A House Without a Christmas Tree

Jason Robards plays a stern, withdrawn widower in 1940s Nebraska who has never gotten over losing his wife in childbirth. His grief makes him ban the Christmas tree from his household, and his sharp-witted ten-year-old daughter, played by Lisa Lucas, is the one who feels it most. It’s a tender, small-scale holiday drama about a family learning to heal, with the kind of quiet emotional payoff that makes it a favorite for a cozy December night.

This 1972 telefilm first aired on CBS and was directed by Paul Bogart. Robards went on to win two Academy Awards, and Mildred Natwick, who plays a family member, is a beloved veteran of stage and screen. The movie has been a holiday rerun staple for decades, a gentle story with a message about hope that feels just right for the season.

• Format — DVD, full frame, color
• Run Time — 1 hour, 15 minutes (75 minutes)
• Rating — Not Rated
• Release — DVD released October 2007, originally aired on CBS in 1972