History Film / TheChristmasThatAlmostWasnt

Though initially released to theaters in 1966, it enjoyed a run on Creator/{{HBO}} in the '70s and early '80s. In 2017, it made a return as one of the films riffed on in the Creator/{{Netflix}} revival of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. For more information on that episode, click [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S11E13TheChristmasthatAlmostWasnt here]].

** Under international law, no nation owns the North Pole (several nations have claimed it for themselves, but these claims are not legally recognized by the international community) so Mr. Whipple could have made a valid case that whoever Mr. Prune bought the North Pole from didn't have it to sell in the first place, making his status as Santa's landlord legally void.

** Also, because Santa has lived continuously on the property for centuries, he may have a right of adverse possession ("squatters rights") that would limit the right to evict him. Really, Mr. Whipple should have at least filed for a preliminary injunction against eviction until these questions were settled.

''Il natale che quasi non fu'' (aka ''The Christmas That Almost Wasn't'') (1966) is a fairly low-budget Italian-made Christmas special, directed by and co-starring Creator/RossanoBrazzi.

[[MeaningfulName Phineas T. Prune]] charges an exorbitant amount of rent to Santa, his wife and their elf workers up at the North Pole; Prune locks down the sleigh and Santa's gift-giving operations unless he pays through the nose. What can be done?

Enter Sam Whipple, a lawyer who, as a child, offered his help to Santa in his letter, and just before Christmas, Santa shows up to see the offer fulfilled...

Though initially released to theaters in 1966, it enjoyed a run on Creator/{{HBO}} in the 70s and early 80s. In 2017, it made a return as one of the films riffed on in the Creator/{{Netflix}} revival of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. For more information on that episode, click [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S11E13TheChristmasthatAlmostWasnt here]].

* AnimatedCreditsOpening: Complete with a very catchy theme tune.
* BigFancyHouse: Prune's would be one, if it were in better upkeep. And, after the cleanup at the end, it is one again.

* ChildHater: Phineas T. Prune. He hates everything about them, hates to see them happy, and especially hates Christmas. He's forgotten that he ever was a child, a fact he's reminded of at the end when his FreudianExcuse is rectified.

* DeusExMachina: ... until Charlie, improbably dragging his last-minute Christmas tree down the same street Santa and Whipple are sitting, learns of their predicament and summons all the children on the street to contribute, lifting Santa and Whipple's spirits.

* ForTheEvulz: Prune also seems to have no concrete explanation for why he does what he does, until the end, when he gets better.

* HeelFaceTurn: As we see Prune gripping his sailboat which he finally got at the end. And hammered home when he gives it to a little boy at the VERY end!

* HypercompetentSidekick: Blossom views himself as one to Prune.

* LargeHam: Prune, who embraces every evil villain stereotype with gusto.

* Main/MrsClaus: Referred as "Mrs. Santa" in the film and posters, she's one of the main characters and is seen reading a Christmas letter Prune sent to Santa as a child wishing for a sailboat.
* NothingPersonal: Prune has nothing against Santa--it's the children that he hates.
* OffscreenTeleportation: Prune somehow makes his way ''to the North Pole'', ''every night'', just to demand the rent money from the Clauses. (The movie implies that he simply walks there!) He even times his visits to coincide with their supperertime, [[ForTheEvulz just so he can spoil their dinner]].

* ServileSnarker: Blossom, Prune's butler.

* TimeCompressionMontage: When Santa finally gets to deliver his gifts, after a reprise of "I've Got A Date With Santa."
* TriumphantReprise: Their is one in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eINEr5dqTAE soundtrack]].

* VillainSong: "The Name of the Song is Prune"...in theory, anyway. It doesn't actually say anything about Prune himself and is just a melody that arbitrarily spouts off words that rhyme with prune.
** A proper one is arguably [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GSKEAjG2R4 'Kids Get All the Breaks']] from the soundtrack.

-->'''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Tom Servo:]]''' A lawyer who doesn't bill his clients? Okay, [[ArbitrarySkepticism this movie just became unbelievable]].

Though initially released to theaters in 1966, it enjoyed a run on Creator/{{HBO}} in the 70s and early 80s. In 2017, it made a return as one of the films riffed on in the Creator/{{Netflix}} revival of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. For more information on that episode, click [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S11E13TheChristmasthatAlmostWasnt here]].\n\nNeedsWikiMagicLove!\n

Though initially released to theaters in 1966, it enjoyed a run on Creator/{{HBO}} in the 70s and early 80s.

Though initially released to theaters in 1966, it enjoyed a run on Creator/{{HBO}} in the 70s and early 80s. In 2017, it made a return as one of the films riffed on in the Creator/{{Netflix}} revival of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''. For more information on that episode, click [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S11E13TheChristmasthatAlmostWasnt here]].

NeedsWikiMagicLove!

* VoodooShark: Whipple doesn't just pay the rent himself because he's behind on sending bills to his clients and so has little cash in hand. He then spends a month working in a toyshop instead of just mailing those bills.

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives out presents, Santa explains that not only does GoodFeelsGood, but also that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the film's DarkestHour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, they all join together in giving their money to Santa, as thanks for all he has done for them, allowing Santa to pay Prune's rent in time, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the film.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[invoked]]As we see Prune [[TearJerker gripping his sailboat which he finally got]] at the end. And hammered home when he [[TearJerker gives it to a little boy at the VERY end]]!

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives out presents, Santa explains that not only does GoodFeelsGood, but also that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the film's DarkestHour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, they all join together in giving their money to , as thanks for all Santa has done for them, allowing Santa to pay Prune's rent in time, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the film.

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives out presents, Santa explains that not only does GoodFeelsGood, but also that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the film's DarkestHour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, they all join together in giving their money to Santa, as thanks for all has done for them, allowing Santa to pay Prune's rent in time, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the film.

* HeelFaceTurn: As we see Prune [[TearJerker gripping his sailboat which he finally got]] at the end. And hammered home when he [[TearJerker gives it to a little boy at the VERY end]]!

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives presents, Santa explains that not only does GoodFeelsGood, but also that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the film's darkest hour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, as thanks for all he does for them, the children join together in giving their money to Santa, allowing him to pay Prune's rent, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the film.

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives presents, Santa explains not only that GoodFeelsGood, but also so that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the film's darkest hour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, as thanks for all he does for them, the children join together in giving their money to Santa, allowing him to pay Prune's rent, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the film.

* AnimatedCreditsOpening: Complete with a [[EarWorm very catchy theme tune]].

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives presents, Santa explains not only that GoodFeelsGood, but also so that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the Film's Darkest Hour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, as thanks for all he does for them, the children join together in giving their Money to Santa, allowing him to pay Prune's Rent, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the Film.

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives presents, Santa explains not only that GoodFeelsGood, but also so that those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the Film's Darkest Hour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, as thanks for all he does for them, the children join together in giving their Money to Santa, allowing him to pay Prune's Rent, in what is arguably the SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for the Film.

* TheIdealistWasRight: When Prune asks Santa why he gives presents, Santa explains that not only does GoodFeelGood, but also so those he gives to learn the value of giving themselves. Later, during the Film's Darkest Hour, when the children learn about Santa's problem, as thanks for all he does for them, the children join together in giving their Money to Santa, allowing him to pay Prune's Rent, in what is arguably the Crowning Moment Of Heartwarming for the Film.

* RhymesOnADime: A rare instance of this trope that overlaps with PainfulRhyme. The rhymes during the song "The Name of the Song is Prune," are all fairly natural, but have ''nothing'' to do with Prune himself and [[ThatRemindsMeOfASong exist solely to fill out the melody]]. This is directly noted in the chorus.