It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
The Littlest Angel (1969) – Musical #791

Studio:
Hallmark Hall of Fame

Director:
Joe Layton

Starring:
Johnny Whitaker, Fred Gwynne, Cab Calloway, E.G. Marshall, John McGiver, Tony Randall, George Rose, Connie Stevens, James Coco, Evelyn Russell, Cris Alexander, George Blackwell, Mary Jo Catlett, Lu Leonard

Plot:
On his eighth birthday, shepherd Michael (Whitaker) falls to his death while chasing a dove. He is assigned to guardian angel, Patience (Gwynne) to help him adapt to life in heaven, but Michael misses his family and wants to go home.

Trivia:
• Based on the children’s book “The Littlest Angel” by Charles Tazewell, which was first published in 1946.
• Aired on NBC on the “Hallmark Hall of Fame” on Dec. 6, 1969

Highlights:
• Cab Calloway
• When Michael is trying to pray, getting frustrated by the angel choir singing along
• Fred Gwynne singing

Notable Songs:
• “I’m Master of All I Survey” performed by Johnny Whitaker
• “The Heavenly Ever After” performed by Cab Calloway and the Chorus
• “You Can Fly” performed by Connie Stevens
• “Once Upon Another Time” performed by Fred Gwynne
• “You’re Not Real” performed by Tony Randall
• “What Do You Do (When You Say You’re Doin’ Nothin’)” performed by Fred Gwynne
• “I Bring You Good Tidings” performed by the chorus

My review:
I love any made-for-TV holiday special and from any era. Melodramas like “Christmas Without Snow” (1980), television show pilots like “The Homecoming” (1971) to adaptations of “A Christmas Carol” like “Ebbie” (1996). So of course, “The Littlest Angel” (1969) was on my list to watch.

Starring Johnny Whitaker and Fred Gwynne, the story is set in Biblical times and follows Michael (Whitaker), who dies on his eighth birthday while chasing a dove. Michael arrives in heaven and is confused about where he is and why he can’t go home. He’s reluctant to do the tasks to become an angel, like wearing the proper garb and learning how to fly. Michael is assigned to Patience (Gwynne), his guardian angel, who is also being tested for how well he helps Michael.

If you’re a fan of the 1960s TV show, “Family Affair,” you’re well familiar with little Johnny Whitaker, with his curly red hair, freckles and winning smile. He’s awfully cute in this.

It’s also great fun seeing Fred Gwynne after his stint on the TV show, “The Munsters.” Gwynne’s character Patience bumbles a bit, but not quite like Herman Munster. One great treat in this is hearing Fred Gwynne sing! I had no idea he had such a beautiful voice.

Another treat is that this TV special has a star-studded cast: Cab Calloway, E.G. Marshall, John McGiver, Tony Randall and Connie Stevens — wow! Cab Calloway was a major highlight for me, as he played Gabriel the angel. Connie Stevens tries to teach Michael how to fly, Tony Randall sings about what angel profession one should have, John McGiver greets people as they enter heaven and E.G. Marshall is God.

Visually, this television special is a bit odd. The backdrop is the swirling purple backdrop – why not just have a set. They also beat you to death with songs in this 90 minute special.

I don’t want to say that I disliked “The Littlest Angel” (1969), because I love all of the actors in it. But somehow, it was more exhausting than anything. I was glad when it ended, but Johnny Whitaker definitely was adorable.

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