The Spirit Of The Season

True family entertainment in the best sense is a rare find, but the creative pair of dramatic stories on this tape provide great family fun while also emphasizing the importance of giving (as opposed to getting) during the Christmas season. Ernest Borgnine stars as the grandfather of a sprawling instant gratification brood, who stop their grabbing long enough to hear grandpa tell them a couple of stories. The first, "A Thieves' Christmas" has the flavor of a good Dickens' short story. At the local thieves' den, appropriately named the "Nod & Grog," the pickpockets gear up for the seasonal pickings. One thief, a burly guy named Jake, has traditionally made the largest haul at Xmas, because he robs houses on Christmas Eve. His philosophy is simple: "Christmas is a time to get what you want." But on the big night, Jake comes upon an extraordinary situation. While plucking the meager offerings under a poor family's tree, he's surprised by Johnny, a young blind boy. Trying to appease the boy by pretending to be Santa, Jake (and the viewer) gets a little roto-rooter action to the heart when Johnny asks Santa for a favor: "describe Christmas through your eyes, Santa." Have your Kleenex ready for action. The second tale, "The Gift," is a remarkable serio-comic tale about a young shepherd who, while busily shaking in his boots on the plains one evening (he's afraid of dogs) is visited by three wise men who tell him they're following a star to witness a miracle. Inspired, the young shepherd decides to head for Bethlehem with his pouch of money--his gift--only to enter the wrong stable. The new parents, dirt-poor, are surprised and grateful for this unexpected bounty. How the shepherd resolves his dilemma when he realizes his mistake makes for a truly satisfying Christmas story. Writer/director Steve Scearcy has fashioned a winning pair of independently produced stories. Nice sets, good acting, and above all, original and quite creative screenplays, make The Spirit of the Season a joyous find. For patrons, however, they're unlikely to find this video in video stores. It deserves a place on library shelves. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from: ICS, 10830 Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64114.)