''The Greatest Gift'' is an

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

television movie which premiered on November 4, 1974. Directed by

Boris Sagal Boris Sagal (October 18, 1923 – May 22, 1981) was an American television and film director. Early life and career Born in Yekaterinoslav, Ukrainian SSR (now known as Dnipro, Ukraine) to a Ukrainian-Jewish family, Sagal immigrated to the United ...

and starring

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. Ford was most prominent during Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age as ...

Julie Harris Julia Ann Harris (December 2, 1925August 24, 2013) was an American actress. Renowned for her classical and contemporary stage work, she received five Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Play. Harris debuted on Broadway in 1945, against the wish ...

, and

Lance Kerwin Lance Kerwin (born November 6, 1960) is an American actor, known primarily for roles in television and film during his childhood and teen years in the 1970s. He played lead roles in the TV series ''James at 15'', and the made-for-TV films ''Th ...

, the film served as the pilot for the 1975 television series ''

The Family Holvak ''The Family Holvak'' is a 1975 American television series. Plot Tom Holvak, a small town minister in Bensfield, Tennessee, struggles to keep his family afloat and maintain his congregation's faith during the Great Depression The Great D ...

''.

Synopsis

Humble Depression-era preacher Reverend Holvak (Glenn Ford) lives with his wife Elizabeth (Julie Harris) and son Ramey (Lance Kerwin) and struggles against the injustice of violence and a corrupt sheriff in an attempt to maintain the moral values of their faith in their small town.

Cast

References

*Movies made for television, 1964–2004, by Alvin H. Maril

External links

* 1974 television films 1974 films 1974 drama films Films based on American novels Films set in Tennessee Films shot in Georgia (U.S. state) Great Depression films NBC network original films Television films as pilots Films directed by Boris Sagal {{US-tv-drama-film-stub