''A Christmas to Remember'' is a 1978 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

George Englund George Englund (June 22, 1926 – September 14, 2017) was an American film editor, director, producer, and actor. Biography Englund was born George Howe Ripley in Washington, D.C., the son of actress Mabel Albertson and Harold Austin Ripley. Hi ...

and starring

Jason Robards Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill, Robards received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes ...

Eva Marie Saint Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an American actress of film, theatre and television. In a career spanning over 70 years, she has won an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, alongside nominations for a Golden Globe Award and two Brit ...

, and

Joanne Woodward Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward (born February 27, 1930) is an American actress. A star since the Golden Age of Hollywood, Woodward made her career breakthrough in the 1950s and earned esteem and respect playing complex women with a charact ...

. Adapted from the 1977 novel ''The Melodeon'' by

Glendon Swarthout Glendon Fred Swarthout (April 8, 1918 – September 23, 1992) was an American writer and novelist. Several of his novels were made into films. ''Where the Boys Are'', and ''The Shootist'', which was John Wayne's last work, are probably the bes ...

, it first aired on the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...

network on December 20, 1978. It was filmed in

Rush City, Minnesota Rush City is a city in Chisago County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,079 at the 2010 census. It is fifty-eight miles north of Minneapolis–Saint Paul. History Rush City was platted in 1870, and incorporated in 1874. Geography ...

Plot

Rusty McCloud (George Parry) is sent by his economically-strapped mother (Joanne Woodward) to live on his grandparents' farm one winter during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

. The grandparents, Daniel Larson (Jason Robards) and his wife Emma (Saint), are still grieving the loss of their son in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and Daniel in particular is initially gruff and resentful toward his grandson. However, a bond gradually develops between the two of them, and as Christmas approaches they work to deliver a

melodeon Melodeon may refer to: * Melodeon (accordion), a type of button accordion *Melodeon (organ), a type of 19th-century reed organ *Melodeon (Boston, Massachusetts), a concert hall in 19th-century Boston * Melodeon Records, a U.S. record label in the ...

left by the dead son to the local church as a surprise gift.

Cast

as Daniel Larson *

as Emma Larson *

as Mildred McCloud *George Parry as Rusty McCloud *Bryan Englund as Danny Larson *Mary-Beth Manning as Louise Hockmeyer *Nora Martin as Lollie Hockmeyer *Sally Chamberlain as Lil Hockmeyer *Arvid Carlson as Ralph Youngquist *Mildred Carlson as Beulah Youngquist *Allen Hamilton as Oskar Hockmeyer *Todd Tanji as the cymbal player *Dave Tanji and Bob Bach as snare drummers

References

External links

* * 1978 television films 1978 films 1970s Christmas drama films 1970s Christmas films American Christmas drama films CBS network films Christmas television films Films based on American novels Films directed by George Englund Films scored by Jimmie Haskell Films set in Minnesota Films shot in Minnesota Films with screenplays by Stewart Stern Great Depression films American drama television films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films {{christmas-tv-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links