The Christmas Shoes (film)
Encyclopedia
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.
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 Ellen 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.
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 of myocarditis
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 Ellen 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, 17 years later. He runs into a young man wearing the same baseball cap Nathan had been wearing. After he leaves, Robert sees that the man had been visiting Maggie's grave, and recognizes the shoes the man had left at the grave. Robert then realizes that the young man was Nathan.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in December 2002. It is based on the hit song
The Christmas Shoes (song)
"The Christmas Shoes" is a Christmas-themed song by the Christian vocal group NewSong. The song was released as a bonus track on their 2000 album Sheltering Tree,...
and novel of the same name.
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 Ellen 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.
Synopsis
Primarily set in 1985, Maggie Andrews 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 of myocarditis
Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of heart muscle . It resembles a heart attack but coronary arteries are not blocked.Myocarditis is most often due to infection by common viruses, such as parvovirus B19, less commonly non-viral pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi or Trypanosoma cruzi, or as a...
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 Ellen 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, 17 years later. He runs into a young man wearing the same baseball cap Nathan had been wearing. After he leaves, Robert sees that the man had been visiting Maggie's grave, and recognizes the shoes the man had left at the grave. Robert then realizes that the young man was Nathan.
Selected cast
- Rob LoweRob LoweRobert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
as Robert Layton - Kimberly Williams as Maggie Elizabeth Andrews
- Max MorrowMax MorrowMax Morrow is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles in Monk as Benjy Fleming, The Christmas Shoes, and The Great Goose Caper.-Movies:-Television:-External links:...
as Nathan Andrews - Maria del MarMaria del Mar (actress)Maria del Mar del Castillo is a Canadian television actress, who has starred in series such as Street Legal, Tek War, Relativity, Mercy Point, Terminal City and Blue Murder....
as Kate Layton - Hugh ThompsonHugh ThompsonHugh Thompson may refer to:*Hugh Miller Thompson , second bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi*Hugh Smith Thompson , Governor of South Carolina, 1882-1886*Hugh Thompson, Jr...
as Jack Andrews - Dorian HarewoodDorian HarewoodW. Dorian Harewood is an American actor. He first garnered attention for his portrayal of Simon Haley in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.-Career:...
as Dalton Gregory - Shirley DouglasShirley DouglasShirley Jean Douglas, OC is a Canadian television, film and stage actress and activist. Her acting career combined with her family name has made her recognisable in Canadian film, television and politics.-Personal life:...
as Ellen G. Layton - Amber MarshallAmber MarshallAmber Marshall is a Canadian actress best known for playing Amy Fleming on the CBC series Heartland.- Biography :Born and raised in London, Ontario Amber Marshall is a Canadian Actress...
as Lilly Layton - Rhonda Mclean as Gwen
- Jeremy AkermanJeremy AkermanJeremy Bernard Akerman is a former Canadian politician, writer and actor and a former leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.-Biography:...
as Tom Wilson - John Maclaren as Dean McGraw
- Brian Heighton as Jake Cardwell
- Geoff Herod as Nathan Andrews (college aged)