Freddie the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner (1981)

An HBO Special way back in 1981, it's available on "Red Skelton Farewell Specials" DVD (Mill Creek) from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. There are 3 additional HBO specials on the disc, with "Funny Faces III" being the best, (in my opinion) but this alone is a reason for buying it-quality is surprising good! Not a stand-up routine, this IMDb reference is misleading. It's a 50 minute well-produced video program with good production values. An all-star cast including Imogene Cocca and Vincent Price, all very old, and it's all very pleasant to see them "alive" again! Red plays "Freddie the Freeloader" in a marvelous indoor set that portrays a city in Wintertime. Quite predictable, as Freddie sings a few songs and does some pantomime as well. A simple story of "street people" and "street urchins" coping with poverty and need at Christmastime. Absolutely charming although no one would ever confuse "Freddy" the hobo with an eccentric "rich man". He ends up sharing a banquet dinner with "The Professor", played by Vincent Price, and two penniless children at the most ridiculously expensive and "snootiest" restaurant in town. It's more in the line of a fable or fairy tale in nature. It's very corny, and I mean this in a very, very, good way. Outstanding for all audiences, although the other 3 programs are "slightly" PG or may bore little children.

I wish I knew where I could buy this, if anyone has a heads up, let me know please!!!!!! I watched this series for several years until they quit showing it. It delivers a very sweet message as it is what the time of year means.My hat's off the the folks that produced the show!Legends of this king we only see once in a life time. I wish the sureness of vulgar language would notice that Red's stuff was just plain funny, without any offbeat vulgar humor. The big ones from that era, Jackie Gleason, Art Carne Sid Ceaser et,al are now gone. Their lives on and some of us would still like to enjoy it

I throughly enjoyed watching Freddy the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner. I try and watch it every holiday season. I find that the part where Red Skelton does a mime of sewing a button is very good!! I've always enjoyed Red Skelton. I could actually see the button, needle and thread. I also enjoyed the part where Freddy meets up with the drunk Santa Claus played very well by Patrick Duffy. It's a feel good movie for the holiday season. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Red Skelton. All in all, I would have to say that it's a very good movie that I enjoy watching at least once during the Christmas season. It also reminds me of when I used to watch the Red Skelton show on TV when I was much younger.

Here's a film that might have been more at home in the 1930's or 40's, but even then, I don't see who would find it enjoyable. The entire film had a feeling of wrongness.I don't dislike Red Skelton, but his performance (along with those of the rest of the cast) is awful. Nothing funny happens. A few scenes attempt to be heartwarming, but it's not like they're shooting for any depth or originality. The musical numbers felt completely out of place (like most of the scenes in the film).In the end, this film left me wondering why I'd just sat through it. The first few minutes started the boring experience that was the entire film. Thankfully, it wasn't a full-length feature film!For those who are tempted to watch this turkey, I'd say you'd find your holidays a bit brighter if you didn't.