An American Girl Story – Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas is an Amazon Studios/American Girl Christmas special that premiered on Prime Video on November 25, 2016.
Synopsis
In 1955, Maryellen Larkin lives with her big family in Daytona Beach, Florida, longing to stand out among her siblings and relatives, even if it meant getting herself into certain trouble like making mischief at a store and wearing pants she took from the boys' department, or painting their house's door red.
Then one day a family friend named Benji arrives. Polio-stricken, Benji is unable to walk properly due to his condition and has to wear a leg brace to which Maryellen understands, as she had been a polio victim herself with one of her legs slightly withered. Moved by this, along with the plight of other polio victims at the children's ward, she plans a Christmas party for the patients, only for no one from her siblings to volunteer with her, and to be impeded by the hospital's strict rules.
Maryellen's friend Davy also expresses his doubts about the planned party, leading to an argument and offending Maryellen's feelings. Not willing to despair, she uses her talent in drawing to cheer up the patients, and gives away her pocket money, originally meant to be spent on a trip to Georgia to see her grandparents, to Benji so his mother can pay a visit to him at the hospital. Davy reconciles with Maryellen, and surprise her with making picture frames for her drawings to be shown at the hospital.
Maryellen and her mother arrive at the house, to be met by Grandmom and Grandpop who were paying a surprise visit after hearing about their granddaughter's act of generosity towards the polio victims. They give her a box of snow as a present to make up for not being able to go to Georgia, and Maryellen learns how simple acts of kindness are the best Christmas gift one can give.
Songs
- "Christmas and Everyday" - Best Coast
- "Jingle Bells"
- "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Ella Fitzgerald
- "Up on the Housetop" - Gene Autry with Carl Cotner's Orchestra
Cast
Actress/actor | Role |
---|---|
Alyvia Alyn Lind | Maryellen Larkin |
Mary McCormack | Kay Larkin |
Madison Lawlor | Joan Larkin |
Maxwell Donovan | Davy Fenstermacher |
Samuel Faraci | Benji |
Jessica Belkin | Carolyn Larkin |
Alex MacNicoll | Jerry Ross |
Gerald Downey | Mr. Larkin |
Noelle Parker | Beverly Larkin |
Jax Morgan | Tom Larkin |
Paul Linke | Grandpop |
Mary Phillips | Grandmom |
To Be Listed in Order | |
Sean Leo | Paul - Polio Kid |
Jethro Posz | Polio Kid |