The Christmas Tree (1969 film)

1969 French film

25 September 1969 (1969-09-25) (New York City)

Running time

108 minutesCountriesFrance
ItalyLanguageFrench

L'Arbre de Noël (internationally released as The Christmas Tree) is a 1969 French-Italian drama film directed by Terence Young and starring William Holden, Bourvil and Virna Lisi.^[1] It was defined as "the most tearful film of sixties".^[2] The film was co-produced by Italy where it was released as L'albero di Natale.

Plot

The story follows a Frenchman named Laurent and his son Pascal, who live somewhere in France. Along the way, the widower Laurent meets and falls for the beautiful Catherine, but also learns that his son is dying after witnessing the explosion of a plane with a nuclear device inside. Finding this out, Laurent and Pascal have a string of adventures with Catherine along.

Cast

William Holden as Laurent Ségur
Bourvil as Verdun
Virna Lisi as Catherine Graziani
Madeleine Damien as Marinette
Mario Feliciani as Le docteur
Friedrich von Ledebur as Vernet
Georges Douking as L'animalier (as Douking)
Michel Thomass as L'ami corse
Jean-Pierre Castaldi as Le motard de la gendermerie
Yves Barsacq as Charlie le breton - le pompiste
France Daunic as La monitrice
Brook Fuller as Pascal Ségur

Release

The film opened September 25, 1969 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.^[3]^[4] It grossed $200,000 in its opening week.^[5]

References

^ Mario Gerosa. Il cinema di Terence Young. Il foglio, 2009.
^ Laura, Luisa and Morando Morandini. Il Morandini: dizionario dei film 2001. Zanichelli, Bologna, 2000. p. 34. ISBN 88-08-03105-5.
^ "B'way Offish Despite New Entrants; 'No. 1' Scores With $26,000, 'Sharing' Fair 16½G, 'Money' Smash $26,287". Variety. September 24, 1969. pp. 9–10.
^ "World Premiere Radio City Music Hall (advertisement)". Variety. September 3, 1969. pp. 10–11.
^ "3 New Blockbusters Bolster B'way; 'Tree'-Stage Stock $200,000, 'Cassidy,' Terrific $79,000, 'Fanny' Wow $67G". Variety. October 1, 1969. p. 9.