A Christmas Story (1958 Lassie TV series episode)
- For other uses, see Christmas Story (disambiguation).
"A Christmas Story" is an episode from the American television program Lassie broadcast Sunday, December 21, 1958 at 7:00 p.m. EST on CBS. Lassie undergoes delicate surgery on Christmas Eve. "A Christmas Story" is the 16th episode in the show's fifth season, and the 158th episode in the complete series. The episode is the first of several annual Lassie Christmas episodes.
Plot summary
Lassie is hit by a truck in the streets of Calverton a few days before Christmas. Her injury requires the skills of an expert surgeon who is travelling and cannot be reached by telephone. Ruth calls a Capitol City radio station for assistance. When the surgeon hears Lassie's story on the radio, he arrives at the Martin farm in time to save Lassie's life.
Detailed synopsis
On an evening shortly before Christmas, the Martins shop in Calverton. When Lassie spots Mrs. Bailey's toddler dart into the path of a speeding truck, the dog runs into the street and pushes the child from harm's way. Lassie is hit by the truck. Timmy rushes to her side. The Martins carry Lassie to the nearby offices of veterinarian Doc Weaver.
In the Doc Weaver's office, Lassie is taken into an examination room while Timmy and his mom are told to wait in the office. A newspaper reporter, Mr. Bronson, enters the office. He wants to write a story AbOUT Lassie and her heroic act for his newspaper. While waiting for word of Lassie's condition, Mr. Bronson tells the story of Balto, a dog who braved severe weather to carry life saving medicine to the children of Nome.
Doc Weaver enters with Lassie on a gurney. Lassie is immobile. Doc Weaver tells Timmy he can't make a pronouncement on Lassie's condition until the X-rays are developed, but he approves Timmy’s request to take Lassie home. As the Martins leave, Mr. Bronson reminds Timmy to read Lassie's story in the morning newspaper.
At the Martin farm, Lassie is carried into the kitchen. A comfortable place is made for her on the floor. Later, Boomer Bates arrives with his dog Mike. Mike has a Christmas gift for Lassie and lays it at her head. Lassie is unresponsive. Timmy and Boomer sit next to Lassie on the floor. Boomer wonders if Lassie will be well enough to go caroling the next day. The boys talk about the treats they will receive from neighbors on their caroling rounds. Boomer leaves.
After breakfast the next day, Paul and Petrie leave to cut a Christmas tree. They urge Timmy to join them. Ruth says she will stay with Lassie. Timmy leaves with his father and great uncle. Ruth crouches near Lassie and begs her to get well because Timmy needs her.
Doc Weaver arrives in the barnyard as Timmy, Paul, and Petrie return with a tree. Doc Weaver enters the kitchen with bad news. The X-rays reveal Lassie has a brain injury that requires expert surgery and only one man can do it, Dr. Watkins, a research veterinarian at the state college. Dr. Watkins however is travelling for the holidays and cannot be reached by phone. The Martins hope for an improvement in Lassie's condition but insist that Weaver perform the operation if Dr. Watkins cannot be contacted.
Timmy sits on the kitchen floor next to Lassie and declines to participate in the tree decorating. He wants to wait until Lassie is better. Ruth asks him to help her string popcorn and cranberries. When Paul turns on the radio, Ruth has a sudden idea. She calls the Capitol City radio station.
That evening Timmy and his mom can’t sleep and sit at Lassie’s side in the kitchen. Timmy asks God to contact "Santy Claus" to make Lassie well because that’s the only present he wants. Ruth wraps Timmy in a blanket and takes him into her lap.
The next morning, Doc Weaver returns. There's been no word from Dr. Watkins and Weaver will perform the operation himself. Timmy tells Lassie she's going to be all right because Doc Weaver loves her. In the barnyard, a car arrives. It is Dr. Watkins who has heard the radio alert placed by Ruth. He has driven all night to get to the Martin farm. He asks the Martins to wait in the living room as he prepares for surgery.
In the living room, Paul and Uncle Petrie light the fire and assemble wreathes from evergreens. Ruth reads The Night Before Christmas to Timmy. Outside, Timmy's friends and their companion animals gather in the barnyard.
Mrs. Bailey and her toddler arrive, as well as Mr. Bronson, the newspaper reporter. The hours pass. Prayers are said for Lassie. Her friends wait patiently. The veterinarians finish the operation and hope Lassie’s good health will help her heal.
The sun sets. Timmy's friends decorate a tree in the yard. The Martins wait in the kitchen with the lights dimmed. The children in the yard sing Silent Night. Snow begins to fall. As Timmy listens to the carolers, Lassie slowly wakes. Timmy is overjoyed.
The Martins enter the barnyard with Lassie. The children are thrilled she has survived her ordeal. Timmy thanks Dr. Watkins. Mrs. Bailey offers to pay for Dr. Watkins services but he refuses, saying he has received payment enough in the prayers and the faith of a small boy. Merry Christmas wishes are exchanged all around as the children leave for home. The tree is lit. Timmy looks into the camera and wishes the viewer a Merry Christmas. Lassie barks joyously.
Cast
- Ann Barton as Mrs. Bailey, a young mother
- Addison Richards as Dr. Watkins, a veterinarian
- Arthur Space as Dr. Frank Weaver, a veterinarian
- George Chandler as Uncle Petrie J. Martin
- Hugh Reilly as Paul Martin
- Jon Provost as Timmy Martin
- June Lockhart as Ruth Martin
- Larry J. Blake as Mr. Bronson, a newspaper reporter
- Linda Wrather as Wilhelmina "Willy" Brewster, Timmy's friend
- Todd Ferrell as Boomer Bates, Timmy's friend
Crew
- A Jack Wrather Production
- George Archainbaud, director
- Monroe Manning, story and teleplay
- Alan Woods, story and teleplay
- Rose Mathias, story and story editor
- Robert Golden, producer
- Hugh McCollum, production supervisor
- Kenneth Peach, director of photography
- William W. Moore, film editor
- Maurice Vaccarino, assistant director
- Kenneth A. Swartz, set decorator
- Wallace D. Nogle, sound
- Jack Owens, property master
- William M. Andrews, sound effects editor
- Robert Carlisle, music editor
- Don Schoenfeld, make-up
- Betty Pedretti, hair stylist
- Les Baxter Choir, carols
- Sherman A. Harris, executive producer
DVD release
"A Christmas Story" was released on DVD Classic Media/Sony Wonder Lassie: Lassie's Christmas Stories, 2003. Sony Wonder/Classic Media. (ISBN 0738927031).
See also
- Timmy Martin (television character)
- Ruth Martin (television character)
- Paul Martin (television character)
- Christmas Eve
- Lassie
References
- Collins, Ace. Lassie: a dog's life. Penguin Books, 1993.
- Lassie: Lassie's Christmas Stories. Sony Wonder/Classic Media, 2003. (ISBN 0738927031).
- Lassie Web