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.
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.
The film was followed by the 1979 sequel 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.).
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.
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