Home for the Holidays (1972)

An ailing man summons his four daughters home for Christmas and asks them to kill his new wife, who he suspects is poisoning him.

Director:

John Llewellyn Moxey

Writer:

Joseph Stefano

Stars:

Jessica Walter, Sally Field, Eleanor Parker

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jessica Walter	...	Frederica Morgan
Sally Field	...	Christine Morgan
Eleanor Parker	...	Alex Morgan
Julie Harris	...	Elizabeth Hall Morgan
Walter Brennan	...	Benjamin Morgan
Jill Haworth	...	Joanna Morgan
John Fink	...	Dr. Ted Lindsay
Med Flory	...	Sheriff Nolan

Storyline

Adult sisters Alex, Freddy, Jo and Chris Morgan have been estranged from their wealthy father Benjamin Morgan for nine years, whom they blame for their mother's suicide. Their animosity stems from Benjamin having had an affair with Elizabeth Hall - now Mrs. Morgan. Some of the girls could not tolerate not only what happened to their mother because of their father but that Elizabeth has taken her place. Freddy has turned to booze and pills to cope, while Jo has little to no thoughts of family in her partying ways. Chris, the youngest, is the innocent who can only take her sisters' word as to what was going on, being too young at the time to fully comprehend what was happening. Alex, as the oldest who they all turn to in times of need, and then the rest of the girls return to their isolated rural home on their now elderly father's request on Christmas Eve, he who has reinstated them in his will. Largely bedridden, he believes that Elizabeth is slowly trying to poison him to death and he...

---

Plot Keywords:

christmas | made for tv movie | christmas horror | murderess | murder of a nude woman | 

---

Taglines:

There's nothing more chilling... Than a warm family gathering!

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 November 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deadly Desires

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Spelling-Goldberg Productions,ABC Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eleanor Parker who plays the eldest daughter, Alex in the film was actually three years older than Julie Harris who plays her father's wife, Elizabeth. She was also nineteen years older than Jessica Walter who plays Freddie, the second, eldest daughter. And twenty three years older than Jill Haworth, who plays Jo. Sally Field's character, Chris, is suppose to be much younger than the other sisters. However, she is only fifteen months younger than Jill Haworth and five years younger than Jessica Walter.

---

Goofs

The aftermath of the major thunder and lightning storm and high winds leaves no trace of downed branches, leaves, or even puddles around the country house.

---

Connections

Referenced in iZombie: Method Head (2016)

User Reviews

Jill Haworth is wonderful! Excellent scare flick

This movie is filled with so many guilty pleasures and over the top moments,it's a genuine classic! Produced by Aaron Spelling, the film carries a "Melrose Place" type campiness,and a lot of fun to watch. After their father sends them a letter saying his wife is trying to poison him, the four sisters return home for Christmas,and are stalked by a pitchfork happy psychopath. Jill Haworth is gorgeous and gives a deliciously bitchy performance,which is a different type of character than she usually plays. Sally Field is excellent as the "good" sister,and Jessica Walter's boozing and pill popping moments are even more over the top than her performance in "play misty for me". Hysterical stuff! Julie Harris,James Dean's love interest in the film classic "East of Eden" is also excellent as the wicked step-mother,who may or may not actually be the wicked one! GREAT FILM!