The film was directed by Randal Kleiser, and stars Edward Asner in the lead role of dying executive Adam Thornton and Maureen Stapleton as his estranged wife Kate.

[1] Adam Thornton (Edward Asner), a grumpy, ill-tempered executive who walked out on his wife and family some years before, learns from his doctor (John Randolph) that he only has a little time left to live (30 to 90 days).

He confides this information to his estranged wife Kate (Maureen Stapleton) -- but when his doctor says that it won't be good for him to travel, she suggests that they should call their four adult children and invite them all to come home for Christmas.

Adam is nervous about seeing his adult children again, including the eldest son Tom (Lawrence Pressman), who ultimately figures out why his father asked all of them to come home for Christmas.

The film was followed by the 1979 sequel The Gathering, Part II, which picked up two years after Adam's death (Edward Asner did not appear in it), and largely concerned Kate's relationship with a new man (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.).