''My Old Man'' is a 1979 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 fo ...

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 ...

starring Kristy McNichol,

Warren Oates Warren Mercer Oates (July 5, 1928 – April 3, 1982) was an American actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah, including ''The Wild Bunch'' (1969) and ''Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia'' (1974). A ...

and

Eileen Brennan Eileen Brennan (born Verla Eileen Regina Brennen; September 3, 1932 – July 28, 2013) was an American actress. She made her film debut in the satire '' Divorce American Style'' (1967), followed by a supporting role in Peter Bogdanovich's ''The ...

, directed by

John Erman John Erman (August 3, 1935 – June 25, 2021) was an American television director, producer, and actor. He was nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once for the film ''Who Will Love My Children?'' (1983). He also won two Directors Gu ...

. The film, written by Jerome Kass, was based on the

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fic ...

1923 short story " My Old Man", which had previously been adapted for the 1950 film '' Under My Skin''. The TV film was originally broadcast on

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 Entertainm ...

on December 7, 1979.

Plot

Frank Butler is a cantankerous unlucky horse trainer who wins big at the track and buys a horse for his jockey daughter Jo in an attempt to reconcile their troubled relationship.

Cast

* Kristy McNichol - Jo Butler *

- Frank Butler *

- Marie *

Joseph Maher Joseph Sylvester Maher (29 December 1933 – 17 July 1998) was an Irish actor, playwright, and occasionally theatre director. He was best known for his roles in the comedies of Joe Orton. He received three Tony Award nominations for his roles in ...

- Phil Kiley *Joseph Leon - Shimmy *

Jess Osuna Jess Osuna (May 28, 1928 – April 2, 2011) was an American character actor whose credits included ''Three Days of the Condor'' and '' My Old Man''. Osuna had a successful film, television and stage career, including the films '' A New Leaf'', ' ...

- Matt *

David Margulies David Joseph Margulies (February 19, 1937 – January 11, 2016) was an American actor. Early life Margulies was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Runya ('' née'' Zeltzer), a nurse and museum employee, and Harry David Margulies, a ...

- Chubby * Mark Arnold - Roy Kiley *

Michael Jeter Robert Michael Jeter (; August 26, 1952 – March 30, 2003) was an American actor. His television roles included Herman Stiles on the sitcom ''Evening Shade'' from 1990 until 1994 and Mr. Noodle's brother, Mister Noodle, on the ''Elmo's World'' ...

- George Gardner

External links

* 1979 television films 1979 films 1970s sports drama films American sports drama films CBS network films Films based on works by Ernest Hemingway Films directed by John Erman American horse racing films American drama television films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films English-language sports drama films {{US-tv-drama-film-stub