Booky & the Secret Santa

This movie is a true joy to watch as much for the story as it is for the memories of Christmases past. Growing up in Montreal I remember fondly how our family looked forward to receiving the Eaton's Christmas catalogue and dreaming of making our Christmas list for Santa. Simpson's also produced a Christmas catalogue later to be called Simpson/Sears and then simply Sears. This movie and A Christmas Story are truly classic nostalgia. They bring back such wonderful childhood memories when life was simpler and the joy of Christmas filled the air. It is more than just sentimental but a part of our history. Enjoy them both!

It is the depression. Times are hard. People are barely making it. It is now Christmas Time and things look bleak. However Booky is a sweet child that most people adore. She has a such faith in things the Scrooge would not need Marley and 3 ghost to make him enjoy Christmas. All Scrooge would need is Booky.

This Christmas Booky is trying to bring her family the best Christmas possible. But it looks like she is going to need a miracle when her family falls on hard times when her dad loses his job. Watch as Booky teams up with friends, family and a very secret Santa to save Christmas.

Seek this out!

What a sweet period piece this is. Perfect for Christmas and thoroughly feel-good all around, even though it is chockablock with impossible events. It is almost a fairy tale, but that doesn't matter, it's the feeling we get from it that counts. I hope that people everywhere could see this, not just Canadians, but certainly this film would be of particular interest to people in Toronto.

The character Booky is the sweetest child imaginable, what great casting. Set design seems authentic, for as much as I know about the 1930s. This movie is at least as much about the late, lamented T. Eaton Co. as it is about a girl trying to save her family from poverty, unemployment, and the prospect of no Christmas! I think that Canadians may have a few poignant memories of Eaton's thanks to this movie.

This was a very special program for me as my mother was Booky's age during the time period in which the story is set. I saw my mother and her family in Booky's. She was born and raised in Toronto during the depression years and her family was not well off. I was actually brought to tears. Eaton's was very important to Toronto then and for many years to come. It was a sad day for Torontonians when Sears took over Eatons. Nevertheless, this production is very meaningful for families who've had generation after generation living in Toronto. I can remember attending the Eaton's Christmas Parties when I was a child. Not at the family's home, but in an auditorium in the Eaton Store. All the children got a gift and some candies. These are lovely memories for my Mother and her children. Thank you CBC

Ahhh the Eaton's Santa Claus parade and the magic of the old man winter Santa Claus was all brought back to life in my old memory bank having been born and raised in Toronto. Kenneth Welsh plays Mr. Eaton aka/the secret Santa leading his wooden sleigh of reindeers down Queen Street and "Ho Ho Ho'ing" the children of Toronto.

This is such a marvelous piece of the City of Toronto' nostalgia and it certainly does remind me of my own childhood Christmases' with my four siblings and loving parents. We didn't have much as far as financial wealth, nor did we own a big house, but our parents taught us what was important in life. This is the story of little Booky's childhood Christmas season and how she innocently wiggled her sweet little heart and generous thoughtfulness into the heart of Mr. Eaton.

I will admit it, I am a grown old man and yes I did cry. This little Canadian based film will never become as well known as the 1947 Miracle on 34th Street, but in the hearts of old Torontonians like myself and my family it does represent the true spirit of giving during the Christmas season and this darling little girl Booky/ Beatrice Thomson played by Rachel Marcus is overwhelming to the heart and a real scene stealer.

Merry Christmas everyone and remember it is better to give than to receive.

I give this little CBC Christmas themed film a perfect 10 out of 10 IMDB rating.