The Christmas Tree (1969 film)

L'Arbre de Noël (internationally released as The Christmas Tree) is a 1969 French-Italian drama film directed by Terence Young and starring William Holden, Bourvil and Virna Lisi. It was defined as "the most tearful film of sixties". The film was co-produced by Italy where it was released as L'albero di Natale.

Plot
The story follows a Frenchman named Laurent and his son Pascal, who live somewhere in France. Along the way, the widower Laurent meets and falls for the beautiful Catherine, but also learns that his son is dying after witnessing the explosion of a plane with a nuclear device inside. Finding this out, Laurent and Pascal have a string of adventures with Catherine along.

Cast

 * William Holden as Laurent Ségur
 * Bourvil as Verdun
 * Virna Lisi as Catherine Graziani
 * Madeleine Damien as Marinette
 * Mario Feliciani as Le docteur
 * Friedrich von Ledebur as Vernet
 * Georges Douking as L'animalier (as Douking)
 * Michel Thomass as L'ami corse
 * Jean-Pierre Castaldi as Le motard de la gendermerie
 * Yves Barsacq as Charlie le breton - le pompiste
 * France Daunic as La monitrice
 * Brook Fuller as Pascal Ségur

Release
The film opened September 25, 1969 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. It grossed $200,000 in its opening week.