The Christmas Present
- Episode aired Dec 25, 1963
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
39
YOUR RATING
Martin is forced by his boss to fire his twin brother, who is also Cathy's father, at Christmas time.Martin is forced by his boss to fire his twin brother, who is also Cathy's father, at Christmas time.Martin is forced by his boss to fire his twin brother, who is also Cathy's father, at Christmas time.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen J. R. Castle arrives to fire Kenneth Lane, his entry at the front door reveals a view of Manhattan skyscrapers. The Lane family home has a real NYC address, 9 Remsen Street, on a waterfront cul-de-sac in Brooklyn Heights, and the view over Castle's shoulder is that of the building at 60 South Street, near the Wall Street Ferry.
- Goofs(at around 1 min) Patty and Cathy are shown sitting on the steps leading from the first to second floor in the house in Brooklyn Heights. While conversing with each other, Cathy appears to be looking at a spot on the wall about a foot above the top of Patty's head; conversely, Patty appears to be staring at Cathy's chest.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Patty Lane: You can't fire him - it's Christmas.
J.R. Castle: [exiting] So it is. Merry Christmas, everybody.
Patty Lane: [turning to the television audience] Did you hear that? That's terrible. Imagine firing someone on Christmas. He wouldn't do that - or would he? Is J.R. Castle gonna turn out to be the rat of the Western World? Tune in next week, and we'll all find out. Bye! Merry Christmas, everybody.
Featured review
Classic TV Xmas Countdown Episode #57
Martin's twin brother Kenneth - a foreign correspondent - is arrested and detained in Kurdistan, and the Lanes are worried that Cathy will be crushed when he doesn't arrive in time for Xmas.
This is an okay episode, not one of the series' best nor a Sixties best. The opening scene is cute and actually realistic. Patty and Ross are being especially sweet to each other just because of the Xmas spirit - yes, that often happened back in the day. Not sure if it still affects siblings the same way today.
When Cathy is recalling all the past Xmases she spent with Kenneth, Martin and Natalie's concerned expressions in the reaction shots are perfection. There is a nice exchange between the cousins when Patty says "Don't look for miracles", Cathy replies "Isn't that what Xmas is all about?".
William Schallert AND Patty Duke both do double-duty when he plays both Martin and Kenneth in the last act. The best part is watching both Patty and Natalie's uneasiness when they think the real Kenneth is actually Martin (who is botching their best-laid plans). Natalie gets very annoyed and Patty's squirming over what she thinks is a bad situation. Neither are aware Cathy's father indeed has arrived and now there are TWO Kenneths in the Lane house.
At the end, Patty breaks the fourth wall and informs the audience that although Cathy got her Xmas wish, her father has been fired and needs to get his job back so, Tune In Next Week.... (the second part is not Xmas related so I am not including it in my Top 75 Xmas Episodes coverage).
Patty's hair looked the best in Season 1 when it was styled in the longer, loose flip. I think it's the prettiest she looked on the series. The scenes at midnight when Kenneth arrives has the girls in fancy dresses. A still of Patty wearing the same dress appeared on the cover of the 1964 Whitman children's book "Patty Duke and Mystery Mansion". 6/10.
This is an okay episode, not one of the series' best nor a Sixties best. The opening scene is cute and actually realistic. Patty and Ross are being especially sweet to each other just because of the Xmas spirit - yes, that often happened back in the day. Not sure if it still affects siblings the same way today.
When Cathy is recalling all the past Xmases she spent with Kenneth, Martin and Natalie's concerned expressions in the reaction shots are perfection. There is a nice exchange between the cousins when Patty says "Don't look for miracles", Cathy replies "Isn't that what Xmas is all about?".
William Schallert AND Patty Duke both do double-duty when he plays both Martin and Kenneth in the last act. The best part is watching both Patty and Natalie's uneasiness when they think the real Kenneth is actually Martin (who is botching their best-laid plans). Natalie gets very annoyed and Patty's squirming over what she thinks is a bad situation. Neither are aware Cathy's father indeed has arrived and now there are TWO Kenneths in the Lane house.
At the end, Patty breaks the fourth wall and informs the audience that although Cathy got her Xmas wish, her father has been fired and needs to get his job back so, Tune In Next Week.... (the second part is not Xmas related so I am not including it in my Top 75 Xmas Episodes coverage).
Patty's hair looked the best in Season 1 when it was styled in the longer, loose flip. I think it's the prettiest she looked on the series. The scenes at midnight when Kenneth arrives has the girls in fancy dresses. A still of Patty wearing the same dress appeared on the cover of the 1964 Whitman children's book "Patty Duke and Mystery Mansion". 6/10.
Details
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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