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&, ENTERTAINMENT, THE HERALD, Wed. Dec. 15, 1976

AND GORDON PINSENT

MELVYN DOUGLAS

“Distinguished Oscar and

Tony Award-winning actor
Melvyn Douglas co-stars

with versatile. Canadian.
- actor-writer Gordon Pinsent
in. the warm Christmas
- ‘drama A Gift to Last, slated

for telecast Sunday,
December 19 at 9 p.m. on the

CBC network.

* The original teleplay was.
written by Pinsent, and the
exceptional cast also
features Alan Scarfe, Janet
Amos, Mark Polley, Kate
Parr and Dixie Seatle.

A Gift. to Last is the story
of two Christmases: one in

1976, the other in 1898.

. Melvyn Douglas portrays an

embittered old. man who
lives with his son and his

family but prefers to remain —

secluded in his room rather
than share Christmas Day
-with them, Touched by the

- Christmas gift he receives

from his grandson, the old
man rummages through a
trunkful of memorabilia

the boy his own delights and

disappointments on a

Christmas Day nearly 9%
years ago.
old

’ The man’s

reminiscing causes him to ,

reflect anew on the lack of
understanding that existed
between him and his with-

‘drawn but loving father:

who resented the unabash

affection displayed by his
son for his flamboyant,
hard-drinking Uncle Edgar

(played to the hilt by a-
bew

iskered Gordon Pin-
sent). .-

’ During the flashback

sequences, the simple joys.

and ubiquitous spirit of
Yuletide goodwill typical of
a turn-of-the-century
Christmas in rural Canada
are vividly
superbly complemented by

Alan Laing’s musical score,

designer Bill Beeton’s
evocative sets and Suzanne
Mess’s colorful and
authentic late 19th century

‘costumes.

~ A Gift to Last'is dirécted

‘of “

recalled,

directed the critically-
acclaimed CBC Front Row’

~~. “2 @ gm eg ae a ee o ty
Co-star in Christmas special ‘._..
- Centre production‘of Ladies ©
by Stephen. Katz, who in Retirement, telecast in -

early November. Producer
is Herb Roland, whose

McClung.

- Flying saucer in Toronto

Torontonians will be able
to see for themselves what
has been spellbinding for
hundreds: kids in the
Markham area. .

“A Flying Saucer” will be

saucer to land in the tield
behind, ‘and for the friend!
aliens: to

professor Allan Duncan
(played by Robert Vaughn).

grounded at the Toronto-~-On any. film there are areas

Dominion” Centre, one’ of
many Toronto locations
being utilized in the shooting
ien Encounter”, a big-
budget ($1.8 million)
Canadian Science-Fiction.
movie, starring. Robert
Vaughn, Christopher Lee,
Daniel Pilon, Tiiu. Leek,
Victoria Johnson and Helen
Shaver.

‘While shodting in a home-
in the Markham area, the

_seript caued for a flying.

of unpredictability, but
Director Ed Hunt’ hadn’t
counted on the vast cheering
section provided. daily by
hundreds of kids in the area.
who arrived after school ‘to’
see Robert Vaughn and the
Martians.” a i

‘‘Alien . Encounter’’
doesn’t include ‘“martians’’
but its extraterrestrial
visitors certainly stand out
in any crowd. The T-D

——

; “kidnap”
University of « Toronto.

- different

evening will feature Daniel a

Pilon (as commander of the
friendly space ship) and to

5
achieve the bald, enlarged —

skull effect, it.takes makeup

artist Maureen Sweeney —

four hours Saily to “build
up” Pilon’s head. The
finished product. is .very
ut; since Pilon
plays a ‘‘friendly’’, not

unattractive. —

' “Alien Encounter is a Hal
Roach. Studios production,
Executive Producers. - Earl
A. Glick and Norman Glick,

- Producers Ed Hunt and Ken,

Cord, Director Ed Hunt and

A _ the Director of Photography '
-Centre shooting on Tuesday _ is Mark Irwin.

fe

from his youth and relates to.

GK

H&ROWARE STORES

.. Tape Recorders —

Red Hot Specials

SD” STEREOS

_ MODEL A-100
“8-TRACK STEREO TAPE.
"CARTRIDGE PLAYER

=. Record Button (REC)

. ‘& Volime Control (VOLUME). os

2: FastForward Button (FF)

4: Rawind Button (REW)
‘Stop Button (STOP): +...

Tt ote

“7. Earphione Jack (EAR)

10,- Mictophone Jack (MIC) -

. 12 Battery Compartment
i 14 Condenser Microphone

lees

.- Remote Control Jack (REMOTE). . pe

current ‘project is a.
dramatized biography of

.famed Canadian women’s -.
suffrage leader Nellie 9g

t