Jump to content

Decoration Day (film)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Decoration Day
Based onDecoration Day
by John William Corrington
Written byRobert W. Lenski
Directed byRobert Markowitz
Starring
ComposerPatrick Williams
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerMarian Rees
ProducerAnne Hopkins
CinematographyNeil Roach
EditorHarvey Rosenstock
Running time100 minutes
Production companies
Budget$3.8 million[1]
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseDecember 2, 1990 (1990-12-02)

Decoration Day is an American drama television film that premiered on NBC on December 2, 1990, as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series. It is directed by Robert Markowitz and written by Robert W. Lenski, based on the novella of the same name by John William Corrington. The film stars James Garner, Judith Ivey, Bill Cobbs, Ruby Dee, and Laurence Fishburne. It follows Albert Sidney Finch, a retired Georgia judge deciding to help his boyhood friend, a black World War II veteran from whom Finch has been estranged for 30 years.[2]

The film won two Golden Globe Awards, for Best Miniseries or Television Film and Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film for Garner. It also earned six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special and Miniseries, with Dee winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for her performance as Rowena, Finch's longtime housekeeper.

Plot

[edit]

James Garner plays a retired judge and recluse who comes out of "hiding" to investigate when his childhood friend (Bill Cobbs) refuses to accept a Medal of Honor awarded decades ago in World War II. His reason is kept in confidence and Garner's character files a motion to deny the ceremony. Meanwhile, the personal lives of the other characters have issues of their own to work out. In the end of things Cobbs' character is told of something he didn't know about and the two romantic side stories resolve in a positive fashion.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

John J. O'Connor of The New York Times wrote: "Directed with all deliberate thoughtfulness by Robert Markowitz, Decoration Day proceeds without fireworks, taking its time and carefully revealing its gentle insights into memory, friendship, race relations and the simple fact that time passes and things change. Surrounded by an impeccable supporting cast, Mr. Garner brings to television still another uncommonly fine performance."[2] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the film an A−, saying it "starts out like the ultimate Hallmark Hall of Fame, a video greeting card designed to warm your heart. But very quickly it becomes something better than that." Tucker also called it a "shrewdly conceived drama."[3] Tom Shales of The Washington Post described Decoration Day as a "dreary tear-jerker," and opined that it "serves up a powerful load of mush, much mushier than it is powerful." Shales also wrote: "Director Robert Markowitz succeeds at making the slow pace work for the story and the bucolic Georgia setting, but he can't do much about the script's tiring talkiness. When the words get to be too much, he sends Garner off to the lake to ponder the meaning of it all."[4] Ray Loynd of the Los Angeles Times stated that the film "certainly unfurls the Hallmark banner: an intelligent script, a measured rather than aggressive tone, and the affirmation of loyalty, heroism and, in this case, the restorative powers of memory (fluidly captured in flashbacks, including German war scenes)."[5]

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
1991 48th Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Decoration Day Won [6]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film James Garner Won
43rd Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special and Miniseries Joyce Corrington, Dick Gallegly, Anne Hopkins, Marian Rees Nominated [7]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special James Garner Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Ruby Dee Won
Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or a Special Robert Markowitz Nominated
Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or a Special Robert W. Lenski Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Dramatic Underscore) Patrick Williams Nominated
7th Artios Awards Movie of the Week Casting Marsha Kleinman Nominated [8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hill, Michael E. (December 2, 1990). "'DECORATION DAY'". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  2. ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (November 30, 1990). "TV Weekend; James Garner as a Curmudgeon Pulled Back Into Life". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. ^ Tucker, Ken (November 30, 1990). "Decoration Day". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Shales, Tom (December 1, 1990). "TV PREVIEW". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Loynd, Ray (December 1, 1990). "TV Reviews : Hallmark 'Hall of Fame' Presents a Special 'Decoration Day' on NBC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "Decoration Day". Golden Globes. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "Decoration Day Hallmark Hall of Fame". Television Academy. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "1991 Artios Awards". The Casting Society of America. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Decoration_Day_(film)&oldid=1220834865"