Moonlight and Mistletoe
Encyclopedia
Moonlight and Mistletoe is a 2008
Christmas-themed television film directed by Karen Arthur
.
, open 365 days a year. Fed up with being the second fiddle of her father, who is devoted to the amusement park with all of his heart and soul, she leaves him in her teenage years. Years later, she is a successful businesswoman in the big city. Although devoted to her work, she does not have a social life. One day, near Christmas, she receives a call from Peter, her father's employee, informing her he was injured in a sleighing accident. Although she is estranged from her father, she immediately packs her bags and heads back to Santaville.
There, she does not plan on staying a very long time. Her father, on the other hand, is delighted by her arrival and is enthusiastic about spending Christmas with her. This upsets Peter, who notices the coldness of Holly and her lack of interest in Christmas. Holly soon finds out Peter is a guy she met in her teenage years and that she inspired his interest in The Nutcracker
. She is shocked to discover that her father is near bankruptcy
and that he will lose Santaville. She tries to prevent this, and although she has trouble collecting the finance, she softens up in the process, grows closer to Peter, and remembers the true meaning of Christmas.
One day, she meets Ben Richards, a seemingly friendly financial adviser
who decides to help her save Santaville. This makes Peter jealous, who has secretly fallen in love with Holly. She and Ben help Nick get a silent partner, but Nick is not interested, much to Holly's anger. Upset with him, she decides to confront him with being the second fiddle. He explains that he has trouble dealing with her mother's death and that he has thrown himself on his work so he would not be forced to deal with the grief. They reconcile and he finally allows her to help him.
Holly convinces Nick to sign a partnership with Ben, but she finds out that Ben was only interested in Nick's money and that he tried to set him up. When the Crosbys find out they will have to come up with $50,000 to save Santaville, they start a nationwide promotion for the amusement park. Although a lot of people travel to the amusement park, it proves not to be enough to save Santaville. In the end, Peter saves the day by selling his Nutcracker dolls he has made as a hobby for a large sum. Nick kisses Ginny, a devoted employee who always has had a crush on him. In a voice-over, Holly announces that she has married Peter and that she is expecting to have his baby.
stated in an interview that she decided to do the film because of the simplicity of its story and that it, according to the actress, grabbed you by the heart. Filming took place in Chester, Vermont
, in June 2008. A lot of fake snow had to be brought in to make it seem like it was winter. Bure said that the cast and crew had fun filming a Christmas film in the summer.
According to Bure, the film sparked Tom Arnold
's departure from his sarcastic comedy roles. In an interview, she told she enjoyed working with Arnold, calling him a 'comedic genius'.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Christmas-themed television film directed by Karen Arthur
Karen Arthur
Karen Arthur is an American film director, producer, and actress. She has directed two feature films, Lady Beware and The Mafu Cage , but the majority of her work has been in television, where she has had a long and prolific career directing television movies and series...
.
Plot
Holly Crosby is the daughter of Nick Crosby, the owner of Santaville, an amusement park focusing on ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, open 365 days a year. Fed up with being the second fiddle of her father, who is devoted to the amusement park with all of his heart and soul, she leaves him in her teenage years. Years later, she is a successful businesswoman in the big city. Although devoted to her work, she does not have a social life. One day, near Christmas, she receives a call from Peter, her father's employee, informing her he was injured in a sleighing accident. Although she is estranged from her father, she immediately packs her bags and heads back to Santaville.
There, she does not plan on staying a very long time. Her father, on the other hand, is delighted by her arrival and is enthusiastic about spending Christmas with her. This upsets Peter, who notices the coldness of Holly and her lack of interest in Christmas. Holly soon finds out Peter is a guy she met in her teenage years and that she inspired his interest in The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
. She is shocked to discover that her father is near bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and that he will lose Santaville. She tries to prevent this, and although she has trouble collecting the finance, she softens up in the process, grows closer to Peter, and remembers the true meaning of Christmas.
One day, she meets Ben Richards, a seemingly friendly financial adviser
Financial adviser
A financial adviser, is a professional who renders financial services to individuals, businesses and governments. This can involve investment advice, which may include pension planning, and/or advice on life insurance and other insurances such as income protection insurance, critical illness...
who decides to help her save Santaville. This makes Peter jealous, who has secretly fallen in love with Holly. She and Ben help Nick get a silent partner, but Nick is not interested, much to Holly's anger. Upset with him, she decides to confront him with being the second fiddle. He explains that he has trouble dealing with her mother's death and that he has thrown himself on his work so he would not be forced to deal with the grief. They reconcile and he finally allows her to help him.
Holly convinces Nick to sign a partnership with Ben, but she finds out that Ben was only interested in Nick's money and that he tried to set him up. When the Crosbys find out they will have to come up with $50,000 to save Santaville, they start a nationwide promotion for the amusement park. Although a lot of people travel to the amusement park, it proves not to be enough to save Santaville. In the end, Peter saves the day by selling his Nutcracker dolls he has made as a hobby for a large sum. Nick kisses Ginny, a devoted employee who always has had a crush on him. In a voice-over, Holly announces that she has married Peter and that she is expecting to have his baby.
Cast
- Candace Cameron BureCandace Cameron BureCandace Helaine Cameron is an American actress and author best known for playing DJ Tanner on the television series Full House from ages 10 to 18. She is the sister of Kirk Cameron and the sister-in-law of Chelsea Noble...
as Holly Crosby - Tom ArnoldTom Arnold (actor)Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
as Nick Crosby - Christopher WiehlChristopher Wiehl-Life and career:Wiehl was born in Yakima, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dramatic arts. He is the brother of legal analyst Lis Wiehl....
as Peter - Barbara Niven as Ginny
- Matt WaltonMatt WaltonMatthew R. Walton is an American stage, screen and television actor.-Early life:Walton was born and raised in rural New Jersey. His father was a lawyer and film enthusiast...
as Ben Richards - Richard Waterhouse as Mr. Jennings
- Heather Remick as Della Wallace
- Lillian Pritchard as Teenage Holly
- Ari Larson as Teenage Peter
- Kaily Smith as Brenda
Production
Candace Cameron BureCandace Cameron Bure
Candace Helaine Cameron is an American actress and author best known for playing DJ Tanner on the television series Full House from ages 10 to 18. She is the sister of Kirk Cameron and the sister-in-law of Chelsea Noble...
stated in an interview that she decided to do the film because of the simplicity of its story and that it, according to the actress, grabbed you by the heart. Filming took place in Chester, Vermont
Chester, Vermont
Chester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census. The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were not met and the town was re-chartered as New Flamstead in 1761...
, in June 2008. A lot of fake snow had to be brought in to make it seem like it was winter. Bure said that the cast and crew had fun filming a Christmas film in the summer.
According to Bure, the film sparked Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
's departure from his sarcastic comedy roles. In an interview, she told she enjoyed working with Arnold, calling him a 'comedic genius'.