Themes: Mothers and Sons, Dying Young, Estrangement
Main Cast: Rob Lowe, Kimberly Williams, Max Morrow, Hugh Thompson
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
Plot
This sentimental made-for-TV drama was based on the bestselling novel by Donna VanLiere, which in turn was inspired by the popular song of the same name. Rob Lowe stars as Robert Layton, a workaholic attorney who sorely neglects his family, even during the Christmas season. Clearly, Layton is overdue for a "humanizing" treatment, which comes in the form of a little boy named Nathan Andrews (Max Morrow). Learning that his mother, Maggie (Kimberly Williams), is dying from congenital heart failure, and unable to financially rely upon his underemployed father, Jack (Hugh Thompson), Nathan goes about collecting tin cans and other throwaways so that he can afford an expensive pair of red shoes for his ailing mom. Nathan's plight not only touches Layton, but also has a heartwarming trickle-down effect on the lawyer's estranged family. The Christmas Shoes debuted December 1, 2002, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Shirley Douglas - Ellen Layton; Dorian Harewood - Dalton Gregory; Maria Del Mar - Kate Layton; David Christofel - Clerk; John Dunsworth - Dr. Julian; Jeremy Akerman - Tom Wilson; John MacLaren - Dean McGraw; Rhonda McLean - Gwen; Kathryn MacLellan - Receptionist; Amber Marshall - Lily Layton; Brian Heighton - Jake Cardwell; Geoff Herod - Adult Nathan; Bill Carr - Dr. Mather; Juanita Peters - Hospice Worker; Connie Stewart - Elf Clerk
Credit
Ewen Dickson - Art Director, Kate Delmage - Costume Designer, Andy Wolk - Director, Drake Silliman - Editor, Craig Anderson - Executive Producer, Beth Grossbard - Executive Producer, Lawrence Shragge - Composer (Music Score), Jennifer Stewart - Production Designer, John Berrie - Cinematographer, Wesley Bishop - Screenwriter, Donna VanLiere - Book Author
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The Christmas Shoes
Directed by
Andy Wolk
Produced by
Michael Mahoney
The Christmas Shoes is a made-for-TV movie, broadcast on CBS in December 2002. It is based on the hit song and novel of the same name.
Synopsis
The film has three plot lines. One story is about a man named Robert Layton and his deteriorating marriage; another is about Robert's heartbroken mother Helen and her friendly neighbor Dalton; and the main story is about Maggie Andrews and her sickness, and how her family (her husband, Jack, and son, Nathan) deal with it. All three stories are linked together.
In the beginning, Maggie talks about how she had a pair of dancing shoes just like the ones in a story read by Nathan's teacher (Dalton). The story is about a girl who is paralyzed and can no longer dance, but feels magical when she puts on her dancing shoes.
Robert has promised to go see his daughter, Lilly, perform in a school concert (which Maggie is conducting). Robert gets caught up in his work and misses his daughter's solo. He and his wife, Kate, argue about it; Robert apologizes to Lilly.
Maggie consults a doctor about chest pains and learns that she will probably die before New Year's Day. At Maggie's urging, Kate agrees to direct the concert. This decision causes controversy between Robert and Kate. Meanwhile, Nathan collects cans to buy the beautiful shoes for his mother, and Dalton helps by leaving cans all around for him to find.
Meanwhile, Robert's mother Helen has been thinking about his childhood and writes to him. A few days later Dalton finds her dead.
Nathan goes to buy the shoes but is told at the store he does not have enough money. Robert is Christmas shopping there and helps Nathan buy the shoes. Robert has now realized that he should cherish the time he has with his family. He reconciles with Kate and joins their caroling. They carol in front of the Andrews' house until they see the lights turn out indicating that Maggie has died. In the end the Laytons are a happy family, Nathan and Jack get along without Maggie and Nathan finally gets the puppy that he has been wanting since the beginning of the film. The scene then cuts to the cemetery where Robert is visiting his mother's grave, 15 years later. He runs into a man who is wearing the same baseball cap Nathan had been wearing. After he leaves, Robert sees that the man had been visiting the grave of "Maggie Elizabeth", and recognizes the shoes the man had left on the grave. Robert then realizes that the man had been Nathan.
