Embittered by the death of his wife, James Mills (Jason Robards) refuses to buy a Christmas tree for his 10-year-old daughter Addie (Lisa Lucas). Undaunted, Addie wins a Christmas tree at school, which enrages her father. With the help of her loving grandmother (Mildred Natwick), Addie eventually melts her father's quick-frozen heart. Set in 1946 Nebraska (albeit filmed in Toronto), House without a Christmas Tree was adapted by Eleanor Perry from a story by Gail Rock. Made for television, the film first aired as a 90-minute CBS special on December 3, 1972.