A Christmas Memory

Tags: Buddy Eric, Christmas, Christmas Memory, Christmas Presents, Christmas Products, Christmas Time, Cousins, Eric Lloyd, Friendship, Fruit Cakes, Memory, Parents, Patty Duke, Patty Duke Show, President Roosevelt, Santa Clause 3

5 Responses to “A Christmas Memory”

1. Ryal McMurry says:

   November 6, 2010 at 11:35 pm

   Review by Ryal McMurry for A Christmas Memory
   Rating:
   I saw this film several years ago when it originally aired on television, and I loved it. I was so excited to get it on DVD. What a wonderful, heartwarming tale.

   I will say that I never saw the original with Geraldine Page. That being said, I believe Patty Duke’s performance was unbelievable. She was amazing in a very understated way. She makes the audience fall in love with Sook after only a few minutes. The relationship between her and Buddy (played nicely by Eric Lloyd) is evident from the beginning.

   Piper Laurie also turns in a very fine performance, but it is really Patty Duke who shines in this wonderful film.
2. Patty Duke Fan says:

   November 7, 2010 at 12:31 am

   Review by Patty Duke Fan for A Christmas Memory
   Rating:
   It took a lot of guts for Patty Duke to take over this role that won Geraldine Page two Emmys back in the 1960s. Duke does an excellent job in making the viewer care and understand Sook and Buddy’s relationship. I believe this movie has been put down because people feel it should have been left alone, but why not have a whole new generation enjoy one of the most-loved Christmas tales ever written? I also prefer not having Capote’s voice-over narration in this one. As much as I am a fan of his work, his voice in the original was very obnoxious and I feel distracted from the story.

   Besides Duke, Piper Laurie and Eric Lloyd (Buddy) also turn in top-rate performances. I was in shock this received not a single Emmy nomination, especially not for Duke or Laurie. I am very happy to see this one coming out on DVD and plan on ordering several for Christmas gifts this year.
3. Sergio S. Guerrero Jr. says:

   November 7, 2010 at 12:41 am

   Review by Sergio S. Guerrero Jr. for A Christmas Memory
   Rating:
   My first introduction to this story was a version offered up by National Public Radio (NPR) and narrated by Richard Thomas (John Boy Walton). When I finally saw the Geraldine Page version I was enchanted, especially by the sincerity in the narration by Truman Capote. After seeing the version featuring Patty Duke I became convinced that all of the versions have something special to add to the Holiday Season. The genius is in the story itself as well as how it it interpreted. Moreover, it provides us one of the most sensitive insights into America’s Southern Culture that I have seen since “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
   If you ever get the chance to hear the NPR version of this classic, I think it provides an added enjoyment that the television versions try to do but somehow miss.
4. Operaman! says:

   November 7, 2010 at 1:31 am

   Review by Operaman! for A Christmas Memory
   Rating:
   Patty Duke tried awfully hard to bring Capote’s classic character Cousin Suk to life in this newer screen adaptation of his famous short story. As wonderful as Duke is, she cannot erase the memory of Geraldine Page’s performance in the 1966 ABC Television production with Mr. Capote narrating. This newer version is about a half-hour longer and introduces a number of additional characters and expands on the story. About the only thing that is missing is the charm and simplicity of Capote’s original.
5. Kristin Andersen says:

   November 7, 2010 at 2:25 am

   Review by Kristin Andersen for A Christmas Memory
   Rating:
   Capote’s Christmas Memory is my favorite Christmas story. I was thrilled to see this movie last year….I loved it. All though I have to confess that Pattie Duke was not the Sook I had imagined, her portrayal was true to the writings of Capote and her relationship with Buddy is very believable. I have read this story every year for the past 8 years during the holiday season. Infact, it is one of my favorite gifts to give. This year I am treating myself to the DVD.
   For those of you who love this story, you must read it out loud. Did you know there is a Children’s Picture book as well? Fun Fun Fun