It had been 8 years since Earl Hamner, Jr.'s novel had been adapted into the movie, "Spencer's Mountain". CBS asked Hamner to adapt another of his books for a holiday movie that became as much of a tradition as the series it spun off nine months later.
"The Homecoming: A Christmas Story", as with the subsequent The Waltons, was narrated by Hamner in character as an older John Walton, Jr., aka John-Boy (Richard Thomas), the eldest of the Walton children. The story is set in the days of the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was President.
Aside from Ellen Corby (Grandma), Thomas, and the rest of the children (i.e. Jon Walmsley, Kami Cotler), most parts were recast for The Waltons. Patricia Neal plays Olivia (later played by Michael Learned). Edgar Bergen was cast as Grandpa Zeb (Will Geer took over the role, which would not be recast after Geer's passing during season 6), Woodrow Parfrey was store owner Ike Godsey (Joe Conley in the series), and Andrew Duggan (ex-Lancer) played John Walton, to be succeeded by Ralph Waite in the series.
To be honest, I couldn't find fault with Bergen, who was doing a good bit of acting sans his entourage (Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd) during this period, as Zeb, but apparently there were chemistry issues between him and some of the other actors.
The film's cast also includes William Windom (ex-My World & Welcome to it) and Cleavon Little.
Rating: A.
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