The short stories of Truman Capote are as varied as a Christmas fruitcake, and in this expanded version of the story and the 1966 Television special, Patty Duke takes on the role so perfectly created by Geraldine Page. Every year, she makes fruitcakes for the neighbors, even sending one to the president and first lady. This year, movie star Jean Harlow gets the one that the previous year had been sent to Koan Crawford. Capote's childhood must have been fascinating even though he seems to have been transported from one relative to another. Along with "The Grass Harp", Capote made minor changes to the circumstances, but it is clear that the relatives seen here were his elders and were all influential in creating who he would become.

Sweet Eric Lloyd plays the young variation of Truman with Piper Laurie and Anita Gillette as Duke's serious sisters. Ironically, Laurie had played a variation of Duke's character in an underrated version of "The Grass Harp". Gillette's sister is somewhere in the middle strictness and seriousness wise, obviously form between right and wrong and sisterly loyalty. What there is in the way of a story surrounds the decision to send young Scott off to military school and the emotional turmoil this brings to him and Duke.

Typical Capote eccentrics appear in minor parts including an obviously black maid who claims to be Cherokee (a character also in "The Grass Harp"),the local bootlegger, a tomboy with a crush on Lloyd and her obsessive piano playing mother. Think of this as a Southern variation of Neil Simon's autobiographical plays. It's more character driven and slice of life than plot driven, but it is all so sweet. Childhood memories of Christmas are precious and often influences who we are as adults. To see the adult Truman Capote in these young characters may seem as different as night and day, but it is a comfort in seeing how he shared his real self in all the stories he told.

Patty Duke played Sook, a simple Southern Christian woman, who lives with her siblings; Piper Laurie played Jennie, the eldest who sacrificed her own personal life to care for the younger siblings; Anita Gillette played Callie and Jeffrey Demun played Seabone. The story is mostly about the relationship between Sook and Buddy, a young boy. Buddy was left there to live with them in Monroeville, Alabama (hometown of Truman Capote and Harper Lee). In real life, Truman lived with relatives while his mother pursued acting in New York City. Sook and Buddy's relationship is endearing especially with Patty Duke and Eric Lloyd in the roles. This film is the only version of the story I have seen so I can't compare this version.

"A Christmas Memory" is based on a 1956 short story of the same title by Truman Capote. Capote grew up in the South and in New York, and much of his work reflects personal experiences of his past. This story is autobiographical in most details. It's based on Capote's 1956 short story by the same title, published in Mademoiselle magazine. It is a heart- warming story about the special friendship and closeness of a young boy with an elderly cousin.

The story takes place in the early 1930s. Capote (nee, Truman Persons) was born in New Orleans in 1924, and when he was four his parents divorced. He was then sent to Monroeville, AL, to live with his mother's Faulk cousins. They raised him for the next four to five years, and in 1933 he moved to New York City to live with his mother who had married a textile broker, Joseph Capote. There's more interesting and traumatic background to the young writer who would become one of America's best writers in the 20th century. Capote wrote novels, short stories, plays and screenplays. His greatest achievement was the non-fiction novel, "In Cold Blood," in 1965. Many of his short stories and books have been made into movies. Among the most memorable are "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Grass Harp."

This film takes place one fall through the Christmas holidays when Capote was living with the Faulks. He had developed a deep relationship and friendship with cousin Nanny Rumbley Faulk. The family called her Sook, as the seven-year-old Buddy does in this film. While living with the Faulks in Alabama, Capote became friends with a neighbor, Harper Lee, who became a well-known author herself ("To Kill a Mockingbird"). In this film, Buddy befriends a neighbor girl, Rachel, played by Julia McIlvaine. Both of these characters in the film, Buddy and Rachel, are quite the storytellers. They have vivid imaginations and tell some tall tales.

Everything about this TV movie is excellent. The sets, scenery, camera work and direction are very good. And the performances are excellent. Patty Duke is superb as Sook, and a young Eric Lloyd gives a sterling performance as seven-year-old Buddy. The principals in the rest of the cast all give wonderful performances. Piper Laurie is Jennie, Jeffrey Demunn is Seabone, Anita Gilette is Callie, and Esther Scott is Anna Stabler.

It may be a stretch to call this a Christmas movie. It's a drama that takes place in December and much of the action of Sook and Buddy is in preparation for Christmas. The film explains why this young lad is in the care of distant relatives, all of whom are beyond middle age. All three of the elders love Buddy. But, the heart and soul of this story is one person, Sook. That Buddy comes into her life at a young age, and is able to be a part of her life for a time – is the filling out of a story of lasting friendship.

This is a good film that the whole family should enjoy. Just be aware that the ending is not a typical one where everyone is happy. Neither is it tragic. Just know that it's different – a getting on in life. For Truman Capote, death came early at age 59. His autopsy revealed intoxication from multiple drugs, and he had liver disease and phlebitis.