Customer Reviews

Decoration Day [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Set in the state of Georgia, James Garner renders a powerful and very sensitive performance of a Judge who following the death of his wife, retires from the bench. He tries to with-draw from life esconced in his own grief and bitterness. The mys-tery surrounding an old friend's refusal to accept the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the personal crises in the lives of those closest to him, compel him to step back into the mainstream of society . As he reaches beyond his own pain and into lives of others, he not only becomes an anchor for them, but finds a renewed reason for living, himself.
The supporting cast is superb, esp. Bill Cobbs and Ruby Dee.
This is an exceptional film, providing wholesome entertainment.

James Garner plays a retiring judge who becomes an unwilling, but interested player in a story centered around the government's plan to award the Medal of Honor to an African American man because of heroic actions during WWII's Battle of the Bulge. Here's the catch -- the man doesn't want to have anything to do with medal!

Garner is convinced that he should intervene and persuade the man to accept the medal. A story of racism, bitterness, decepetion, and revelation unfolds as the movie progresses. Be sure to watch for an interesting, unexpected plot twist toward the end.

This is top-notch drama, and a real treat for James Garner fans.

5 stars all the way! Watch this movie, you'll be glad you did. This is the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" at its best!

Alan Holyoak

James Garner stars as a retired judge who is widowed but has a wonderful housekeeper who still keeps him in line. All he wants to do is spend his days fishing and live without any hassles. A call for help from family for an old friend and he finds himself caught up in the human drama that leads to his own renewal. Great performances by James Garner and Judith Ivey and beautiful cenima make this movie a delight.

Decoration Day is a great movie - lots of heart and such a fine family show. It reminds us not to make assumptions when we don't have all the facts and shows the great value of friendship and family.

If you want to feel comfortable with yourself, don't watch this film. Decoration Day propels you out of complacency and into personal growth. After first viewing the film for its beauty and honesty, sit down and ponder the truths it so skillfully reveals. Based on a more complex novella by John William Corrington, the film is nevertheless rich in relationships among men and women in community. Judge Finch (James Garner) and Old Gee (Bill Cobbs) provide an interpersonal history against which an honest human can examine prejudice and race relations. Other relationships protrayed by the excellent supporting cast deepen the main plot through revealing other ways in which humans separate themselves from one another.

This film stars Bill Cobbs as a war hero who refuses the Congressional medal of honor, and James Garner as a retired judge and Cobbs' childhood friend. As the years go by, their lives take decidedly different roads. However, their friendship is rekindled when an unexpected visitor comes to town, forcing Cobbs to deal with some ghosts from his military service and the two of them to revisit some long forgotten childhood memories. This is an excellent movie with a lot of heart. Ruby Dee also turns in a stellar performance.

I loved this move! James Garner is superb in his role as a retired judge. All the rest of the actors and actresses are superb in their roles as well. I loved the judge's gorges lake view home. Also, one of my favorite characters was the judge's black housekeeper and dear friend. The man who was up for a medal of honor for his heroic deeds in WWII also did an excellent acting job. I've seen the movie twice so far and got even more out of it the second time.

A wonderful Hallmark movie. Great acting;great actors! An excellent story with depth!!

A friendship destroyed by misunderstanding but truth prevails when a younger generation enters the scene and makes the ending well worth the wait.

Great story and acting! Others have mentioned the great acting by Bill Cobbs and Ruby Dee (I agree) but the one I really appreciated was the performance of Norm Skaggs (Billy Wendell).
I find it interesting that Laurence Fishburne went by the name of "Larry" Fishburne back then.

This was probably the only place I knew to track down this great Hallmark film! I feel every American should have the opportunity to view it.