''The Christmas Tree'' is a 1996 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made fo ...

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by Sally Field, starring

Julie Harris Julia Ann Harris (December 2, 1925August 24, 2013) was an American actress. Renowned for her classical and contemporary stage work, she received five Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play. Harris debuted on Broadway in 1945, against the wish ...

and

Andrew McCarthy Andrew Thomas McCarthy (born November 29, 1962) is an American actor, travel writer, and television director. He is most known as a member of the Brat Pack, with roles in 1980s films such as ''St. Elmo's Fire'', ''Pretty in Pink'', and '' Less ...

and produced by

Walt Disney Television Disney General Entertainment Content, doing business as Walt Disney Television, is an American entertainment company that oversees television content and assets owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Forming the company's General Enter ...

which premiered on ABC on December 22, 1996.

Plot

A story about a forming friendship between an elderly nun, Sister Anthony (

), and New York's

Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center is a large complex consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th Street and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The 14 original Art Deco buildings, commissioned by the Rockefeller family, span th ...

's head gardener Richard Reilly (

), who wants to fell a tree which she has been growing for decades and move it to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

for

display.

Cast

as Sister Anthony *

as Richard Reilly *

Trini Alvarado Trinidad "Trini" Alvarado (born January 10, 1967) is an American actress best known for her performances as Margaret "Meg" March in the 1994 film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel ''Little Women'' and Lucy Lynskey in the comedy/horror fi ...

as Beth * Betty Aberlin as Sister Sarah *

Jessica Hecht Jessica Hecht is an American actress and singer who played Gretchen Schwartz on ''Breaking Bad'', Susan Bunch on ''Friends'', and Carol on '' The Boys''. She has also made numerous Broadway appearances. Early life and education Hecht was born ...

as Sister Mary * Anne Pitoniak as Mother Superior Frances * Colin Quinn as Tom *Suzi Hofrichter as Anna *Imogene Bliss as Sister Lucia *Therese Courtney as Mother Superior (1939) *Lulee Fisher as Sister Rose *Shannon Holt as Sister Lucia (1939 / 1959) *Lynne Innerst as Sister Frances *Chad Luberger as Roy *Kathleen McEntee as Sister Margaret *Zachary Mott as Anna's Father *Beverly Owings as Matron of the Orphanage *Jaime Shapiro as Doreen *Daniel Sweazen as Helicopter Pilot *Katherine Sweeney as Terry *Cornell J. Wallace as Harvey / Workman *Dave Whalen as Sven *Nili Bassman as Anna (age 18)

Release

''The Christmas Tree'' had international release under several titles: In

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

as ''Arbre de Noël, L' Canada'', In

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

as ''Árbol de Navidad, El Spain'', in

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

as ''A Árvore de Natal Brazil'' (

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

), in

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

as ''Dentro ton Hristougennon, To Greece'', and in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

as ''Der Weihnachtsbaum''. It was made available in October 2001 on VHS in Spanish and English.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Christmas Tree 1996 television films 1996 films 1990s Christmas drama films American Christmas drama films Christmas television films Films about nuns Films about trees Films directed by Sally Field Disney television films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films

Plot

Cast

Release

See also

References

External links