The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story
The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story is a 1983 American made-for-television Christmas drama film, originally broadcast on CBS as an annual tradition for more than five years, premiering December 20, 1983. It starred Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury and Polly Holliday. It was produced by Dick Atkins and Michael Lepiner; directed by Academy Award winner Delbert Mann; and written by Earl Hamner, Jr., creator of The Waltons, based on the short story "The Silent Stars Go By" by Bess Streeter Aldrich. The film was filmed on location in 1983 in Vermont, mainly in Burlington and the charming small town of Chelsea.
| The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | The Silent Stars Go By (short story) by Bess Streeter Aldrich |
| Screenplay by | Earl Hamner, Jr. |
| Directed by | Delbert Mann |
| Starring | Lee Remick Angela Lansbury Polly Holliday Joseph Warren Mart Hulswit Michael Pearlman Samantha Atkins Michael Higgins |
| Theme music composer | Fred Karlin |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Kenneth Kaufman Michael Lepiner Earl Hamner Jr. (co-executive producer) |
| Producers | Dick Atkins J. Boyce Harman Jr. (co-producer) |
| Cinematography | Larry Pizer |
| Editor | Paul Fried |
| Production companies | Amanda Productions Telecom Entertainment Inc. |
| Distributor | CBS |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release |
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Plot
With her world in turmoil, Janet (Lee Remick) feels she is losing so much that is important… her beloved mother (Angela Lansbury), the family business, maybe even her husband. Janet dreams of simpler times, of Christmas in the idyllic Vermont of her younger days, and of taking her children back to the family home where her parents and spinster aunt (Polly Holliday) would be waiting for them. And they are, in all the warmth of the holiday. But only when even more seems lost, as one of her children is in jeopardy, does Janet search for that ‘secret place’ where we all may find what really matters, at Christmas and always.
Reviews
"The epitome of this year's Christmas offerings. Will catch at your heart and loosen your tear ducts. If you loved 'It's a Wonderful Life' or 'The Homecoming' you will spend a four-handkerchief night with 'The Gift of Love.' The entire project is a joy." - Newark Star-Ledger
"It's a tale of love, joy, memory and disappointment, put together in a way that will touch your heart." -Albany News
"Lovely performances by Lee Remick and Angela Lansbury... luminous presence of Polly Holliday... make this a special that merits repeating in seasons to come." -Los Angeles Times