The Gift

The Gift

Year: 1979

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Don Taylor

TV MovieDrama

Three Days of Passion and Conflict That Will Change His Life Forever A sailor on Christmas leave visits his boozing, one-legged father and dreamer mother in 1950s Brooklyn.

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Timeline & Setting – The Gift (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Gift (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1950s

The narrative takes place during a Christmas leave in the postwar era, situating the characters in 1950s Brooklyn. The era’s factories, bars, and close-knit communities shape the daily rhythms and expectations of family life. This period context informs attitudes toward duty, masculinity, and affection.

Location

Brooklyn, New York

The story unfolds in a gritty, working-class Brooklyn neighborhood during Christmas. Pete returns to a small apartment, a bar, and a VFW post where the community gathers. The setting anchors the film in mid-20th-century urban life, highlighting family, memory, and the rough-hewn warmth of postwar America.

🏙️ Urban 🗽 Brooklyn 🧱 Working-class

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:35

Main Characters – The Gift (1979)

Meet the key characters of The Gift (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pete Devlin (Gary Frank)

A 17-year-old sailor on Christmas leave who longs to marry Kathleen, become an artist, and move to Paris. He vacillates between impulse and idealism, sometimes acting on anger when he feels betrayed. His journey centers on seeking closeness with his father and figuring out his path into adulthood.

🎯 Young 💬 Family 🎨 Dreamer

Billy Devlin (Glenn Ford)

Pete’s emotionally distant father, a factory worker who lost a leg in an accident. He hides his pain behind humor and hard talk, yet he deeply loves his son. His storytelling about the past and his vulnerability reveal a man trying to protect both himself and his family from pity.

👨‍👦 Father 🩺 Wounded 🧭 Memory

Kathleen (Allison Argo)

Pete’s girlfriend who begins the story with a future in mind, then moves on to another guy who doesn’t share Pete’s Paris dreams. She appears at a party with Eddie, highlighting a shifting romance. Her presence catalyzes Pete’s emotional struggles and decisions.

💞 Love interest 🧭 Choices 👫 Romance

Eddie Riggs (Jerry Machen)

Kathleen’s new boyfriend who embodies a rougher, less-talked-about side of postwar masculinity. He becomes a flashpoint for Pete’s jealousy and aggression during the party sequence. His presence intensifies the tension between old flames and new loyalties.

🔥 Rival 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social dynamic 💥 Conflict

Patsy (Antony Ponzini)

A friend of Pete who refuses to sell a gun, highlighting the tension between temptation and restraint. Patsy’s stance underscores the dangers of violence and the consequences of Pete’s impulsive desires. He is a catalyst for Pete’s later choices.

🗡️ Temptation 🧭 Moral choice 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Acquaintance

Teddy Devlin (Kevin Bacon)

Pete’s younger brother who buys a gun and plans a reckless gas-station robbery. His actions foreshadow the family’s struggle with anger and risk. He serves as a counterpoint to Pete’s more introspective arc and fuels the film’s tension.

🧒 Younger 🧨 Impulsive 🧭 Influence

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:35

Major Themes – The Gift (1979)

Explore the central themes of The Gift (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Family & Forgiveness

The central relationship between Pete and his father drives the film’s emotional arc. They start distant, but moments of honesty and shared memory unlock a path toward reconciliation. The father’s revelation about losing his leg reveals a hidden vulnerability and a longing to be understood. The bar reunion and quiet conversations become the film’s hinge for healing.

💬 Communication & Distance

A generational gap keeps affect and history at bay, with Pete seeking closeness while his father guards painful memories. The dialogue gradually peels back facades, showing how fear of pity can block honest talk. When they finally speak openly, the emotional distance begins to close. The film uses conversation as a key to unlock affection.

🎓 Coming of Age

Pete’s plans to marry Kathleen, pursue art, and join the broader world mark his transition into adulthood. The Christmas leave magnifies his choices and the pull between youth’s dreams and family obligations. His departure back to the Navy signals a becoming, framed by the father’s hard-earned wisdom. The story tracks how a boy becomes a man through responsibility and love.

🪖 Memory & Trauma

The father’s wartime injury and the remembered sound of the operating room’s saw haunt him, shaping his reluctance to share pain. This memory informs Pete’s own impulses and his search for a stable anchor at home. The film treats memory as both burden and bond, a gift that complicates and sustains family ties. Through these memories, the family learns to honor sacrifice without being overwhelmed by it.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:35

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The Gift Summary

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The Gift Summary

The Gift Timeline

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The Gift Timeline

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