Christmas story set in an Arizona western town. A bitter but wealthy man Cherokee will not permit women and children to be in his home because he lost his own family ten years before. He begins to open his heart when he meets a young boy named California who was caught stealing food from his ranch.

"The O. Henry Playhouse" is a 1957 single season, 39-episode TV series. O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) is considered one of America's greatest writers of short stories. His writings are laced with humor and irony and often end with a sly twist ending. Veteran character actor Thomas Mitchell stars in each episode as writer O. Henry himself as he relates his stories to his publisher, his housekeeper, a barber, a bartender, or the cop on the beat. In some episodes, O. Henry meets his characters as he discovers firsthand the story he will later write. This unique storytelling method gives great insight into the famous author's creative process.

You can read the original literary version of "Christmas by Injunction" HERE and compare it with the many changes in the film adaptation. "Christmas by Injunction" is one of 13 episodes in Vol. Two of "The O. Henry Playhouse." The films have been beautifully restored on DVD by the home video label ClassicFlix!