A rare live-action drama film from the Hanna-Barbera studios (the producers of Tom and Jerry, Huckleberry Hound and others), 1977’s The Gathering won an Emmy for Outstanding Special – Drama or Comedy, and became a Christmas time tradition for many years after its initial airing. Directed by Randal Kleiser (Grease, Big Top Pee-wee) the story concerns an ill-tempered executive named Adam Thornton (Edward Asner) who’s just received some awful news: he has somewhere between 30 and 90 days to live. Emotionally distant from his family for years, he now wants to reunite the clan and make peace. First, he must convince his estranged wife, Kate (Maureen Stapleton) to help him bring everyone together.
Unfortunately for Adam, after years of indifference, his grown children aren’t that interested in seeing him. Son Tom (Lawrence Pressman), just like his father, is obsessed with his business career, ignoring his wife (Veronica Hamel) and determined to use the holiday to foster clients and further his career. Daughter Peggy (Gail Strickland) is a government worker who’d rather take a trip to Aspen with her boyfriend. Daughter Julie (Rebecca Balding) would like to go, in order for her children to finally get to know their grandfather. However, her husband George (Bruce Davison) is tired of the insults that inevitably come his way whenever Adam is around. Youngest son Bud hasn’t spoken to his father since he moved to Canada to avoid being drafted for Vietnam several years earlier.
Kate agrees to contact everyone, but doesn’t mention Adam’s diagnosis. Out of respect for her, the children and their families begin showing up. Slowly, the family comes together for what they don’t realize will be their last Christmas. Written by James Poe (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Lilies of the Field, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?) the script has some wonderfully emotional moments, but ultimately falls short of what it could have been given the stellar cast.
Over the years, Ed Asner has proven himself to be a fine actor, and that’s the case here. When the doctor gives Adam his death sentence, we see flashes of the mean, gruff man he’s purported to be. This is different from Asner’s long established Lou Grant persona, there’s a desperation and a sadness there; Asner excels at it. The standout here is Maureen Stapleton. In the ‘70’s she was a regular presence on television when a role called for a strong, yet measured performance. She does it here in spades. I’ve always felt that despite her Oscar win for 1982’s Reds, Maureen Stapleton was sorely underappreciated.
The biggest issue with The Gathering is the fact that it takes so long for the children and their families to arrive on the scene. When they do, what happens is all to predictable. They all have issues with the nasty old man that has been festering for years. Betcha didn’t see that one coming! The dialogue in these scenes sounds unnatural and forced. Since the film is called The Gathering, the question of whether they’ll spend Christmas with their parents doesn’t provide much suspense.
The gathering itself is attended not just by the family, but by a whole passel of friends and neighbors as well; as such, everything remains on a surface level. One of the adult children figures out Asner’s secret, but never lets on, instead swapping the gift so Dad won’t get stuck with a fishing rod he won’t live long enough to use. Asner is able to make amends for decades of horrible behavior by just being a nice guy for one night. Things are tied up in a nice little bow much too easily to be considered anything but utter fiction. Even so, The Gathering features fine performances by Maureen Stapleton and Ed Asner that make it worthy of at least one holiday season viewing.
This full screen presentation may be the same transfer used by Warner Archives for last year’s release. While the film has clearly been remastered, there’s a noticeable red hue that surrounds the outsides of a few scenes.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack is nothing special, but dialogue is understandable throughout.
English, French, and Spanish subtitles are available.
There are no special features.
