The Littlest Angel is a Hallmark Hall of Fame musical presentation for NBC, based on Charles Tazewell's unproduced 1939 radio script, which turned into a 1945 children's book, executive produced by Lester Osterman and Lan O'Kun, with the latter of whom cowrote the teleplay, that premiered on December 6, 1969.
Synopsis[]
| This page about a Christmas special or an episode from a television series with a Christmas theme is in need of a longer synopsis. You can help the Christmas Special Wiki by expanding this synopsis. |
Michael is a young Shepard boy, who lives in Biblical times, and enjoys being with the sheep, and collecting various earthly delights and keeping them in his special box (I'm Master of All I Survey). On his 8th birthday, Michael finds himself pursuing a white dove, up a mountain and over a cliff.
The next thing Michael knows, he finds himself a young angel in Heaven (Where am I?). A kindly, but bumbling guardian angel named Patience is assigned to help Michael adjust to life in the hereafter. Despite Patience's efforts, it's a struggle for Michael to adjust, as Heaven is very different from Earth (Where is Blue?), and he misses his former life as a Shepard boy, and the simple pleasures of his home on Earth (Once Upon Another Time). Michael goes on to befriend several other angels, including the head choir angel, Gabriel, who leads the welcoming party (Heavenly Ever After), the Flying Mistress, Ariel, who attempts to teach Michael how to fly (You Can Fly), and the philosophizing angel, Democritus, who ponders if Heaven is nothing more than a dream (You're Not Real), but he still does not understand either his place, or his purpose in heaven (What Do You Do, (When You Say You're Doing Nothing)?). Patience assures Michael that he'll know his purpose in Heaven when the time is right.
Patience reluctantly allows Michael to make a brief return to Earth to re-claim his treasure box from Earth, to help him feel more at home (I Have Saved). Although Michael speaks to his parents, they can neither see nor hear him, but somehow can feel his presence. Upon Michael's return, all the angels are now preparing gifts for the upcoming birth of God's son, the newborn king (I Bring You Good Tidings/May It Bring Him Pleasure). Michael is unsure what he should give, as he has little to offer, and Patience is no longer around to guide him, having been relieved of his duties of Guardian Angel, by the head Angel of the Peace, for allowing Michael to return to Earth. On his own, Michael ultimately decides to give his beloved box as a gift (I Have Saved (Reprise)). Michael worries that his gift won't be good enough, but Patience returns and assures him that any heartfelt gift is worth something. In the end, God, while pleased with all the angels gifts, gives special recognition to Michael's box of Earthly treasures, as they're the same delights his son will enjoy during his time on Earth. God declares Michael's box will travel the Earth and settle over a stable where the newborn king is to be born, and it will be known as 'THE SHINING STAR OF BETHLEHEM'.
Cast[]
| Actor/actress(es) | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Johnny Whitaker | Michael |
| Fred Gwynne | Patience (Guardian Angel) |
| Cab Calloway | Gabriel |
| E.G. Marshall | God |
| John McGiver | Angel of the Peace |
| Tony Randall | Democritus |
| George Rose | Celestial Psychopomp |
| Connie Stevens | The Flying Mistress |
| James Coco | Father |
| Evelyn Russell | Mother |
| Cris Alexander | Raphael |
| George Blackwell | Coach Driver |
| Mary Jo Catlett Lu Leonard |
Scribes |
| Uncredited | |
| Christine Spencer | 2nd Choir Angel (Soloist) |
External link[]
| This page about a Christmas movie is a stub. Please help The Christmas Special Wiki by expanding this article. |