All Mine to Give
Six Kids on a True and Wonderful Adventure!
A quiet classic about the value of Christmas, family and hope.
It's Christmastime as young Robbie Eunson pulls his little sister on a sled through the snow to a snug house in the woods. But this is no yuletide treat. Instead, Robbie is fulfilling the promise he made to their dying mother - that he would find a home for each of the six orphaned Eunson children.
All Mine to Give follows pioneers Mamie and Robert Eunson (Glynis Johns and Cameron Mitchell) through hardship, hard work and joy in 19th-century Wisconsin as they raise a family united by love. It's a love that will stay with the children after their parents are tragically gone, giving them the strength to turn terrible loss into a triumph of the human spirit.
Member Reviews
Poignant tale and underrated - eoguy
All Mine to Give isn't a holiday movie, but it certainly has more poignancy around the Christmas season, like It's a Wonderful Life.
The film is hardly perfect, but if you love older films and haven't seen this one, it's worth a rent. Some if you will need plenty of tissue and maybe a bath towel to get through it, and it's based on a true story.
A strange, but effective, combination of pioneer adventures and tear jerking moments avoid becoming hopelessly soapy because of fine performances. It's the story of the Eunsons, a Scottish couple who settle happily in 19th century Wisconsin and whose six children are confronted with tragedy and heart-breaking decisions on Christmas Eve. Rex Thompson, who plays the eldest son, is remarkable. But Patty McCormick will break your heart in the scene during which she recites the alphabet as her brother extols her virtues to prospective foster parents. The innocence and beauty of the children are placed against the coldness of the wilderness, the harshness of the elders of the community and the mundane script.
Unfortunately, the bare bones DVD offers no additional materials or information. Here are some spoilers, in some sense: Robbie became a logger, was elected sheriff, and farmed; Jimmy became an attorney; Annabelle married well and had homes in California and Chicago; Elizabeth taught school; Jane taught singing; and Kirk took to drink and died at age 25. Robbie kept tabs on his brothers and sisters although each grew up to take on the characteristics of their foster families. Author and screenwriter, Dale Eunson was Robbie's son.Well Done Sad Story - maghee
If you are looking for a happily ever after story this isn't it but it is well done and a story worth telling. For me it ends at the wrong place in the story. I wanted to skip ahead to years later and have a warm fuzzy because everything turned out alright after all. This one will make you grateful for what you have.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Poignant tale and underrated - eoguy
All Mine to Give isn't a holiday movie, but it certainly has more poignancy around the Christmas season, like It's a Wonderful Life.
The film is hardly perfect, but if you love older films and haven't seen this one, it's worth a rent. Some if you will ...Well Done Sad Story - maghee
If you are looking for a happily ever after story this isn't it but it is well done and a story worth telling. For me it ends at the wrong place in the story. I wanted to skip ahead to years later and have a warm fuzzy because everything turned out alright ...