On that winter morning nearly three years ago, Richard Paul Evans never dreamed the Christmas story he was writing for his daughters would touch the lives of thousands - or that it would make the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Nor did he fathom that the Yuletide tale would eventually be the basis for a CBS Sunday night movie - potentially reaching the homes of 20 million viewers."I feel like I'm a passenger on a pretty phenomenal ride," said Brother Evans of the Cottonwood 9th Ward, Salt Lake Cottonwood Stake. Originally, the advertising executive wrote the small book as a Christmas present for his family and in remembrance of a little sister who was stillborn.
But the story has taken on a life of its own. (Please see related article on this page.)
"The Christmas Box," based on the book by the same name, will air Dec. 17 on CBS at 8 p.m. (MST and CST) and 9 p.m. (PST and EST) starring well-known actress and actor Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas. The 90-minute movie was produced by Beth Polson, who was the producer of "Go Toward the Light," based on the true story of an LDS boy who died of AIDS in the 1980s, the result of a blood transfusion. (Please see Church News Oct. 22, 1988.)
Co-producing "The Christmas Box" was Bonneville Producers Group, a division of Bonneville International Corp., based in Salt Lake City.
"The Christmas Box" tells the touching tale of a young father, his wife and little girl who move into an old Victorian-style mansion to care for an elderly lady. The drama - and the magic - unfold as the father, Richard, who is working long hours building a struggling small business, spends more and more time away from his family. The elderly woman, Mary, notices Richard's absences and also the longing of his little girl for her father's attention.
Slowly, but not always so gently, Mary begins to prod Richard to give time to his family. At first the young father is annoyed by her prodding, but he then embarks on a personal journey of discovery and love as he finds a "Christmas box" in the attic in which are old letters to an unknown "beloved one" and also dreams of a mysterious "stone angel." The story climaxes as Richard learns of the tragedy behind Mary's wisdom and the lesson of "the first Christmas gift."
In a telephone interview, Ms. O'Hara, renowned for roles in such movies as "The Quiet Man," co-starring John Wayne, and the original "Miracle on 34th Street," spoke with the Church News about portraying Mary in "The Christmas Box."
"I liked Mary," the actress said. "I thought she was a feisty, stubborn woman, and I loved the story. I liked the Christmas implications and the fact that it had a religious background without preaching. It is a warm, wonderful story."
The point of the movie, she said, "is that love of your family is terribly important. To me, Christmas is more than just presents, wrapped in tinsel and ribbons."
During a separate telephone interview, Mr. Thomas, who also narrated an audio-tape of the book, explained: "Basically, it's a story about paying attention. Usually in your life there are very important things going on under your nose, especially if you have children, and there are different ways your attention can get redirected to what's important. If you're lucky, it's not too late. Life is very brief."
Continuing, the actor, made famous by his role of John Boy on the television series "The Waltons," expressed delight that the spiritual nature of the book was retained in the film. "There's not much point in making a Christmas story without the spiritual nature," he said. Mr. Thomas also starred in "Go Toward the Light."
In speaking of her role as producer, Ms. Polson, a three-time Emmy Award winner, said she read The Christmas Box after three friends in Utah sent her copies. "I thought, `Somebody's trying to tell me something.' "
She read the book while on a plane flight from North Carolina to California. "I knew by the time I got to Dallas it was a movie I was supposed to do."
Early this year, Ms. Polson agreed with Bonneville Producers Group to co-produce the movie.
The message of the book drew her to the project, she explained. She related that her mother lost two children. "I felt that this story was something that spoke to a personal part of my family situation. This is a project that says the eternal things are the things you should be giving your time and attention."
Bonneville executive producers Chris Harding and Al Henderson spoke of why they sought to make the book into a movie. "The CEO of Bonneville International gave our company a mandate to create and support values-driven programming for families, both in television and in home media," Brother Harding said.
"This is the Sunday before Christmas," Brother Henderson said of the Dec. 17 air date. "From a scheduling point, this is a perfect spot. It's going cause people to pause and think about the true meaning of Christmas."
