User reviews

Mickey Rooney plays Mike Halligan, a retired cop from Manhattan living in California with his family who decides to show his grandson, who has never seen snow before, what a real white Christmas in New York is like. But he dies from a sudden heart attack in which Halligan makes a deal with the Archangel of Heaven to return to Earth for a week until Christmas and show his grandson the seasonal glories of New York City.

The film is so well made that you can overlook the flaws. The casting is spot on. There is never a dull moment.

The film works so well because it does make New York City a co-star. I also love the bound between Mickey and Scott.

The film is not available on DVD. You can get used VHS copies. Originally running 96 minutes I am afraid that if the film is shown on commercial television that they will cut about 12 minutes out! If you see a VHS buy it.

I actually think this is one of the most underrated Christmas movies ever made. Maybe I'm a sucker for the Christmas tales I watched when I was younger (not that long ago), but I have a special place for this movie in my memory.

I just always thought this movie about a grandfather and his grandson, spending some special days in New York, made me smile during the holidays, and it always made me remember the song with the same title.

I think Mickey Rooney is at his best here, and it also showcases a young Scott Grimes as a likable, everyday kid. I also enjoyed him in "The Night They Saved Christmas", another good-time Christmas flick that came out the same year.

It may not be one of the most WELL-MADE movies of the era, nor is it without the schmaltz of every Christmas movie, but I like to think that the Holidays would not be complete without the token cheesy-storyline movie.

I'll have to add my voice to the others asking why this movie hasn't been shown in years. It was one of the better made for TV Christmas movies. Put it out on DVD, please.

One thing I'll always remember about this movie is this: the last time I remember seeing it was in 1986 right after the birth of my daughter. She was about two days old. The scene of Mickey Rooney in heaven caught her eye and she couldn't take her eyes off the screen. We wondered if it was just the contrast of the stereotyped view of the overbearingly "white" of heaven or if perhaps she was seeing something comfortably familiar. Whatever the reason, she didn't pay any attention to the TV again for months and months.

It's unfortunate that this movie is no longer played on TV or available for retail purchase. It can however be purchased (for a substantial wad of cash) from eBay or Half.com. I give it nine stars for being one of the best of its genre (Family Holiday Movie). It's wholesome without being too cloying. There are a few scenes of heaven and angels but it isn't dreadfully religious. The young child star in this movie, Scott Grimes, is a great actor. He is a nice, kind but not disgustingly cutesy kid (how I miss this sort of low-key child acting in movies today). Mickey Rooney and Scott Grimes have a believeable synergy in this movie. I really miss watching this movie on TV. I watched it repeatedly during the couple of years it was playing, which is something I don't usually do. It's as good as Miracle on 34th Street, so why did it disappear from our radar?

This movie is a wonderful film that I have been trying to find on dvd for my children to watch as I did when I was young. Didn't know it was a TV movie which goes to show just how good of a movie this film was.

Mickey roonie and his voice is part of my childhood..

It is my favorite Holiday movie ever . . . It took me forever to be able to find a copy to purchase and I love watching it . . . I hope that one day it might be released in a dvd format . . . The relationship between the Grandfather and Grandson, reminds me a lot of me and my late Grandmother . .. I recommend it to everybody . . .

The plot for "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" is a good one, and refreshingly different for a Christmas film. Mickey Rooney plays a retired New York City cop, Mike Halligan. He has been living with his daughter and her family in Southern California. He plans to take his young nephew, Robbie, to see a white Christmas in the Big Apple. But, he has a heart attack and dies before Christmas.

In a strange afterlife setting, he gets his chance to go back to complete the trip with his nephew. Only, he's given another mission as the condition for his miraculous and sudden recovery. Although the "heavenly" aspects of this film are a little hokey, the first part of the plot unfolds well.

The rest of the story in New York is a mix of some light comedy, drama and silliness. The plot gets muddled at this point around a lost angel, Wiley Boggs (played by William Griffis). The story loses its punch and goes downhill to the end. Acting by most of the characters is good, but the disjointed plot of the last half, with poor directing, drags this film down.

