The Gathering (1977) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writer:

James Poe (writer)

Release Date:

4 December 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Emmy Award Winner - Best Dramatic Special [Video Australia]

Plot:

Dying father (Ed Asner) pulls his torn family together for a last Christmas.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Argument | Reconciliation | Terminal Illness | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Edward Asner	...	Adam Thornton
Maureen Stapleton	...	Kate Thornton
Rebecca Balding	...	Julie Pelham
Sarah Cunningham	...	Clara
Bruce Davison	...	George Pelham
Veronica Hamel	...	Helen Thornton
Gregory Harrison	...	Bud Thornton
James Karen	...	Bob Block
Lawrence Pressman	...	Tom Thornton
John Randolph	...	Dr. John Hodges
Gail Strickland	...	Peggy Thornton
Edward Winter	...	Roger
Stephanie Zimbalist	...	Toni Thornton
John A. Hubbard	...	Reverend Powell
Mary Bradley Marable	...	Mary, the Maid

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA

Company:

Hanna-Barbera Productions

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Gathering, Part II (1979) (TV)

A great holiday movie...sorely missed!

The Gathering used to be an annual holiday tradition on TV, but I haven't seen it in 20 years. It's a poignant story of forgiveness and shows that for many families, Christmas is not a Norman Rockwell painting. Ed Asner's "Adam" is dying of cancer and wants to make amends with his ex-wife and estranged adult children. Of course, there's the tearful happy ending, but the characters go through a lot of emotional strife to get there.

The Gathering is doubly special for me, since it was shot in Chagrin Falls and Solon, Ohio, my old stomping grounds. When I first moved to Texas and had to spend holidays away from home, seeing this movie with its familiar scenery made me feel less alone.

With all the crappy, sappy Christmas movies out there, it's a shame this holiday gem isn't shown regularly anymore and isn't available on DVD. Judging from all the other comments, I'm not alone.