Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
The Waltons
S5.E12
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Best Christmas

  • Episode aired Dec 9, 1976
  • TV-G
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
207
YOUR RATING
The Best Christmas (1976)
DramaFamilyRomance

Olivia wants this Christmas to be the best ever. Everything seems to happen to prevent this.Olivia wants this Christmas to be the best ever. Everything seems to happen to prevent this.Olivia wants this Christmas to be the best ever. Everything seems to happen to prevent this.

  • Director
    • Lawrence Dobkin
  • Writer
    • John McGreevey
  • Stars
    • Richard Thomas
    • Ralph Waite
    • Michael Learned
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    207
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lawrence Dobkin
    • Writer
      • John McGreevey
    • Stars
      • Richard Thomas
      • Ralph Waite
      • Michael Learned
    • 2User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Episodes

    Photos

    Top Cast27

    Richard Thomas
    Richard Thomas
    • John-Boy Walton
    Ralph Waite
    Ralph Waite
    • John Walton, Sr.
    Michael Learned
    Michael Learned
    • Olivia Walton
    • (as Miss Michael Learned)
    Ellen Corby
    Ellen Corby
    • Esther Walton
    Will Geer
    Will Geer
    • The Grandfather
    Judy Norton
    Judy Norton
    • Mary Ellen Walton
    • (as Judy Norton-Taylor)
    Jon Walmsley
    Jon Walmsley
    • Jason Walton
    Mary Beth McDonough
    Mary Beth McDonough
    • Erin Walton
    • (as Mary Elizabeth McDonough)
    Eric Scott
    Eric Scott
    • Ben Walton
    David W. Harper
    David W. Harper
    • Jim-Bob Walton
    Kami Cotler
    Kami Cotler
    • Elizabeth Walton
    Joe Conley
    Joe Conley
    • Ike Godsey
    Ronnie Claire Edwards
    Ronnie Claire Edwards
    • Corabeth Godsey
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    • The Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as Earl Hamner)
    Sheila Allen
    Sheila Allen
    • Fanny Tatum
    Tom Bower
    Tom Bower
    • Dr. Curtis Willard
    Robert Donner
    Robert Donner
    • Yancy Tucker
    Merie Earle
    Merie Earle
    • Maude Gormley
    • Director
      • Lawrence Dobkin
    • Writer
      • John McGreevey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    8.2207
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      This episode takes place in December 1937.
    • Quotes
      • John Walton, Sr.: It's always nice to take on the impossible now and again.
    • Soundtracks
      I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
      (uncredited)
      Words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
      Tune "Illsley" by John Bishop (1665-1737)
      Sung by cast in closing scene, accompanied by Jon Walmsley

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    • Release date
      • December 9, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Hallmark Channel
      • INSP Television Network
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 20, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.