Secret of Giving (1999) (TV)

Director:

Sam Pillsbury

Writers (WGA):

Jack Curtis (book)
Scott Swanton (television story)

Release Date:

25 November 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Based On Book

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Reba McEntire	...	Rose Cameron
Thomas Ian Griffith	...	Harry Withers
Ronny Cox	...	Harlan Gotch
Devon Alan	...	Toby Cameron
Philip Granger
Michael Puttonen
Ronin
Garett Beck	...	Tilly
Michael Hogan
Sheelah Megill	...	Mrs. Mason
Alex Diakun	...	Mr. Mason
Tom Shorthouse	...	Dr. Nichols
Nicole Robert	...	Millie Gotch
Peter LaCroix	...	Kelsey
Laurie Murdoch	...	Mr. Sweeny

Also Known As:

Christmas in Calico (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and violence.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Jaffe / Braunstein Films

Not Your Typical Western

I was quite delighted by this movie. TV movies very very rarely leave me satisfied. Christmas TV movies almost always do and Made-for-TV westerns often do as well. Here is the best of both worlds. Let me get out of the way what I didn't like about this story - the guy behind the cattle rustling was the same guy responsible as in over 1,000 other westerns. How very unoriginal but at the same time it was something easy to write into this story. Unfortunately, not more was told or shown of the cattle rustling as it was an integral part of Rose's problem with the bank. Only a mere mention and one little meeting between rustlers and boss. One other thing that was peculiar - this, I do believe, is the first Christmas movie I've seen, and I've seen a lot of them, with shooting and a dead body! Other than that this movie worked very well in telling the story of one very famous outlaw's return to America and the turning around of his life of lawlessness to a life that's respectable, becoming more of a saint and a town hero than an outlaw. Until when the audience discovers the outlaw/hero's true identity, I had a haunting suspicion it was one or the other. I won't tell you who it might be only that he and his partner in crime went to Bolivia in a very famous movie many years ago... and now one of them's back. In a way this is a sequel but not really. Just one of the same characters, here he is in Oregon and looking for food and a warm place to sleep when he becomes very attached to Rose and her sick son. In an effort to do something so wonderful for her he just about promises his life away. Much of what happens isn't very surprising but heartwarming all the same. With the turn around of the banker this felt in a way very much like A Christmas Carol. No comparison, though, just a little similar. Since the powers that be classify this as a Christmas movie, even though Christmas wasn't an overpowering theme, more than likely this will never be shown on television unless it's late November or December. That's a shame because Christmas movies often have a strong message of being nice to others and that message shouldn't be bottled up for 11 months of the year especially in this world we live in now-a-days. So go and write your Congressman and tell him or her we want Christmas movies all year long!!! Ask to make sure this one's shown for sure because it is a dandy. My grade for this: B+