content rating:

Not Rated

author's note:

suitable for all ages

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the Homecoming

Movie Facts

Release Year:

1971

Runtime:

88 minutes

Cast:

Patricia Neal

Richard Thomas

Edgar Bergen

Ellen Corby

Dorothy Stickney

Josephine Hutchinson

William Windom

Cleavon Little

Guest Star:

Andrew Duggan

Director:

Fielder Cook

Producer:

Robert Jacks

Basic Plot

It's Christmas Eve, 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression and the mountains of rural West Virginia.  Smoke puffs from the chimney of the snow-covered Waltons' farmhouse, but anxious children and the warmth of the holidays fill its rooms.  Times have been hard for the three generations that share the modest dwelling.  Everyone awaits the arrival of John Walton, the patriarch of the family, to make their family celebration complete.   Due to the dire state of the economy, the farm could no longer support his family, so he took a job in the city, 50 miles from his beloved mountain.  Always a man of his word, he promised to be home early for Christmas Eve, but as night falls he's still absent from the festivities.  While listening to the radio, Grandma, Grandpa and Olivia (John's wife) hear about a bus accident.  Fearing the worst, they keep the news from the children.  Joy turns to worry and then to desperation as the hours pass.  Grandpa Walton tells Olivia, "...all we can do is sit and wait", but she "can't wait one more minute".  So, she asks her oldest son, John Boy to find his father and bring him home.   

Review

This reminiscent look at the way families celebrated the holidays during a time of severe economic struggle in America's history is a great way to resample some of the simpler gifts of life.  Many kids would probably consider this glimpse of a meager existence on Walton's mountain "corny".  But this story and its characters do a great job of highlighting the family values that once built a strong society.  By far, the best part of this movie is the story Andrew Duggan tells at the end.  This amazingly animated tale will fascinate "Believers" everywhere.

Overall rating

   (out of a possible 5 bubble lights)

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