Of the many movies I've watched over the decades about World War II, I don't recall any before this about a homecoming at Christmas during the war. A number of good films were made about families being notified of the death of a son, brother and husband. Some poignant films looked at families celebrating Christmas with memories of loved ones who had been killed in the war. And, most of those were in the late 1940s to 1960s.
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" is a 1988 TV movie about a family Christmas gathering in 1944, while the war is still underway. And this family is touched by the war in many ways. Joseph and Martha Bundy have four children. The oldest son, Mike, is an Army Air Corps pilot stationed in England who has completed 21 combat bombing missions and is being sent back to the States to train pilots. The next son, Terrel is 17 and has just finished boot camp after enlisting, and he will be shipping overseas after Christmas. The youngest boy, Davey, is a paperboy in town who idolizes Mike and can't wait to be old enough to go off to war. The only daughter, Leah, works as a welder in a steel plant manufacturing for the war effort. She has lost her boyhood sweetheart and fiancé who was killed at Anzio at the start of the year. Living with Joseph and Martha is Nora, Mike's wife, who is pregnant and about to have their first baby.
The family at home are awaiting the arrival of Mike, Terrell and Leah for Christmas. Some other key people in the story are Aaron Copler, a soldier who is on the same bus as Leah heading to her home. He is going to visit a friend in the nearby Army hospital who was badly wounded in the war, and Leah invites him to stay at their home instead of trying to find a motel room. Isaiah Cawley is the town Western Union telegraph operator who gets messages from the War Department about war fatalities, and who has to put them in envelopes and walk and deliver the telegrams to the respective homes of the servicemen. And Pastor Marcus resides at the local church and comforts members of his flock during the war.
This wonderful drama is a picture of family tensions, difficult relationships, anxiety, suffering, healing, loss, living, life and love. The plot is excellent and all of the cast give superb performances. Long-time stars Hal Holbrook and Eva Marie Saint lead the cast as the heads of the Bundy family. A tissue box will be needed - even for men, before the film's ending. It's a story that serves well as a reminder to all, about the sacrifices, losses, and emotional toll of WW II on people everywhere. It's a great film for the Christmas season and should be watched by all generations into the future.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Joseph Bundy, "I hope these Christmas lights still work. They were made in Japan before the war." Aaron Copler, "They're making other things now." Joseph, "I'd just as soon they were still making Christmas lights."
Joseph Bundy. "You think that turkey you got for tomorrow is big enough?" Martha Bundy, "Oh, we're going to be eating leftovers for a whole week. Besides, we're also having sweat and sour meatballs." Joseph, "Where'd you get the meat?" Martha, "Huh, huh, what meat? I'm making them out of oatmeal, eggs and ground-up nuts. I'm counting on the sauce to, uh, cover a multitude of sins."
Joseph Bundy, "There's a time for grief, and a time to put grief aside."
Leah Bundy, "They're special shows on Christmas Eve, Davey." Davey, "You mean, 'Fibber McGee and Molly' won't be on either?" Joseph, "Into every life, a little rain must fall."
Davey Bundy, "Pa?" Joseph Bundy, "What?" Davey, "How come when all Christmas songs are about peace on earth, only there's no peace?" Joseph, "It's a hope, Davey. It's what keeps us going. The hope that someday there will be peace on earth."
Nora, "I may waddle like a duck, but I can still walk by myself."
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" is a 1988 TV movie about a family Christmas gathering in 1944, while the war is still underway. And this family is touched by the war in many ways. Joseph and Martha Bundy have four children. The oldest son, Mike, is an Army Air Corps pilot stationed in England who has completed 21 combat bombing missions and is being sent back to the States to train pilots. The next son, Terrel is 17 and has just finished boot camp after enlisting, and he will be shipping overseas after Christmas. The youngest boy, Davey, is a paperboy in town who idolizes Mike and can't wait to be old enough to go off to war. The only daughter, Leah, works as a welder in a steel plant manufacturing for the war effort. She has lost her boyhood sweetheart and fiancé who was killed at Anzio at the start of the year. Living with Joseph and Martha is Nora, Mike's wife, who is pregnant and about to have their first baby.
The family at home are awaiting the arrival of Mike, Terrell and Leah for Christmas. Some other key people in the story are Aaron Copler, a soldier who is on the same bus as Leah heading to her home. He is going to visit a friend in the nearby Army hospital who was badly wounded in the war, and Leah invites him to stay at their home instead of trying to find a motel room. Isaiah Cawley is the town Western Union telegraph operator who gets messages from the War Department about war fatalities, and who has to put them in envelopes and walk and deliver the telegrams to the respective homes of the servicemen. And Pastor Marcus resides at the local church and comforts members of his flock during the war.
This wonderful drama is a picture of family tensions, difficult relationships, anxiety, suffering, healing, loss, living, life and love. The plot is excellent and all of the cast give superb performances. Long-time stars Hal Holbrook and Eva Marie Saint lead the cast as the heads of the Bundy family. A tissue box will be needed - even for men, before the film's ending. It's a story that serves well as a reminder to all, about the sacrifices, losses, and emotional toll of WW II on people everywhere. It's a great film for the Christmas season and should be watched by all generations into the future.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Joseph Bundy, "I hope these Christmas lights still work. They were made in Japan before the war." Aaron Copler, "They're making other things now." Joseph, "I'd just as soon they were still making Christmas lights."
Joseph Bundy. "You think that turkey you got for tomorrow is big enough?" Martha Bundy, "Oh, we're going to be eating leftovers for a whole week. Besides, we're also having sweat and sour meatballs." Joseph, "Where'd you get the meat?" Martha, "Huh, huh, what meat? I'm making them out of oatmeal, eggs and ground-up nuts. I'm counting on the sauce to, uh, cover a multitude of sins."
Joseph Bundy, "There's a time for grief, and a time to put grief aside."
Leah Bundy, "They're special shows on Christmas Eve, Davey." Davey, "You mean, 'Fibber McGee and Molly' won't be on either?" Joseph, "Into every life, a little rain must fall."
Davey Bundy, "Pa?" Joseph Bundy, "What?" Davey, "How come when all Christmas songs are about peace on earth, only there's no peace?" Joseph, "It's a hope, Davey. It's what keeps us going. The hope that someday there will be peace on earth."
Nora, "I may waddle like a duck, but I can still walk by myself."