Ernest Borgnine vs. grief itself — and somehow nobody's winning.
A drama centering on the joys, conflicts, and crises on a middle-class family and on its ex-football star father's efforts to keep it on track and intact despite the death of a child and the strain between his wife and father.
Acting
Borgnine's gruff vulnerability — a masterclass in restraint.
Writing
Dialogue that actually sounds like families hurting.
Director
Win Phelps
Scott Paulin
Ben Danzig
Wendy Phillips
Marie Danzig
Ernest Borgnine
Emil Danzig
James Handy
Danny Halligan
Casey Biggs
Harry Trace
Matt McGrath
Troy Danzig
Heather Hopper
Katherine Danzig
Penny Fuller
Barbara Stilton
Mariclare Costello
Rose
Robert Hooks
Wesley
Mimi Lieber
Teresa
Douglas Roberts
Father Rick
Andrew Robinson
Mort
Katie Barberi
Deanne Kinsella
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Scott Paulin was primarily a TV actor; this rare lead role showed what he could do with actual material.
Made-for-TV movies like this were where serious adult drama lived before prestige TV — think of it as proto-'This Is Us' with better acting and worse lighting.
US
