The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (19 Dec. 1971)

Story of the events that happened on Christmas Eve, 1933, to one rural American family.

Director:

Fielder Cook

Writers:

Earl Hamner Jr. (novel), Earl Hamner Jr. (screenplay)

Stars:

Patricia Neal, Richard Thomas, Edgar Bergen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Patricia Neal	...	Olivia Walton
Richard Thomas	...	John-Boy Walton
Edgar Bergen	...	Grandpa Zebb Walton
Ellen Corby	...	Esther Walton
Cleavon Little	...	Hawthorne Dooley
Dorothy Stickney	...	Emily Baldwin
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Mamie Baldwin
William Windom	...	Charlie Snead
Andrew Duggan	...	John Walton
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Ike Godsey
Judy Norton	...	Mary Ellen Walton
Mary Beth McDonough	...	Erin Walton
Kami Cotler	...	Elizabeth Walton
Eric Scott	...	Ben Walton
David W. Harper	...	Jim-Bob Walton

Storyline

The Walton family is about to celebrate another Christmas. It's during the '30s and the Depression. John Walton promised to be home soon but seems to be late. John-Boy tells his sibs about Christmas and all that stuff. When John hasn't showed for hours, Ma sends John-Boy out to find him. Will John ever get home to celebrate Christmas with his family? This movie spun off the TV series "The Waltons".

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | father son relationship | alcoholism | tv series pilot | sleigh ride | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1971 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Earl Hamner's two children Scott and Carrie are in the film as two of the children listening to the missionary lady. Carrie is the short-dark-haired girl in a home-made hat and Scott is the boy with paler hair, also wearing a hat.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the movie, when the children enter the barn with the cow, there is a shot from the floor up to the loft from where the children are throwing down hay. A brand new steel corrugated roof is clearly visible above them.

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Quotes

John-Boy: Nobody ever gave away anything worth keeping, I guess.

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Connections

Featured in The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons (1980)

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Soundtracks

"O Holy Night"
Performed by Cleavon Little and Congregation

User Reviews

My Christmas is complete!

I was so glad to see that this is out on DVD. It looks great, I'm glad Paramount spent some time restoring it to its present condition. This truly is a modern day classic. I was enthralled with this when it ran on television for the very first time, and its lost none of its appeal for me 34 years later. The entire story exudes reality for me and you actually care about this family. Patricia Neal is wonderful as Olivia. It's too bad she didn't go on to do the television show. She added a touch of reality but also she conveyed a true sense of having seen hardship in her own life that conveys to the screen. If you've never seen this movie, and you're longing for Christmases gone by, treat yourself and either rent or buy the DVD. This is a big step above "The Walton's."