The book used for the cold opening
The cover to the DVD release
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story is a CBS Christmas telefilm that would serve as the pilot for the network's long-running drama The Waltons.
Synopsis[]
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It is 1933, during the Great Depression, and being Christmas Eve, the Walton family is in the midst of their Christmas preparations and hoping to celebrate it together. The problem is that there are many events which seem to prevent John from arriving home to share this Christmas with his family. Olivia is wishing and hoping that he will make it home, the children are rushing to the door to see of the noises they hear are him, and John-Boy is heading out into the snowy night to try to find him. Eventually he walks through the door and the first Walton Christmas "miracle" has occurred.
Notes[]
- Patricia Neal's performance as Olivia was nominated for the 1972 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie; however, she lost to Glenda Jackson in the PBS run of the BBC 2 miniseries Elizabeth R: "Shadow in the Sun".
Cast[]
Most of the familiar cast of the TV series is featured in the movie, with the notable exceptions of the parents and grandfather; Patricia Neal and Andrew Duggan played Olivia and John Walton. In the series, their characters are portrayed by Michael Learned and Ralph Waite, respectively. Zeb Walton, played here by Edgar Bergen, was later played by Will Geer in the series.
| Actor/actress | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Patricia Neal | Olivia |
| Richard Thomas | John-Boy |
| Edgar Bergen | Zeb |
| Ellen Corby | Esther |
| Cleavon Little | Hawthorne Dooley |
| Dorothy Stckney | Emily Baldwin |
| Josephine Hutchinson | Mamie Baldwin |
| William Windom | Charlie Snead |
| Andrew Duggan | John |
| Woodrow Parfrey | Ike Godsey |
| Judy Norton-Taylor | Mary Ellen |
| Mary McDonough | Erin |
| Kami Cotler | Elizabeth |
| Eric Scott | Ben |
| David W. Harper | Jim Bob |
| Jon Walmsley | Jason |
| David Huddleston | Sheriff Bridges |
| Sally Chamberlin | City Lady |
| David Livingston | Claudie Dooley |
| Betty Carter | Emmarine |
| Kent Williams Roderick Bingley Rodney Bingley |
Shepherds |
| Miyoshi Williams | Angel |
| Clarence M. Landry | Santa Claus |