Another TV movie was made 24 years after this one in which a retired New York cop is one of the leads. The plot for "It's a Wonderful Time of the Year," of 2008, starred Henry Winkler as the cop. It had a more solid plot with good comedy.

Here's my favorite line from this film. Mike Halligan just hangs up the phone talking Robbie's dad. He says to Robbie, "I don't want you to ever hang up on your father like I just did. It's all right for me to do it... because... I'm older and... I'm senile."

This is the best Christmas movie I've ever seen. It's sweet, funny, and sad, and it really brings out the Christmas spirit in everyone. I haven't seen it in a really long time, but I look for it in the TV guide every year at Christmas. I hope they bring it back to Tv.

A pretty good Christmas movie that blends humour and some good Christmas values. Mickey Rooney plays retired NY cop Mike Halligan who is living in California. While he is putting the Christmas lights up he has a heart attack and dies. While waiting at the pearly gates he steps out of line to speak with the Arch Angel (George Gaynes). In turn it is decided that an angel they have sent down is not doing his job in spreading the Christmas Spirit in NYC, so Halligan is sent back to Earth to find him. At the same time Halligan also wants to show his grandson Robbie (Scott Grimes) his first white Christmas in NYC. Some good acting and good laughs kept my eyes from leaving the TV screen. A hard to find classic. Of course best to be watched during the Christmas season.

Also starring Annie Potts as news reporter Cindy Mills and the underrated Elisha Cook Jr. as Mr. Bibb who is standing in line at the pearly gates.

This movie offers a humorous look at the meaning of life and the holiday season. Mickey Rooney plays a retired NY City police detective who dies and is sent back from heaven to find a missing Christmas angel. While he and his grandson search for the angel, who was on a mission to spread Christmas cheer, they find that Christmas, and life, is what you make of it. Excellent for all ages.

I found "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" on YouTube and decided to watch it since this made for TV movie stars Mickey Rooney. Whether or not you'll enjoy it will depend a LOT on if you like schmaltzy films like this...and it oozes with schmaltz!

The story begins with Robbie (Scott Grimes) idolizing his grandfather, Mike (Mickey Rooney). But just a short time later, Grandpa is assuming room temperature...something sure to fill you with the Christmas spirit! Well, dead Grandpa goes up to Heaven and asks the angels for a short reprieve so he can take Robbie to New York City to enjoy Christmas. After all, the kid lives in Southern California and has never seen snow. The angels agree...provided he do them a favor...to locate a lost angel who is supposed to be spreading the Christmas spirit in the rat-infested city of New York. So, Robbie and dead Grandpa head to the big city to fulfill their mission before Grandpa once again starts pushing up the daisies.

I like Mickey Rooney films but wasn't exactly bowled over by this one. Part of it is the schmaltz, but most is any Christmas tale where grandpa dies is pretty much a downer for me. Now I am not saying it's a terrible film...but it just didn't quite hit the mark despite Rooney's charming performance. A time-passer for me...and little more.

If you believe in Christmas and all good things this is a movie for you. Mickey Rooney goes back to New York to bring back the Christmas spirit. If you have any faith and believe this is a great movie for the whole family. Unfortunately people will never know as the networks once again have shelved a good family Christmas movie for the garbage they put on at Christmas or should I say the lack of Christmas movies. Over the years they have been showing fewer and fewer. I would love a chance to own this movie or at least see it on TV again.

Thanx Ian

Any of you who would like this great movie with Mickey Rooney I have it on DVD. Please write me at heuerjessie@yahoo.com for more details. The price is very decent compared to what they are saling for.

Mickey Rooney is great as always in this film. He is such a great actor! In fact, he's my all time favorite.

Visit my web-site at www.mickeyrooneyfanclub.com

Also, I have many other rare films with Mickey Rooney. Just ask me for a title and I probably own it.

