This film is a true hidden gem. It never is televised, and I was able to see it for the first time in over 30 years a few years ago, buy purchasing an old VHS tape of it.
In the 1970s, there were some very bad TV movies, but also some very good TV movies. This is one of the very good ones. It's setting is rural Minnesota, during the depression, and 12 years after the end of WW1. It combines the side effects of the loss of a loved one in the war, with the effects of the depression on Americans at that time. A young boy is sent to live with his grandparents on a farm, because his parents can no longer care and feed for him. When he arrives, after traveling alone, he meets his grandparents for the first time in his life. He must not only deal with being a city boy trying to acclimate to farm life, but a grandfather still not over the death of a son.
Through love, perseverance and a supernatural force, his acceptance culminates on Christmas morning.
The film has excellent production values, and a fantastic cast including Joanne Woodward, Eva Marie Saint, and Jason Robards who is fantastic as the grandfather.
I try to watch this every Christmas. A limiting feature to this films more national acceptance, is that 38 years after it first aired, the effects of WW1, and memories of the depression are much less prevalent. I watched it with my 90 something in laws, and I think it hit home a little too much. It was just so well done.
I highly recommend this rare classic with a great story, great actors with fantastic and heart warming performances. A real Christmas treat.
In the 1970s, there were some very bad TV movies, but also some very good TV movies. This is one of the very good ones. It's setting is rural Minnesota, during the depression, and 12 years after the end of WW1. It combines the side effects of the loss of a loved one in the war, with the effects of the depression on Americans at that time. A young boy is sent to live with his grandparents on a farm, because his parents can no longer care and feed for him. When he arrives, after traveling alone, he meets his grandparents for the first time in his life. He must not only deal with being a city boy trying to acclimate to farm life, but a grandfather still not over the death of a son.
Through love, perseverance and a supernatural force, his acceptance culminates on Christmas morning.
The film has excellent production values, and a fantastic cast including Joanne Woodward, Eva Marie Saint, and Jason Robards who is fantastic as the grandfather.
I try to watch this every Christmas. A limiting feature to this films more national acceptance, is that 38 years after it first aired, the effects of WW1, and memories of the depression are much less prevalent. I watched it with my 90 something in laws, and I think it hit home a little too much. It was just so well done.
I highly recommend this rare classic with a great story, great actors with fantastic and heart warming performances. A real Christmas treat.