The polka dot ribbon had not only fulfilled the witch's longing for something beautiful but had also opened the hearts of the villagers, showing them that appearances could be deceiving. The once feared and misunderstood old witch became a beloved and respected member of the community. From that day forward, the old witch continued to wear her polka dot ribbon as a symbol of her transformation and the power of harmony and acceptance. She taught the villagers valuable lessons about judgment and empathy, reminding them that even the most twisted and shunned among them could possess beauty and goodness. And so, the village learned to appreciate the old witch for who she truly was, rather than the monstrous figure they had imagined her to be. The old witch and her polka dot ribbon became a legend, inspiring generations to look beyond appearances and find the beauty in everyone they encountered..
Reviews for "The Old Witch and the Polka Dot Ribbon: A Magical Adventure Awaits"
1. Amy - 1/5 stars - I really did not enjoy "Old witch and the polka dot ribbon". I found the story to be quite dull and uninteresting. The plot seemed to drag on and lacked any excitement. Additionally, I found the characters to be flat and unlikeable. I struggled to connect with any of them and couldn't bring myself to care about their outcomes. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. John - 2/5 stars - While "Old witch and the polka dot ribbon" had potential, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the overall execution. The story had an interesting premise, but it felt poorly developed and lacking in depth. The writing style was also not to my liking, with overly simplistic language and a lack of attention to detail. I felt disconnected from the story and struggled to stay engaged. Unfortunately, this book did not meet my expectations.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was quite underwhelmed by "Old witch and the polka dot ribbon". The story had potential, but it never fully lived up to it. The pacing felt uneven, with slow and repetitive parts, and rushed resolutions. I also found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacked any real development. Overall, I felt that the book lacked depth and failed to fully captivate me. I will not be recommending this book to others.