264 A working class family has trouble making ends meet, and so the parents have to break the news to the kids that there will be no turkey for Thanksgiving this year. When the kids act like this is the End of the World, Dad changes their mind by having everybody in the family make a list of what they are thankful for. Mostly they are thankful for living in the good ol' U.S. of A., even if they are poor. This film would be laughable, except it's a Centron production, and the gritty Kansas feel gives it a certain poignancy. The kids' lists of what they are thankful for sound like genuine school compositions on the subject. And little Tommy has such a delightful Kansas twang, especially when he asserts, "We could make a list a mile long!" Some of the scenes are jarring, as when Mom says she is thankful for modern technology while we see her struggle to operate a wringer washing machine, or when she casually includes "a bill collector" into the list of nice people who might be at the door. These people are so sincere, and trying so hard to be brave, that you can't make fun of them. And that gives the message of this film a certain degree of believability, whereas it probably would have been so much hokey shmaltz in the hands of another production company. Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: ****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****. Also available on Lifestyles USA, Vol. 2. A Day of Thanksgiving Christine Hennig 2002-10-21 00:00:00 2002-10-21 00:00:00 4 5585 Another amazing film from the Centron corperation, "A Day Of Thanksgiving" is. on the surface a melodrama of a turkeyless family on Thanksgiving realizing that the holiday is not all about getting the bird (lol). But really, this film mostly is disguised as a Thank God We Live Here Instead Of Some Awful Communist Country film. This is abundantly evident in the "prayer scene" Daughter is thankful she can practice religion, little brother is thankful he can get books from the library, mother is glad she has the ability to talk about anything she wants, but the lulu of thank yous belong to the father who is thankful that he doesn't worry about who comes to the door "like a friend, a family member, a bill collector". A real amazing film, this film is HIGHLY RECCOMENDED! A Day of Commie Bashing! Spuzz 2003-08-12 16:03:12 2003-08-12 16:03:12 5 Nice cozy little patriotic short. Recommended. A Day of Thanksgiving Mr. 2007-06-30 15:58:23 2004-05-25 17:24:12 5 30588 Do you really understand Thanksgiving is? Centron has produced a film in which a average father explains why we should be thankful for what we have. Though the film was written when HUAC and Mc Carthyism prevailed in America, the same standards apply today: God, Patriotism and love for our country! These are the things we should always be grateful for and never forget!! A Good Little Film Educational Archive Fan 2005-01-31 16:58:44 2005-01-31 16:58:44 5 That George W. Bush presented his troops with a made-for-TV plastic turkey. Man, I'm counting the days!! It was five years ago..... jazzfan 2008-11-02 00:33:37 2008-11-02 00:33:37 3 thanks good job good 7be 2008-12-28 03:00:27 2008-12-28 02:56:56 1 Can't Afford A Turkey?....What Were They In 1951...15 Cents A Pound Ya Shiftless Loafer!....Open Up A Can Of Spam And Boil A Couple Of Spuds, DAD! Awwww.... doowopbob 2009-04-02 14:41:08 2009-04-02 14:41:08 1 While I found the script to be too preachy and the acting stilted, I liked the message it tries to bring out. A good message ERD. 2009-08-15 16:20:11 2009-08-15 16:20:11 3 8 3.38