Secret of Giving (1999)

As Christmas approaches, a single mother (played by Reba McEntire) struggles to raise her son and keep up the payments on her Oregon ranch, which is difficult since she's heavily in debt. ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Pillsbury

Writers:

Jack Curtis (book), Scott Swanton (television story)

Stars:

Reba McEntire, Thomas Ian Griffith, Ronny Cox

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reba McEntire	...	Rose Cameron
Thomas Ian Griffith	...	Harry Withers
Ronny Cox	...	Harlan Gotch
Devon Alan	...	Toby Cameron
Philip Granger	...	Bull Thatcher
Michael Puttonen	...	Mr. Martino
Ronin Wong	...	Wong (as Ronin)
Garett Beck	...	Tilly
Michael Hogan	...	Sheriff Pardue
Sheelah Megill	...	Mrs. Mason
Alex Diakun	...	Mr. Mason
Tom Shorthouse	...	Dr. Nichols
Nicole Robert	...	Millie Gotch
Peter LaCroix	...	Kelsey
Laurie Murdoch	...	Mr. Sweeny

Storyline

As Christmas approaches, a single mother (played by Reba McEntire) struggles to raise her son and keep up the payments on her Oregon ranch, which is difficult since she's heavily in debt. But she's a tough cookie, and proves that a steadfast attitude and an open heart go a long way in surviving the cold hearts and greed of the Scrooges around her.

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Plot Keywords:

poverty | single mother | based on a novel | mother son relationship | ranch | 

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Secret of Giving (1999)'s date of release, Thursday, November 25th, 1999, was on Thanksgiving Thursday holiday.

User Reviews

Soft centred Christmas tale

Reba McEntire is not one for holding back on the sentiment and emotion as any who witness her polished and slick stage shows can aver.Here she goes for the emotional jugular vein in a Christmas themed TV Western.She plays a single mother struggling to raise a child and keep up payments on her ranch in a small,economically depressed Oregon township She is heavily in debt-to the doctor for the medication required by her ailing son ;to the bank and the local hotelier.The banker -played well by veteran Ronny Cox-is employing rustlers to run off her cattle so she will default on the loan and he can get his grasping avaricious hands on the property The movie relates her struggle to overcome all odds by dint of hard work and enterprise not to mention a handsome stranger with a past and some helpful Chinese. Its all a bit rosy-hued and soft centred but Reba clearly believes in the message and looks comfortable in the role which may have evoked some memories of her own ranching childhood in its theme of redemption through goodwill its a bit Dickensian but not in the same class naturally

A perfectly adequate time passer.

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Christmas in Calico

Filming Locations:

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jaffe/Braunstein Films, Starstruck Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1