The Gathering (1977 film)

The Gathering

Genre	Drama
Written by	James Poe
Directed by	Randal Kleiser
Starring	Edward Asner Maureen Stapleton Rebecca Balding Sarah Cunningham Bruce Davison Veronica Hamel Gregory Harrison James Karen Lawrence Pressman John Randolph Gail Strickland Edward Winter Stephanie Zimbalist
Composer(s)	John Barry
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Joseph Barbera
Producer(s)	Harry R. Sherman
Cinematography	Dennis Dalzell
Editor(s)	Allan Jacobs
Running time	94 minutes
Production company(s)	Hanna-Barbera Productions
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	December 4, 1977

The Gathering is a 1977 American made-for-television drama film. A rare live-action drama film produced by the animation studio of Hanna-Barbera Productions, it was directed by Randal Kleiser and starring Edward Asner and Maureen Stapleton.

Plot

Adam Thornton (Edward Asner), an ill-tempered executive who walked out on his family, learns that he only has a little time left to live. He decides that he wants to make peace with them and have one last reunion. He confides this information to his estranged wife, Kate (Maureen Stapleton). But when his doctor says that it won't be good for him to travel, she suggests that he call his four adult children and invite them all for Christmas.

He agrees only with the provision that they not be told of his illness and imminent death. The only problem is that most of them are not exactly fond of him because he walked out on Kate and of his stubborn nature. Of them, he is most nervous about seeing Bud (Gregory Harrison), whom he hasn't spoken to since having an argument with him regarding the Vietnam War and his move to Canada several years before.

Sequel

The film was followed by a sequel in 1979 (The Gathering, Part II), which picked up two years after Adam's death (Asner did not appear in it), and largely concerned Kate's relationship with a new man (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.).

Awards

Nomination for and won Emmy for Outstanding Special - Drama or Comedy
Nomination for Emmy - Outstanding Art Direction for a Dramatic Special Jan Scott (art director) Anne D. McCulley (set Director)
Nomination for Emmy - Outstanding Directing in a Special Program Drama or Comedy
Nomination for Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special Maureen Stapleton
Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy James Poe (writer)

Home Media releases

The movie was released on DVD in Christmas 2009 by Warner Archive. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.

External links

Films directed by Randal Kleiser

Peege (1973)
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976)
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976)
The Gathering (1977)
Grease (1978)
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
Summer Lovers (1982)
Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Getting It Right (1989)
White Fang (1991)
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
It's My Party (1996)
Shadow of Doubt (1998)
Love Wrecked (2005)
Red Riding Hood (2006)

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