''The Thanksgiving Promise'' is a 1986 American drama television film starring and directed by

Beau Bridges Lloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III (born December 9, 1941) is an American actor and director. He is a three-time Emmy, two-time Golden Globe and one-time Grammy Award winner, as well as a two-time Screen Actors Guild Award nominee. Bridges was a ...

, based on the 1983 young adult novel ''Chester, I Love You'' by

Blaine Yorgason Blaine M. Yorgason (born 1942) is a Latter-day Saint novelist who has also written biographies. Yorgason was born in Sanpete County, Utah. He graduated from Brigham Young High School and then served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ ...

and Brenton Yorgason. It was produced by Walt Disney Television, and originally aired November 23, 1986 as a presentation of '' The Disney Sunday Movie'' on ABC.

Plot

Travis Tilby leaps into action when neighbor Stewart Larson asks him to mind an ailing goose slated to be part of Thanksgiving dinner. A gentle animal lover, Travis dotes on the bird, feeding it by hand and speaking to it in soothing tones. However, as Thanksgiving nears, Travis has second thoughts about seeing the bird slaughtered, and he appeals to his father, Hank, and others in the community for help in saving the goose.

Cast

as Hank Tilby * Millie Perkins as Lois Tilby * Courtney Thorne-Smith as Sheryl * Ed Lauter as Coach Gruniger *

Anne Haney Anne Ryan Haney ( Thomas; March 4, 1934 – May 26, 2001) was an American stage and screen actress. She was best known for her roles in ''Mrs. Doubtfire'' and ''Liar Liar'', as well as Alberta Meechum on the sitcom ''Mama's Family''. Early yea ...

as Mrs. Sudsup * Beau Dremann as Alec * Bill Calvert as Jason Tilby * Jordan Bridges as Travis Tilby *

Jason Bateman Jason Kent Bateman (born January 14, 1969) is an American actor, director and producer known for his roles of Michael Bluth in the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox/Netflix sitcom ''Arrested Development (TV series), Arrested Development'' and of Mart ...

as Steve Tilby * Lloyd Bridges as Stewart Larson * Jason Naylor as Arnold * Jessica Puscas as Jenni Tilby *

Joshua Bryant Joshua Bryant (born July 2, 1940) is an American actor, director, author, and speaker who is the founder of the Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival in Taos, New Mexico. Early life and education Bryant was born in Norfolk, Virginia. After a ...

as Sam the Vet * Zero Hubbard as Jeff * Tina Caspary as 1st Girl * Scott Nemes as 1st Boy * Kiblena Peace as Emily * Mark Clayman as Tommy * Dorothy Dean Bridges as Aggie Larson * Allan Dietrich as Square Dance Caller * Lucinda Jany as Neighbor Lady * Leonard P. Geer as Old Man * Jeff Bridges as Neighbor (uncredited)

References

External links

* 1986 films 1986 drama films 1980s American films 1980s English-language films ABC network original films American drama television films Disney television films Films about birds Films based on American novels Films based on young adult literature Films scored by Bruce Broughton Television films based on books Thanksgiving in films Walt Disney anthology television series episodes {{US-tv-drama-film-stub