Get to Know the Actors Behind 'One Magic Christmas

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The cast of the movie "One Magic Christmas" consists of talented actors who bring the story to life with their remarkable performances. The film was directed by Phillip Borsos and released in 1985. Mary Steenburgen plays the lead role of Ginny Grainger, a hardworking mother who has lost her faith in Christmas. Steenburgen's portrayal of Ginny showcases her range as an actress, as she brings both vulnerability and strength to the character. She effectively conveys the emotional journey of a woman who rediscovers the magic of Christmas through unexpected events. Harry Dean Stanton delivers a memorable performance as Gideon, a caring angel who is tasked with helping Ginny find her Christmas spirit.


In Along an African Border, anthropologist Sónia Silva examines how Angolan refugees living in Zambia use these divination baskets to cope with daily life in a new land. Silva documents the special processes involved in weaving the baskets and transforming them into oracles. She speaks with diviners who make their living interpreting lipele messages and speaks also with their knowledge-seeking clients. To the Luvale, these baskets are capable of thinking, hearing, judging, and responding. They communicate by means of jipelo articles drawn in configurations, interact with persons and other objects, punish wrongdoers, assist people in need, and, much like humans, go through a life course that is marked with an initiation ceremony and a special burial. The lipele functions in a state between object and person.

Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2021-03-20 07 08 00 Associated-names Pemberton, John, 1928- Boxid IA40078906 Camera USB PTP Class Camera Col_number COL-658 Collection_set printdisabled External-identifier urn oclc record 1244862895 urn lcp insightartistryi0000unse lcpdf a1e855b9-027a-4a45-965a-1166c5eb2ae8 urn lcp insightartistryi0000unse epub f8b21b90-46ef-49b3-9228-7d1625a38ea9 Foldoutcount 0 Identifier insightartistryi0000unse Identifier-ark ark 13960 t1hj6ws6g Invoice 1652 Isbn 1560988592 9781560988595 1560988843 9781560988847 Lccn 99059622 Ocr tesseract 5. Severely disrupted by Church intervention, descriptions of calundu found in Portuguese Inquisition testimony join the published observations by European travelers as windows into the social history of Minas Gerais, an important yet often overlooked cultural territory of Brazil.

The PDF format of the book focused on African divination

Harry Dean Stanton delivers a memorable performance as Gideon, a caring angel who is tasked with helping Ginny find her Christmas spirit. Stanton's portrayal of Gideon is touching and genuine, as he brings warmth and charm to the character. His scenes with Steenburgen are particularly heartfelt, creating a strong on-screen chemistry.

The PDF format of the book focused on African divination

Calundu was an African-derived religious practice known in colonial Brazil, most widely recognized in Minas Gerais during and following that region’s early eighteenth-century gold rush. Drumming, chant, and dance channeled healing and divinational powers brought about primarily through trance possession. Severely disrupted by Church intervention, descriptions of calundu found in Portuguese Inquisition testimony join the published observations by European travelers as windows into the social history of Minas Gerais, an important yet often overlooked cultural territory of Brazil. This region of gold, diamonds, and coffee formed one of the most intense, highly populated slave operations known in the Western Hemisphere. Calundu’s practitioners, its musical worlds and social spaces, promote the parallelism argument that contrasts theories of syncretism and creolization. Calundu’s fatal narrative as an independent system of thought paralleling Catholicism forms a chapter in the African Diaspora’s vital history.

Author Biography

Jonathon Grasse is a professor of music at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and has authored articles, reviews, and book chapters on issues of Brazilian music and the influence of Indonesian gamelan on American composer Lou Harrison. His current book project focuses on music and regional identity in Minas Gerais, Brazil, several topics from which have formed conference presentations for the Society for Ethnomusicology. He is a composer and improvising musician active in Los Angeles.

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Recommended Citation

Grasse, Jonathon (2017) "Calundu's Winds of Divination: Music and Black Religiosity in Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Minas Gerais, Brazil," Yale Journal of Music & Religion: Vol. 3: No. 2, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17132/2377-231X.1080

Since September 30, 2017

Jonathon Grasse is a professor of music at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and has authored articles, reviews, and book chapters on issues of Brazilian music and the influence of Indonesian gamelan on American composer Lou Harrison. His current book project focuses on music and regional identity in Minas Gerais, Brazil, several topics from which have formed conference presentations for the Society for Ethnomusicology. He is a composer and improvising musician active in Los Angeles.
Cast of one magic xhritmas

Gary Basaraba plays the role of Jack Grainger, Ginny's loving husband. Basaraba's performance adds depth to the character, showcasing Jack's unwavering support for his wife and family. His scenes with Steenburgen illustrate their strong bond and the challenges they face together. Robbie Magwood and Elisabeth Harnois portray Ginny and Jack's children, Cal and Abbie Grainger, respectively. Magwood and Harnois deliver authentic performances as the innocent and hopeful children who long for the magic of Christmas. Their interactions with the other characters provide a sense of joy and wonder throughout the film. Arthur Hill embodies the character of the mysterious Archangel, who challenges Ginny's belief in Christmas and her own worthiness. Hill's performance brings a sense of gravitas to the film, as his character serves as a catalyst for Ginny's transformation. His scenes with Steenburgen are intense and thought-provoking. Overall, the cast of "One Magic Christmas" delivers captivating performances that enhance the film's message of hope, love, and the power of belief. Their collective talents help create a timeless holiday movie that continues to resonate with audiences..

Reviews for "Exploring the Magic Within the 'One Magic Christmas' Cast"

1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Cast of One Magic Christmas". The movie lacked depth and the storyline was predictable. The acting felt forced, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The special effects were also quite cheesy and did not live up to my expectations. Overall, I found it to be a boring and forgettable Christmas film.
2. Michael - 1/5 - "Cast of One Magic Christmas" was a total disaster. The plot was uninteresting and full of clichés. The dialogue was cringeworthy, and the acting was subpar at best. I kept hoping for some magic to happen, but it never did. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this movie if you're looking for a heartwarming Christmas film.
3. Rachel - 2/5 - I watched "Cast of One Magic Christmas" with high hopes, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story felt rushed and poorly developed. The performances were lackluster, and the chemistry between the actors was non-existent. The film tried to evoke emotions, but it just left me feeling uninvested and unsatisfied. It had potential, but ultimately, it failed to deliver a memorable Christmas movie experience.
4. John - 2/5 - "Cast of One Magic Christmas" lacked originality and failed to bring anything new to the table. The characters were one-dimensional, and the plot had no surprises. The pacing was slow, making the film feel longer than it actually was. I was hoping for a magical and heartwarming Christmas movie, but instead, I got a forgettable and uninspiring film. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a festive movie that stands out from the crowd.

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