Expert: Mel Priddle - 6/25/2009

Question
My parents saw a movie in the early 1960's and would love to know the title of it. They saw it Christmas Eve. The story involves 4 or 5 young children living in the country. The parents die and the kids are left orphans. The 2 oldest brothers then leave their siblings, one by one, with different families. On Christmas Eve, the 2 brothers secretly check up on their siblings (i.e. looking through the window) and are reassured they did the right thing when see that they are happy and taken care of. My parents would love to see this movie again.

Hope you can help, Mel.  Thanks!  

Answer
Hello Amy,

That's one of my favourites, too. I always have a tearful eye at the end. It was called "All Mine To Give" in the US and "The Day They Gave Babies Away" in the UK. I prefer the UK title.

It was released in 1957 and starred Cameron Mitchell and Glynis Johns as a husband and wife who emigrate from Scotland to Wisconsin in the 1850's. They work very hard and become welcome citizens of their new town, Eureka. They have six children. They prosper in the husband's boat building business. But when their eldest is 12, tragedy strikes the family and both parents die. The 12-year old is burdened with the task of deciding what to do with his brothers and sisters.

It was only issued on DVD just last November, so you should have no problem finding a copy to purchase.

Here are a couple of links:

http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited.com/product.asp?sku=D30111

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001CW801G/imdb-button/


Glad to be of help. Cheers........Mel.