Elizabeth Gates
Search results
A Different Kind of Christmas (TV Movie 1995) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
- Overview
- Synopsis
- External links
A Different Kind of Christmas is a 1996 made-for-TV movie, originally broadcast on Lifetime on December 9, 1996.
While playing hockey out on a neighborhood street during a hot summer day in June, a group of boys discover that a man dressed as Santa Claus has moved into a house that was previously up for rent. The "Santa Claus" has turned the house into a year-round Christmas wonderland, consisting of a workshop filled with toys and candy, holiday decorations that cover the front yard and both the inside-and-outside of the house, and a small herd of reindeer. The man introduces himself as Santa Claus, even though one of the boys, ten-year-old Tommy Gates does not believe it. But Santa manages to help Tommy believe in him, and everyone is amazed to see the decorations light up and the Christmas bells ringing when Tommy says, "I believe in Santa Claus." He then allows the boys to take a look around at his new workshop and laughs merrily as he waves at an elderly couple watching him from their front porch.
Meanwhile, Tommy's mother, Elizabeth Gates is a member of the local attorney in the town hall, who has been struggling to achieve her career during her college graduation. At the end of one meeting, she holds another with her friend Susan and a business developer named Alan Schaefer, who is discussing about turning an abandoned railroad station into a community center through certain programs either for children or for adults. She promises to make her final decision before the city council in the next two weeks.
One of Elizabeth's partners, Frank Mallory soon learns about the "Santa Claus" man that has moved into Elizabeth's neighborhood and decides to learn more about this mysterious man. He soon learns that Santa's real name is Robert George, who has moved into the neighborhood to help the people get into the Christmas spirit not once a year, but through all 365 days of the year. He also learns that Robert had recently appeared as Santa to several famous men he met previously, including President John F. Kennedy, Ike, and Elvis Presley. Frank then promises Santa that he will print out an article in the next newspaper for the whole world to know about him.
Within the next few days, dozens of children and their parents start visiting Santa's workshop, admiring his house, decorations, toy shop, and his herd of reindeer. Unfortunately, some of the elderly neighbors begin to complain about Robert's plans about having a year-round Christmas business in their neighborhood and inform their complaints over to the local attorney, Elizabeth Gates, who is also the daughter of "Santa Claus" Robert George.
After discovering that her father has set up a year-round Christmas business and receiving multiple complaints from the neighbors, Elizabeth has the place shut down and "Santa" arrested. Later, she releases her father from jail and tells him to stay away from herself and her son, Tommy. Robert tries to find a new job in town, but after several failed attempts, he soon learns that being Santa is the only thing he's good at. A few days later, Elizabeth reveals to her son that the man who has played Santa is actually his grandfather and her father. Despite Tommy's objections, Elizabeth refuses to let him see his grandfather. After watching the news on their television, revealing the events that occurred the last few days, Tommy soon learns that his mother had put his grandfather in jail and tells her that he hates her.
Frank Mallory talks to Elizabeth about Santa and asks her why she hates her father so much. Elizabeth explains to him that her father has played Santa ever since she was a little girl growing up, and she was utterly embarrassed by his intentions on playing Santa, whether it was at home, at church, or even when they went out to eat. On the day of her graduation from college, she was embarrassed and upset when her father arrived to see her, dressed up as Santa Claus. Her hatred against her father was finished when her father wasn't at the hospital the night her mother died of cancer. Frank feels sorry for Elizabeth and is able to comfort her in her grieve and anger.
•A Different Kind of Christmas at the Internet Movie Database
A Different Kind of Christmas (1996) - Trailer. A family secret threatens to thwart the mayoral bid of a single mom whose father thinks he's Santa Claus.Director: Tom McLoughlin Writer:...
- 1 min
- 441
- Video Shack
When you're the city attorney you don't need the kinds of problems that her father was giving her. After her mother died, her father began doing his "Santa Schtick," as she called it, much more intensely... which meant that he turned his home into a kind of year-round Santa Claus castle where children of all ages could come to see the wonderful ...
A scrooge-like attorney finds her lost Christmas spirit when a troublesome santa turns out to be her long-lost father. Director Tom Mcloughlin
Stream 'A Different Kind of Christmas' and watch online. Discover streaming options, rental services, and purchase links for this movie on Moviefone. Watch at home and immerse yourself in...
A Different Kind of Christmas streaming: where to watch online? Currently you are able to watch "A Different Kind of Christmas" streaming on The Roku Channel, Freevee for free with ads or buy it as download on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Fandango At Home, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
