A dying father pulls his torn family back together for a last Christmas.A dying father pulls his torn family back together for a last Christmas.A dying father pulls his torn family back together for a last Christmas.
- Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 1 win & 4 nominations total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne of a few live-action projects produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
- GoofsAt the last minute, Tom decides to switch presents between his father and his brother-in-law George. When Tom is handing his dad his Christmas present, in the background George is opening his. Dad opens his present, then the scene goes to George's wife handing him the present to open for the first time.
- Quotes
Adam Thornton: I accept most of your preamble about the rich, full life to which I've been blessed. The plain and unbiased truth is I need time.
Dr. John Hodges: I know.
Adam Thornton: Certain aspects of my life are not in order.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 30th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1978)
Featured review
One of the best TV movies ever
Sentimental but not sugary-sweet, "The Gathering" is a wonderful holiday treat. Ed Asner is perfect as the businessman who lost his way and his family four years earlier to his career. When he finds out he's dying, he tries to reconcile himself to his four grown children and his estranged wife. She helps him plan the gathering of the family, and in the process they tentatively get to know each other again.
Maureen Stapleton so completely lives her role that you wonder if she's been through something like this before in her own life. She is a revelation, and is the rock-hard center the film anchors itself with. Without her it would be half a film. Lawrence Pressman, Gail Strickland, Rebecca Balding and Gregory Harrison are the children who bring their spouses to the ancestral home to celebrate Christmas. They are all capable actors and actresses, and enhance the production immeasurably. The sets are perfect, the music superb, and the snowfall even arrives on time. It doesn't miss a trick, but you don't realize that while you're watching it. Honest emotions and genuine sentiment, along with a great script, make this a holiday film you won't want to miss.
It's available on DVD through Warner Archive as of 2011, which is great news; however, an audio commentary would have been even better news but the Archive doesn't do extras. "The Gathering" is a classic and is now readily available for everyone to enjoy at Christmas.
Maureen Stapleton so completely lives her role that you wonder if she's been through something like this before in her own life. She is a revelation, and is the rock-hard center the film anchors itself with. Without her it would be half a film. Lawrence Pressman, Gail Strickland, Rebecca Balding and Gregory Harrison are the children who bring their spouses to the ancestral home to celebrate Christmas. They are all capable actors and actresses, and enhance the production immeasurably. The sets are perfect, the music superb, and the snowfall even arrives on time. It doesn't miss a trick, but you don't realize that while you're watching it. Honest emotions and genuine sentiment, along with a great script, make this a holiday film you won't want to miss.
It's available on DVD through Warner Archive as of 2011, which is great news; however, an audio commentary would have been even better news but the Archive doesn't do extras. "The Gathering" is a classic and is now readily available for everyone to enjoy at Christmas.
helpful•262
- Marta
- Dec 23, 2000
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