A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993 TV Movie) User Reviews

Solid Continuation of the Series

[ramsfan · 8/10 · 12 April 2020]

The Waltons was a TV staple to many of us who grew up in the 70's. Writer Earl Hamner, Jr. created the series as a fond remembrance of his childhood growing up in small town Schuyler, Virginia and was wholesome viewing for nearly a decade. "A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion" is one of several reunion specials after the series ended and for the most part, it is an effective and enjoyable watch. It takes place in November of 1963 intertwining side stories involving the now grown Walton clan amidst the backdrop of the Kennedy assassination. Though the time line doesn't exactly match up with the age of the Walton children, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the Special.

Touching themes that were a series trademark characterize the movie. The memory of Grandpa Walton is ever-present, as a photo of the late Will Geer is acknowledged. A tender moment occurs when John Walton, at odds with son Ben over the running of the family mill, seeks guidance from his late Pa in a private reminiscence. John and Livia struggle with the decision to relocate, leaving the family home and all its cherished memories. And the other children deal with marital woes and separation from a once large and happy household.

Watching actress Ellen Corby in a compromised state due to the after-effects of a real life stroke brings mixed emotions. While I understand the feelings of those who felt it unnecessary to include her in a diminished capacity, I have tremendous respect for her desire to continue and for the creator and producer who felt a loyalty in wanting her to be a continued part of the show.

While it is always difficult, if not impossible to recapture the magic of an original series, the subsequent Waltons Reunion movies did a credible job of it, continuing what was an outstanding show and great memory of childhood.

Great movie just great

[shannasman9 · 8/10 · 12 August 2007]

I appreciated this movie very much. I enjoyed how they showed how much everyone had changed from the season. First they showed what they looked like in the series then what they looked like after the series. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much John Walton had changed since the series. He had such white hair and I think takes after his father Zeb Walton. I didn't know he made a mistake when he said "oh Pa. It's been 15 years and I miss you like it was yesterday." Then he says " I remember you once told me there's no pain like the one your kids can give you." I really took that to heart. I have to say I put my self in his place and could see where he was coming from. The mother look like she was getting tired of doing her role as Olivia Walton. Anyways, I really do hope they do a reunion movie again real soon. Thank you.

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion

[skullfire-96621 · 8/10 · 26 December 2022]

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion is a good film, despite a few continuity errors.

I remember watching this television series as a child, and like many of my generation, I felt the great nostalgic longing of the past.

Unfortunately, I find myself truly missing Will Geer leading the family, but every generation must give way to the next, no matter how it effects our nostalgia.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I did not expect the family to be locked in a time capsule. To believe that this family would not evolve along side the world according to each time period.

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion is not perfect, but, it serves a reminder of times past and even shows all the potential of the family's future.

Decent TV-movie reunion

[sjbradford · 17 September 2001]

This is one of the better TV-movie reunions, and better than most of the 80s "Walton" reunions that were done the year following the original series' cancellation. Unlike the earlier sequels, virtually the entire cast is present here, with a very well-preserved Richard Thomas returning as John-Boy, and Michael Learned back as family matriarch Olivia, who has recovered from the tuberculosis that kept her sidelined during the series' later years. Even a very frail-looking Grandma is present, even though her portrayer, Ellen Corby, suffered a massive stroke in the middle of the series' run.

The storyline, which deals with the Walton family's reaction to JFK's assasination, tends to be a little maudlin, and it's set about eight years too far in the future to jibe with the series' timeline. And a few minor characters are either missing, like Mary Ellen's husband, Jonesy, or altogether unmentioned, like Mary Ellen's son John Curtis. But what makes this fun is the presence of the original cast, plus cameos from all sorts of recurring characters from the series (something most reunions never bother to do). Keep your eyes peeled for appearances by storekeepers Ike and Corabeth, their daughter Aimee, neighbor Verdie Foster, town idiot Yancy Tucker, Aunt Rose, Elizabeth's boyfriend Drew, and, best of all, unwitting moonshiners Emily and Mamie Baldwin.

Feels more like the Waltons than the lame films from 1982

[mattsnyder1970 · 7/10 · 12 November 2023]

Ok yes there are a lot of character inconsistencies in regards to the absence of Mary Ellens son John Curtis who would be more plausible being drafted into Nam than Jonsey was. And the absence of Ben and Cindy's 2nd born Charlie.

You could put the blame on the writers if they were new but these are veteran writers & director from the original series run. The main problem is the network execs who produced the film and figured it's been 11 years since the 1982 movies (that were made for a different network) that the fans probably wouldn't remember. I watched all three reunion films in the 90's I had hoped they would be of the same caliber as the first 5 seasons of the show but could never measure up.

I just re-watched this film tonight and well, I find it sentimental in parts. Far from perfect but a joy to have Richard & Michael back.

Waltons 1993 Movie not Like the Original Series

[rncpd · 4/10 · 2 April 2008]

I faithfully watched the Waltons growing up every Thursday night. I was excited when I heard these movies would be airing in the 1990's. I have to say I was very disappointed with the reunion movies. The Thanksgiving movie is not accurate in r/t original series. John Curtis is not mentioned--only other children Mary Ellen had (in one of the post series movies in the 80's--Mary Ellen was told she could not have children). Her husband was not there. Erin was now divorced. Where was Ben's son that was born in post series movies in 80's--named Charlie? It would've been nice if they had picked writers that actually knew what went on in the 9 year series. A big disappointment. The only redeeming quality was the return of the wonderful Richard Thomas to the role of John Boy.

