I watched this several times when I was younger. I even got the book for Christmas one year and was disturbed that some of the characters' names were different. For example, in the book, the family is named "Spencer" rather than "Walton" and "John" and "John Boy" are named "Clay" and "Clay Boy" (not to be confused with "Playboy"). Did you ever see the movie "Spencer's Mountain"? It is basically the Walton's with Henry Fonda as the dad.
Yes, I've seen
SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN and read both books (maybe). I remember "Clay Boy" (
JAMES MACARTHUR).
I love this unique incarnation,
THE HOMECOMING, which is largely about the children, friends and family.
PATRICIA NEAL is wonderfully strange and haunted. Made for TV, this movie has a great script, talented actors, and a nicely authentic production. It was premiered when I was very young and it made a great impression which I can still feel.