THE LONG WAY HOME

Details

• Release Year: 1998
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family
• Plot: A letter from a lost love begins a journey out West.; ; Tom Gerrin (Jack Lemon), a retired cabinentmaker, moves in with his son, Ken, and daughter-in-law, Bonnie, after the death of his wife. Ken and Bonnie mean well, but smother Tom with their self-conscious attempts at kindness. His presence in their home is also destroying the intimacy in their marrage.; ; Tom, bored and lonely, is simply waiting to die. When a traveling circus comes to the town of Beaumont, Kansas, Tom meets Marco, a young ringmaster, and briefly feels hope.; More significantly, Tom mets a 21-year-old free spirit named Leanne Bossert (Sarah Paulson) and the unlikely pair hitchhike from Kansis to California. It;s a rocky road to begin with, Tom is a curmudgeonly old carpenter and Leanne is the offbeat, irreverent child of a wealthy but troubled family. In learning to respect each other's differences, they become the best of mismatched friends. It is their unique friendship that gives each the courage to embrace new beginnings and face the sad finales the greet them at their journey's end.; ; While in Monterey, California, Tom looks up an old pre-marriage sweetheart, Veronica (Betty Garrett). Happily and unexpectly, the two enjoy a 55-year renunion-a sweet moment it is in both their lives.; ; Although Tom eventually decides to return to Beaumont, Kansas, he refuses to return to his previous waiting-to-die exsistence. Thanks to two very special women Tom's attitude toward life is very much changed. Leanne's zest for life and Veronica's romantic outlook have shown Tom how it feels to live and love again.; ; Upon his return, Tom feels rejuvenated and ready to begin his new life again.
• Cast: Jack Lemmon, Sarah Paulson, Kristin Griffith, Garwin Sanford, Rosemary Dunsmore, Peter Dvorsky, Tom Butler, Betty Garrett, Eric Keenleyside, Peter Bryant, Ewan 'Sudsy' Clark, William DeVry, Dolores Drake, Lesley Ewen, Colleen Fox, Roger Haskett, Tom Heaton, Helen Honeywell, Patrick Keating, Brad Loree, Nick Misura, Amanda O'Leary, Michael Philips, Diana Stevan, John R. Taylor, Michael Weaver, Glenn Jordan, Louise Vincent, Patrick Jamain, Lawrence Turman, Michel Colombier
• Director: Glenn Jordan
• Runtime: 1:31
• Company: Hallmark Enertainment, Platinum Disc Corporation
• Media Format: Movie