The Gathering - 1977 - 7/10
Holiday gem, now forgotten.
Family sire, separated from his wife, estranged from his children, receives the 90 day expiration notice.
Wants to make amends for misplaced priorities (business over family), convinces wife to get family to come home for Christmas.
A bit mushy, but thankfully not as touchy-feelie as most Christmas fare.
Relationships between Boomers and WWII parents were extremely polarized. This film glosses over problems, and drapes a gauze of hope and over the proceedings. It is a holiday film, after all, but underlying tension is constant.
For a TV movie, this had top tier talent behind the scenes (production by Hanna-Barbera, music by John Barry), and actors who would be mainstays throughout 70’s airwaves (Hill Street Blues, Mary Tyler Moore, Soap, Lou Grant, Trapper John, MASH, Remington Steele).
Bittersweet.