Starring Johnny Whittaker, Fred Gwynne, John McGiver, and Tony Randall
Directed by Joe Layton
Music and Lyrics by Lan O'Kun
Musicals and operas were a staple of Christmas TV viewing from the very beginning. The networks usually did one big Christmas musical show a year, a variety program or a big musical film. This continued into the late 60's, even as TV and music saw big changes. The Littlest Angel began life as a children's book by Charles Tazwell about a naughty little angel who eventually gives up what means most to him for the Baby Jesus. It had already been made into a (barely) animated short for school and church classrooms in 1950, but this was its first television adaptation. Does the story come off as heavenly now, or should it be left on Earth? Let's start with shepherd Michael (Whittaker) just before the birth of Christ as he follows a certain dove and find out...
The Story: After Michael goes off a cliff to follow the dove, he finds himself in Heaven, amid pink and white fluffy clouds. The fussy Angel of the Peace (McGiver) assigns kindly Patience (Gwynne) to be Michael's guardian angel and introduce him to Heaven. Michael just wants to go home and doesn't really feel like he belongs amid the perfect angels. He can't fly like the Flying Mistress (Connie Stevens) and won't sing with Gabriel (Cab Calloway) and his heavenly choir. He finally convinces Patience to let him get a certain box on Earth that holds all his most beloved treasures.
Michael's shocked to find his parents don't see him, or know he's there. He's even more upset when he returns to Heaven and finds Patience is no longer his guardian. It seems the angels have a far more important little one to aid. Each Angel is supposed to give a present to the Baby Jesus. Michael has no idea what to give...but his present winds up being the most important of all.
The Song and Dance: Whittaker is good, but it's the adults who really stand out here. Gwynne is a revelation as the kindest angel Michael meets in heaven. He's sweeter than he was even as Herman Munster, plays well off the recalcitrant Whittaker, and has a lovely singing voice to boot. Cab Calloway gets to raise the roof with his one big number. Tony Randall is having just as much fun with his solo as the Greek philosopher Democratius who is convinced he's only dreaming Heaven, including Michael. Look for cameos by Connie Stevens as the angel who tries to teach Michael to fly and James Coco as his father, who wishes his son would learn to be a little more responsible.
Favorite Number: We open with Michael playing his pan pipe and declaring "I'm Master of All I Survey" to his wooly charges. Gabriel and his choir gives the boy a rousing welcome to "The Heavenly Ever After." Michael isn't impressed by Patience showing him the midnight black heavens, wondering "Where Is Blue?" and the colors of Earth he's used to. Patience and the Flying Mistress tell Michael "You Can Fly," but it's not so easy for him.
Patience remembers his own long-gone childhood when he talks to Michael and realizes how much they had in common "Once Upon Another Time." Democratius insists that, since he can't see, hear, or smell Heaven, "You're Not Real." Two angels (Lu Leonard and Mary Jo Catlett) have to disagree! Michael is delighted to find his box of treasures on Earth, remembering how "I Have Saved" every one. The angel choir returns to serenade the Baby Jesus with "I Bring You Good Tidings" and "May It Bring You Pleasure."
Trivia: This ended up being one of Hallmark Hall of Fame's most popular productions of the late 60's and a huge hit for NBC.
The Littlest Angel would be done two more times, as direct-to-video animated specials in 1997 and 2011.
What I Don't Like: The special effects haven't dated well at all, even for TV in the 60's. The green screen background for the clouds is painfully obvious. It never looks like they're really up in the clouds. Francis is on a wire with wind blowing around her, and the deep sky Michael wishes had more color is a model and a black screen. Even the costumes are a bit chintzy, with the angels in chunky white robes that flatter no one. No wonder Michael wouldn't wear them.
I haven't read the book, but from what I've gathered, the story is a bit changed. Michael is more rebellious in the first half of the book, raising a lot more heck among the angels before he gives up his treasures. I suspect the sequences with Gabriel and Democrious were probably added for the celebrity cameos, as neither add much to the story. And honestly, this is the second "family" musical I've done in less than a week that's had a rather dark story. A lot of kids may be upset by the sequence where Michael comes down to see his parents and they not only can't see him, but don't know he's died.
The Big Finale: The reviews online indicate that feelings on this one are split. Some find it to be heartwarming and enjoy the music and the cast; others can't get past the cheesy production and morbid aspects of the plot. If you have fond memories of this from your childhood, or have children who may enjoy it and can handle the darker bits, it's worth checking out at least once for the cast and music alone.
Home Media: Easily found on DVD and streaming. Tubi currently has it for free.
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