When we were in middle school, we had, it seemed, a big red target stamped on our back.
There were a few girls who couldn’t resist this target, and they were unfailing in their efforts to remind us of our Low Social Status and Bleak Future.
As it turned out, our future wasn’t bleak at all, but even if it were, it would be pointless to bear a grudge. We were, all of us, a bunch of dopey kids.
We were recently reminded of this glamorous time in life when we watched Truman Capote’s The Thanksgiving Visitor (1967), a made-for-TV movie based on a short story by the Breakfast at Tiffany’s author.
The story takes place in Depression-era Alabama where a boy named Buddy (Michael Kearney) lives with his three “maiden aunts” and their “bachelor brother”. Narrator Truman Capote tactfully explains these circumstances are due to “a disturbance in my more immediate family.”
Buddy is the victim of a bully, one Odd Henderson (Hansford Rowe III), described as the meanest person in Buddy’s life. Odd is the kind of bully who rolls you for your last dime.
But Buddy isn’t entirely judicious, either, and twice in the film he tries to publicly humiliate Odd, a boy from a large and Very poor family.
In one scene, Odd struggles to read a passage aloud in class, and has trouble pronouncing the word “oceana”. Buddy interrupts Odd and snarls, “It’s oceana, stupid,” for which he is immediately reprimanded by the teacher.
Imagine, then, Buddy’s horror, when his favourite aunt (Geraldine Page) invites his arch-nemesis to Thanksgiving Dinner, in hopes of mending the rift between the two boys.
But Thanksgiving gives Buddy a second chance to publicly humiliate Odd, with an unexpected result.
The story pivots around three characters: the sensitive boy, Buddy; the bully, Odd; and Buddy’s aunt, Miss Sook (Page).
This is Geraldine Page’s movie, and she is utterly magnificent as Buddy’s proxy mother/best friend. She defends him against All Comers and shamelessly spoils him. (It was she who gave him the precious dime, only to learn it was stolen by Odd.)
Watch her as she sets the table for Thanksgiving Dinner, the way she carefully lays out the tablecloth, worn and patched, but never mind that because This is the linen of treasured family memories.
Although Buddy is Extremely Displeased that Odd has been invited to Thanksgiving, Page-as-Miss-Sook knows how to pacify him. She reminds him that one day she will sell her heirloom cameo – a gift from her beloved father – so the two of them can journey to New Orleans and Live It Up.
Now watch as she shows the cameo to Mr. Pruitt (Pierre Epstein), the proprietor of a mobile pawn shop. She is ready, at last, to sell her heirloom for the sake of her nephew.
Alas, Mr. Pruitt declares the cameo a Fake, and the Dream of New Orleans falls to the ground with a thud.
The Thanksgiving Visitor is based on Truman Capote’s childhood in rural Alabama. It was originally published as a short story in McCall’s magazine, before it was adapted for television. It’s a sequel, of sorts, to Capote’s popular 1956 short story, A Christmas Memory.
Revenge and forgiveness are themes in The Thanksgiving Visitor, but they’re not platitudes. The script acknowledges how hard it is to forgive someone, especially when revenge seems like the more Satisfying Option.
We hope you get the chance to see this movie, although it’s tricky to find a decent online version. We want you to see Geraldine Page – considered by many to be the best actress of her generation – in one of her many award-winning roles.
The Thanksgiving Visitor: starring Geraldine Page, Michael Kearney, Hansford Rowe III. Directed by Frank Perry. Written by Truman Capote & Eleanor Perry. 1968, Colour, 60 mins.
Great review! I’ve never heard of this movie before, but your thoughts on it make the film seem like it’s worth becoming a tradition. Speaking of Truman Capote, I reviewed the 1994 film, ‘One Christmas’ last October. Even though I thought it was just ok, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the movie. Thanks for joining my blogathon!
I was surprised at how good this film was. The opening credits seem a bit cheesy, but hang in there. It’s well worth it. The performances are terrific.
I’ll look for “One Christmas”. Seems to me I made a note to find it, but I forgot about it…
I love the way you wrote about the characters and the themes of this story. A great memory, the TV movie. A not-so-great movie, my own days as the oh-so-easy target of the bully set. And yeah, I’m OK once I got away from them. Now, that’s something to be thankful for.
Capote always seems like an empathetic writer to me, although admittedly I’m no expert on his work. I recently re-read In Cold Blood, which always puts me in awe… And yes, I’m totally fangirling here.
I hope you can see this, but it’s hard to find a decent version online. Even so, you can still feel the power of the story – and you’ll be still charmed by Geraldine Page’s performance.
Silver Screenings 
Hi. Not sure if I knew about this movie. A fair number of Capote’s works were made into movies. At least four. Maybe more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some of Truman Capote’s stories/books really work well as screen adaptations, don’t they? He was such a good writer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! I’ve never heard of this movie before, but your thoughts on it make the film seem like it’s worth becoming a tradition. Speaking of Truman Capote, I reviewed the 1994 film, ‘One Christmas’ last October. Even though I thought it was just ok, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the movie. Thanks for joining my blogathon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was surprised at how good this film was. The opening credits seem a bit cheesy, but hang in there. It’s well worth it. The performances are terrific.
I’ll look for “One Christmas”. Seems to me I made a note to find it, but I forgot about it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the way you wrote about the characters and the themes of this story. A great memory, the TV movie. A not-so-great movie, my own days as the oh-so-easy target of the bully set. And yeah, I’m OK once I got away from them. Now, that’s something to be thankful for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, those childhood bullies are really something, right? I’m sorry to hear you had that experience too.
Thanks for your kind comment and encouragement.
LikeLike
I’ve heard about it, but have never seen it. Seems like the appropriate time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s well worth it, if you can find a decent version. A lovely story with a good message about family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Geraldine Page is always so watchable. What a wonderful actress!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t she, though? She gives you the whole character, inside and out.
LikeLike
Capote really was an excellent writer–wish I could see this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Capote always seems like an empathetic writer to me, although admittedly I’m no expert on his work. I recently re-read In Cold Blood, which always puts me in awe… And yes, I’m totally fangirling here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Truman Capote, so I will check this out. From your review it sounds like a typical charming Capote yarn. Thanks for the recommend
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you can see this, but it’s hard to find a decent version online. Even so, you can still feel the power of the story – and you’ll be still charmed by Geraldine Page’s performance.
LikeLike
It’s a good thing I wasn’t in that family…I was the guy in high school who used to beat up bullies, so that might have been a bit awkward 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! So you were the defender of the Picked-On. I raise a glass to you, sir.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really keen to see how this one works out in the end.. thanks Ruth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has an unexpected, but realistic ending. Geraldine Page is fabulous, and she makes the ending work.
LikeLiked by 1 person