The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story

*The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story*
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
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Kenneth Kaufman; Michael Lepiner
Producer	Dick Atkins
Production locations	Burlington, Vermont; Chelsea, Vermont; Shelburne, Vermont
Cinematography	Larry Pizer
Editor	Paul Fried
Running time	96 min.
Production companies	Amanda Productions; Telecom Entertainment Inc.
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	December 20, 1983

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 small town of Chelsea.

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

Writing for The Star-Ledger, the film was praised as "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."^{[citation needed]}

Albany News described the film as "...a tale of love, joy, memory and disappointment, put together in a way that will touch your heart."^{[citation needed]}

In a review for the Los Angeles Times, the film was praised for "Lovely performances by Lee Remick and Angela Lansbury... luminous presence of Polly Holliday... make this a special that merits repeating in seasons to come."^[1]