IMDb > The Greatest Gift (1974) (TV)

The Greatest Gift (1974) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   38 votes
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Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Boris Sagal
Writers:
Jack Farris (novel)
Abby Mann (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Greatest Gift on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 November 1974 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
Reverend Holvak, a poor rural preacher in the 1940s, fights against stiff- necked church deacons and a violent... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
So-so family film. more (6 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Glenn Ford ... Rev. Holvak

Julie Harris ... Elizabeth Holvak
Lance Kerwin ... Ramey Holvak
Harris Yulin ... Hog Yancy
Charles Tyner ... Amos Goodloe
Dabbs Greer ... Deacon Hurd
Cari Anne Warder ... Julie Mae Holvak
Furman Walters ... Willis Graham
Leslie Thorsen ... Tincey Bell
Ken Renard ... Abraham Morrison
J. Don Ferguson ... Jim Friedlin
Burt Douglas ... Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lewell Akins ... Hap
Don Devendorf ... Bert
Bob Hannah ... Emmet Posten
Tom Hilliard ... Harold Biglow
Doris Pearce ... Mrs. Pradley
Albert Smith ... Eli Wiggins
more
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations:
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
Company:
Universal TV more

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Rev. Holvak: Somebody asked me once if a man could not believe in God and still be good. The answer is, yes. Yes, he could. It ain't enough to come because y' have to. It ain't enough to come because y' fear. "For fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." more
Movie Connections:
Followed by "The Family Holvak" (1975) more

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User Reviews

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1 out of 2 people found the following review useful.
So-so family film., 28 September 2004
Author: magellan333 from Chattanooga, TN

This film aired on TBN recently and I found it to be lacking. It seems that much more could have been done with it. Glenn Ford plays the lead well, but really isn't given much to work with. The story revolves around his relationship with his son who he always encourages to do the right thing and doesn't get unhappy when he fails to do so. It seems there could have been more to the father/son conversations than there was. The film does not reveal much about his relationship with his wife or daughter. The villain of the film is somewhat underdeveloped. We see him commit vandalism in the general store and blow a sale for the merchant. That was about it. I wish we could have seen more of his evil. After one surprising event, the rest of the film seems to fall into place as it is quite predictable. Perhaps the characters and plots were better developed in the TV series that followed, The Family Holvak. I like family films, but this one left me wanting.

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Related Links

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