This is a practically perfect family film for Christmas. Not only is it beautifully photographed as almost a Christmas Card come to life, but having been made for television, it's only 55 minutes long, so even the smaller children won't get restless. The tone and look of the picture are as warm and nostalgic as the story was written to be by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. The small Welsh village where it was filmed is beautiful with its half-timbered houses, stone walls and plentiful snow.

As the story says, "It was always snowing at Christmas. December in my memory is as white as Lapland, though without the reindeer." Though picturesque, the story is true to life with its mischievous boys throwing snowballs, uncles sleeping after large Christmas dinners and slightly tipsy aunts singing in the garden. The story is not so much a greatly plotted piece as a series of humorous vignettes and is unencumbered by any big message other than love and family life.

Mathonwy Reeves plays the boy, Thomas, through whose eyes everything and everyone is seen. But of equal importance is Denholm Elliott as Old Geraint, his grandfather who tells the story to him on Christmas Eve. This is not just a voice over but often we see Old Geraint narrating the story to cheer the boy who is sad to see it raining on Christmas Eve. He has the perfect look and voice for the role and they couldn't have picked a better actor for the part. The family members and village boys and townspeople are equally well-played and despite the short overall time, come off as real people.

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At the end of the movie the song “All Through the Night” is played. This is a Welsh folk tune and the lyrics are found on page 35 of Golden Nuggets.