I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season. We have lots of reason to be thankful! JESSIE

I remember the first time I saw this movie... I loved it. Every year one of our local channels used to run a 55 hour marathon of Christmas movies,this was one of them. That was about 20 years ago and the marathon is no longer on the air this time of year. But every single Christmas season I look for this movie on TV... of course it's never on. I think it was only shown 2 or 3 years and I miss it!! Instead we get to watch The Christmas Story 24 hours in a row....how exciting! What ever happened to the old meaningful Christmas movies that used to be on? I'm sure if they come back people will watch them. So until then I will always have the memory of this special movie.

i have seen this movie twice,i have tried to buy this movie on video. but sadly it didn't come out on video in Australia. so i bought a used copy through amazon.com but after 6 months of trying to covert the video to pal version it was found the video tape was of poor quality. if anyone out there has a copy of this movie please let me know as i'd really love a copy to watch over and over again. it shows the true meaning of Christmas. my e-mail address is mc_donald_mary@hotmail.com i'm really hoping some one can help me to find this movie as it was one in a million. mickey rooney is a excellent actor and makes the movie so heart warming for all the family to watch.

A loving, jolly grandfather dies, and when he makes it to the Big Man Upstairs, he asks for just one more Christmas to spend with his young grandson. If you don't think that's the worst premise for a Christmas movie ever, then you and I have extremely different tastes. Not only is it terribly sad and obviously depressing, but the grandfather is played by Mickey Rooney. No one wants to see Mickey Rooney-the beloved child star, and the voice of Santa Claus in two Christmas favorites-die on Christmas! Who thought that was a good idea?

Obviously, I've seen this movie. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be reviewing it. However, it's safe to say I'll never watch it again, and I'll never recommend anyone else watch it. Christmas is for watching heartwarming old movies or Hallmark cheesy flicks. You're not supposed to spend it bawling your eyes out and watching grandparents die.

I remember watching this movie on TV when it first aired and a couple of times after that. It hasn't been aired in *ages*, and I have to wonder why it's not aired during the Christmas season, and why it hasn't been released on DVD and/or VHS. I'd prefer DVD, though. Mickey Rooney was wonderful in this movie, as was a young Scott Grimes (now on ER)

Annie Potts played a TV reporter looking for the spirit of Christmas in New York City, but can't seem to do so. Every lead only draws her to the conclusion that the Christmas spirit is gone, and depresses her. But the ending with the grandfather and grandson and their family restores not only her faith, but the faith of an entire city.

A wonderful movie to watch with the family at Chirstmas. Mickey Rooney plays a retired cop who takes his grandson across America back to New York to show him white Christmas. Thats the setup to get you into the festive spirit. But he has a heart attack. In heaven he makes a deal with an angel to return there in a weeks tine after showing his grandson New York at Christmas and the sense of Christmas that pervades the city. Scott Grimes is great as the grandson and those who think they have heard it all before from decades of coming back to earth movies will see that this is different as its a family film for Christmas. Loving, sweet and excellent all round. It captures the Christmans spirit which you will not see in other Christmas films. The reason you don't see it on TV anymore is that it was so successful that it was repeated year after year and now they trying to vary the schedule. But this is a must see.

This movie should be brought to annual television as a classic for all families to enjoy, it should be digitized and brought up to current HD/Blu Ray standards, and be available on Blu Ray, first to make sure it marketable, I would suggest, playing it at Christmas on all major networks to measure how its received by current audiences. if successful, then bring it to Blu Ray after market. This 1984 film was originally made for television, was available on VHS tape and even rental at one time. But it has never been offered in DVD or Blu Ray, or has it been played on Television on an annual basis since to my knowledge, but it should be, and I think many would agree with me on this.

This is a beloved film.........

Richard Bowser St Louis MO

I loved watching this movie as a kid. I wanted to watch it with my kids but can't find it anywhere. I thought it was shown on TV a few times over the years but I don't ever see it any more. I wished it was put to DVD or shown on TV today. I agree with a previous review that this is a great family movie and holds lots of good meaning. Merry Christmas and don't be afraid to say it or why we celebrate it!!!

I haven't seen this one since the 1980s but I was a kid when it came on TV in 1984. I have fond memories of it. It doesn't come on TV anymore I'm not sure why but I think the last time I saw was around 1987 or 1988. I do recommend it if you see it coming on TV watch it you won't be disappointed.