I ABSOLUTELY remember seeing a version where the football helmet plot line is carried out to its conclusion, with the amazed prosecutor and his wife and son finding a football helmet under their tree on Christmas morning. I’ve been searching for years for anybody else who saw this. The thing is, the football helmet plot line makes NO SENSE unless completed. Really. The last line to the son in the courtroom from Santa is “you’ll get it” and the last line from the prosecutor is “I’ve got to get that football helmet...” with panic in his demeanor, knowing it’s too late... then...nothing.
I’ve come to believe I saw the scene in one of the many, many versions, but not the 1947 popular version which chose to just leave the plot line hanging. Maybe in another (TV?) version, the producer/director/writers decided to fill this hole with the scene I so clearly remember.
To those, like me, who remember seeing this scene...you’re not crazy. Merry Christmas!