Not the series

[jmfjbf · 5/10 · 31 August 2007]

This was a reunion movie of the Walton's Mountain television show of the 70's. It was great to see Richard Thomas return to his role of John Boy. I thoroughly enjoyed the series as a child in the 70's. However, the movie is not the series. The writers have changed the show to make it fit into the politically correct world of today. It has Erin separated/divorced from her husband and other modern day overtures. There is no mention of John Curtis or of the youngest child of Ben. They seem to have forgotten them for this movie. However, loyal viewers of the original series will pick up on it. If you're looking for the same great television experience as was present in the series, you will be disappointed.

More good, than bad

[Ripshin · 22 April 2004]

Recently, I watched the 1995 reunion special that followed this one, "A Walton Wedding." It was quite bad, so I had little hope for this one. Originally, I had taped this special when it aired in 1993, but at that time, I had not seen the original series for ten years. Now, in 2004, I am avidly watching the old re-runs on TVLand, so the comparison is immediate.

They got the mood right here, even if the set design and costuming left a lot to be desired. And, of course, there's the time-table debacle. Choosing 1963 is ludicrous, especially when John Walton (the father) comments that Grandpa has been dead for fifteen years. Since he died in 1940/41, the year would be 1955/56. (The reason it's uncertain...between seasons six and seven of the original series, they jumped forward a year, from Spring 1940 to Fall 1941, so Grandpa's death is not exact.) Regardless, for a series that held so close to a distinct time-line, this variance is annoying. As a previous poster stated, the grandchildren should be much older, as of course, should the original kids.

It is great to see the cameos, though Aimee Godsey's character is short-changed. Plus, where's Mary Ellen's 22 year-old son, John Curtis? Obviously, everyone should be ten years older than they are portrayed.

The house interior should be more updated. The exterior is not as authentic as the original, which burned down prior to this special. It is my understanding that they rebuilt it on the same spot.

The women's costuming is fairly accurate, but the men's hairstyles are way off. I didn't get a 1963 vibe.

Storywise, I'm disappointed with John-Boy's position, and you'd have expected the Walton lumber mill to have grown in 20 years. In the old series, Elizabeth was preoccupied with detectives, so I expected a different career for her. And what's up with Walton girls and marriage? Plus, why do Walton boys marry such shrews??

But, again, this is far better than the 1995 sequel, and the final 1997 special. Maybe they'll do one more, but I bet they'll set it in 1976, or some such crazy year, and further distort the reality.

I tried to contact the guy who runs the official Walton's web site, but he wasn't very hospitable. Two years ago, there was a rumor of another special being made, but it proved false.

Again, it is great to watch the original series on TVLand. It is my memory that season eight and nine left a lot to be desired, especially after "Olivia" left, and they replaced John-Boy.

Egregious Cringefest; A story only a fan can tolerate

[pemigewasset68 · 3/10 · 17 January 2022]

I watched the series growing up, & I loved it. Watched this TV movie when it came out, & I disliked it. I watched the movie again yesterday- 30 years hasn't improved it.

This is the equivalent of a paint by numbers copy of a Rembrandt done by committee. (Most) All the pieces are there; characters are flashed before the viewer, but important characters are forgotten/ignored- conveniently disposed of through death (Virginia) absence (Jonesy is overseas, Paul has been divorced) & Virginia's brother Charlie is not even mentioned. Characters we haven't seen in ages appear to pluck the sentimentality/nostalgia heartstring; Virdie & Yancey, even Ike and Cora Beth's adopted daughter Aimee gets a few seconds on screen! All the old tropes get shaken out; Erin has boy trouble, Ben and John butt heads. Stuff that they are far too old for. The whole thing gives the impression that a bunch of people with only a cursory familiarity with the series were given a box with all the pieces and told to put a story together, but they missed some of the important bits.

You know what happens when you make a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy; the way it gets fuzzier & blurrier & each copy is a poorer version of the one before? That's what these TV movies are like. Like the owners of the property are milking the nostalgia and sentimentality cash cow and the actors loved the franchise & each other enough to keep coming back despite the jagged edges and disappointing execution.

What a disappointment

[yrnhwyhm · 1/10 · 24 November 2022]

Omg you couldn't have picked a worse cast. Not one character except the sisters even came close. Why bother. Stop messing with the classics if you can't cast the show close to the originals. You all should have done this with the children as all adults. This was awful. Should have made John-Boy the grandpa and his children in the show. Bring back as many of the siblings as possible. And their offspring. Along with maybe some flashbacks of prior episodes. That would of made a wonderful Walton's thanksgiving Don't rewrite and screw up prior episodes. All I can say is I give them a big fat thumbs down, a pinch on the nose and tongue out. It stunk that bad. Along with a bunch off zzzzzz for Boring as all get out.

Oh, come ON ...

[Vibiana · 7 October 2001]

This had to be the worst "reunion of an old series" movie I have ever seen in my life. I was an avid watcher of the original series when I was a child, in the 1970s, and I kept with it until the series ended in the early 1980s. At the time, the farthest the series went was around the mid-1940s. I don't recall the series following through to the end of WWII, but it might have.

At that time, the older Walton kids were starting to marry and have families.

Now, here comes the reunion movie. It's 1963. And the Waltons are dragging their KIDS, YOUNG kids, home for the holidays. Hello? Are these kids made out of some material that only ages one year for every three?

Finally, dragging Ellen Corby out of the nursing home for this one was a mistake. I'd rather remember "Grandma" as she was, than to have her staggering, unable to speak, onto the set for this turkey.