Happy Christmas, Miss King (1998)
Cast and Credits
Alternate titles: An Avonlea Christmas (Sullivan Entertainment home video and DVD; CTV rebroadcast); Joyeux Noël, Mlle King (French-Canadian title).
Produced by Miss King Productions Inc. in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Production Services provided by Sullivan Entertainment Inc. Produced with the participation of Canada Television and Cable Production Fund, Telefilm Canada: Equity Investment Program, CTCPF: Licence Fee Program, and with the assistance/participation of the Government of Canada Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program. Running time: 95 minutes. CBC airdate: 13 Dec. 1998.
Jackie Burroughs (Hetty King), Lally Cadeau (Janet King), Mag Ruffman (Olivia Dale), Cedric Smith (Alec King), Zachary Bennett (Felix King), Molly Atkinson (Cecily King), Patricia Hamilton (Rachel Lynde), and Gema Zamprogna (Felicity Pike).
Sullivan Entertainment Presents. Adapted from the novels The Story Girl, The Golden Road, Chronicles of Avonlea, and Further Chronicles of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Executives for CBC: Susan Morgan and Catherine Denson. Executive Producers: Trudy Grant and Kevin Sullivan. Produced by Kevin Sullivan. Executive in Charge of Production: Ray Sager. Written by Raymond Storey. Directed by Stefan Scaini.
Commentary and Synopsis
Set in December 1914, this Road to Avonlea follow-up movie reunites the majority of the original cast. Produced without the involvement of the Disney Channel, this film is considerably darker in tone and theme than its seven-year predecessor: after nineteen-year-old Felix (Bennett) is listed as “missing in action” at the beginning of the Great War, the rest of the King family attempts to keep up the Christmas cheer. For most of the movie, however, the other characters seem more concerned with their own problems than with the suspense of not knowing whether Felix is alive or dead. Although the movie relies too heavily on recycled plots, recycled music, and recycled exterior footage from earlier productions, TV Guide gave it an A+ rating. Nominated for three Gemini Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Ruffman), Best Direction, and Best TV Movie or Dramatic Mini-Series.
Merchandise
Home Video
Happy Christmas, Miss King. Sullivan Entertainment, 1999.
Happy Christmas, Miss King: A “Road to Avonlea” Movie. Bridgestone Multimedia Group, 1999.
An Avonlea Christmas. Sullivan Entertainment, [2003].
DVD
An Avonlea Christmas. Sullivan Entertainment, [2003].
Further Reading
Adilman, Sid. “Anne Shirley on ice just one Avonlea revival considered.” Toronto Star 16 Jan. 1997: D10.
—. “Avonlea cast comes home for Christmas.” Toronto Star 3 Aug. 1998: C6.
Allemang, John. “Television.” Globe and Mail 12 Dec. 1998: C9.
Blakey, Bob. “Back to Avonlea.” TV Times 12 Dec. 1998: 6.
Carriere, Ken. “At the Movies.” TV Guide 12 Dec. 1998: 13.
Fonda, Peter. “Purrfect fare for the season.” Toronto Star 13 Dec. 1998: [page number].
Hawkins, Shannon. “Back in Avonlea for the holidays.” Ottawa Sun 12 Dec. 1998: 41.
