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A Place to Call Home

  • TV Movie
  • 1987
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
146
YOUR RATING
A Place to Call Home (1987)
Drama

Sam Gavin decides to relocate his family from Houston, Texas to a sheep station in Australia to protect his eleven children from the "destructive influences" of modern American society. Beca... Read allSam Gavin decides to relocate his family from Houston, Texas to a sheep station in Australia to protect his eleven children from the "destructive influences" of modern American society. Because of business obligations, he fails to join them and, more or less, abandons his wife, L... Read allSam Gavin decides to relocate his family from Houston, Texas to a sheep station in Australia to protect his eleven children from the "destructive influences" of modern American society. Because of business obligations, he fails to join them and, more or less, abandons his wife, Liz, to the hardships of her new surroundings. Mother and children are determined to make a... Read all

  • Director
    • Russ Mayberry
  • Writers
    • Carol Sobieski
    • Jeri Taylor
  • Stars
    • Linda Lavin
    • Lane Smith
    • Lori Loughlin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    146
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Russ Mayberry
    • Writers
      • Carol Sobieski
      • Jeri Taylor
    • Stars
      • Linda Lavin
      • Lane Smith
      • Lori Loughlin
    • 17User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast22

    Edit
    Linda Lavin
    Linda Lavin
    • Liz Gavin
    Lane Smith
    Lane Smith
    • Sam
    Lori Loughlin
    Lori Loughlin
    • Jenny Gavin
    Robert MacNaughton
    Robert MacNaughton
    • Michael
    Paul Cronin
    Paul Cronin
    • Bob Jakes
    Maggie Fitzgibbon
    • Alva
    Skye Bassett
    • Sharon Gavin
    Patricia Patts
    • Sarah Gavin
    Richard Alzaga
    • Matt Gavin
    Philip Amelio
    • Patrick Gavin
    • (as Philip J. Amelio)
    Bessie Anne Collins
    • Bridget Gavin
    Kenny Harrison Jr.
    • Owen Gavin
    Michael Bird
    • John Gavin
    Tamsin West
    Tamsin West
    • Jane Gavin
    Fiona Walshe
    • Jean Gavin
    Mervyn Drake
    • Father O'Leary
    Nancy Black
    • Joan Morgan
    Lawrence Mah
    • Wool Buyer
    • Director
      • Russ Mayberry
    • Writers
      • Carol Sobieski
      • Jeri Taylor
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews17

    6.8146
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    Featured reviews

    10x-x-gawjus_gurl-x-x

    where can i find this movie?

    hi, i have seen this movie "a place to call home" made in 1987 years ago and i just loved and enjoyed it!!! And i have been looking every where to find it but so far i haven't found anything. It is the best drama movie I've ever seen and i just want to be able to watch it again and enjoy it...

    so if your no where i can find this movie please write me a comment saying where to find it and it doesn't matter if its second hand or anything, i just want it so badly!!!

    thank you,

    Melissa
    8gracecc5249

    This movie is about a family who moves to Australia to find a better life. A life with a core, "people who raise animals are somehow more serene."

    I have seen this movie at least 200 times over the years. I just bought a copy of it to watch again. As far as I'm concerned, it's a great movie about a great woman. It's about a family with a father that can't adjust to his life. Right from the beginning, you can see where this is going and I give Liz Gavin all the credit in the world for raising their kids.If my husband, after many years of marriage, announces that the best time of his life was when we weren't married, would be wearing my foot in an uncomfortable place. She is incredibly naive and complacent in her life. But she has an inner strength she never knew she had. Her and her husband plan to move to Australia with the kids, who are all against it. When the time comes to leave, Sam finds every excuse not to go. From here on, it's a battle to succeed. As for the previous comment about her singing a baby lamb to sleep, you lost the point of the movie. That is an extremely poignant part of the movie and shows what Liz Gavin is about. This is based on a true story and I admire the courage of Liz Gavin. I highly recommend this movie to everyone and I hope you'll try to locate it to watch.
    6huggy_bear

    Good Family Entertainment

    A really good, heartwarming true story of a Houston family that relocates to the outback of Australia (minus the father). The wife (played by Linda Lavin) is forced to raise all 11 children by herself when her deadbeat husband decides he wants no part of the family life anymore. All seems to work out in the end, with many of the children deciding to stay in the outback.
    LuvSopr

    Alice goes to Australia

    As noted below, this was somewhat familiar territory for Linda Lavin. She is an actress with very distinct mannerisms, and due to that I forgot she wasn't playing Alice yet again. Yet, she is also an actress of emotion and intensity, and she does her best with the material.

    The movie veers between cornpone and genuine feeling. The children seem too good to be true; the Christmas sequence is particularly sugary. Only Matt and Michael are interesting in terms of individual personalities.

    The only truly bad moment is when Linda has to fling an oxygen-deprived lamb around, and Michael magically catches it just as Linda accidentally lets it go. Very funny for all the wrong reasons.

    The best reasons to watch are the first-rate supporting performances of Paul Cronin and Maggie Fitzgibbins as misogynistic ranch hand Bob Jakes and tough-but-fair shopkeeper Alva. They provide true color and flavor for the strange new land which locations alone could not. The movie sensibly avoids any type of romance for Bob and Linda's character, which gives their grudging friendship a greater depth.
    10worlwnd

    If you haven't seen it buy it............

    I grew up on a farm. We raised sheep, showed them in 4-H (as well as hogs and cattle). This movie is very authentic in how it handles the situations with the sheep and it is based on a true story! Also, when she swings the lamb over her head - - we have had to do that! What you are trying to do it get the lamb to breath and with the lamb having afterbirth all over it, yes it is slippery and could slip out of your hands this is just one of many life or death situations you come across when raising animals. It isn't easy but when you love animals, farming and truly enjoy it - you do what you have to do. Also, her hips wouldn't be wide because some of the children have been adopted. If you haven't seen this movie buy it. It is based on true to life experience, any mother can relate to it, they did an excellent job with this movie!

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    Related interests

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    Drama

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Final film of Maggie Fitzgibbon.

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    FAQ1

    • Where can I purchase "A place to call home WITH LINDA LAVIN 1987 ON DVD

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • En busca de un hogar
    • Filming locations
      • Australia
    • Production companies
      • Big Deal
      • Crawford Productions
      • Embassy Communications
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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