When I watched the 1994 version of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the period drama. It was this reason why I watched "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" as it is an adaptation of another Louisa May Alcott story. Now I've never read Alcott's story which this is an adaptation of, from what I understand it barely relates to her story but if you enjoyed "Little Women" from 1994 then there is a good chance you will enjoy this TV movie as they are very similar in style both in story and look.

Following the death of their father times have become hard for the Bassett family and it looks like their thanksgiving will be a very modest one especially as matriarch Mary (Helene Joy) is busy caring for the sick many of which are suffering from Scarlet Fever. But Mary's daughter Mathilda (Tatiana Maslany) tracks down their estranged grandmother Isabella (Jacqueline Bisset - Britannic), sending her a letter informing her off the difficulties. And so when Isabella shows up it is a surprise for all and rather awkward as the relationship between Isabella and Mary is strained ever since as a young woman she ran away and married the stable boy. But as Isabella spends time with her family she grows close to Mathilda who has aspirations of becoming a writer and their friendship causes further complications for the Bassett family.

So as already mentioned I've never read Alcott's story on which "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" is based but understand that it has been changed a lot in adaptation, which I am sure is an issue for those who do know the story. But for those like me who found "Little Women" from 1994 pleasantly charming this story has the same appeal and could almost be an additional episode from that movie. What we have is the Bassett family who following the death of Mr. Bassett are on hard times whilst Mrs. Bassett works herself ragged caring for sick families which are dealing with Scarlet Fever. The set up is familiar as is the fact that Mathilda the eldest daughter enjoys writing stories and has a friendship with Gad Hopkins who comes from a more affluent family. As I said it has that "Little Women" feel about it.

But where this differs is that "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" is about the arrival of their grandmother Isabella from the city who after a falling out with her daughter many years earlier has a strained relationship. What happens is kind of obvious as Mathilda and Isabella bond whilst her presence causes issues for Mary but by the time things are over old wounds have been healed and misunderstandings cleared up. Before the obvious ending arrives there is plenty of drama, some of the family kind as Mathilda's fondness for her grandmother causes problems as does Isabella's almost frostiness to everyone. There are very few surprises and those which occur are sadly often telegraphed especially when the danger of Scarlet Fever is made so clear but in it's obviousness and simplicity it is charming.

Much of the reason for being charming is despite being a movie made for TV and so constrained by a TV movie budget it does well to create atmosphere and style. The picturesque snow covered landscapes are simply a delight and whilst maybe everything does look to clean and perfect it doesn't detract. And it also doesn't detract that there are only a handful of locations as director Graeme Campbell paces the movie so beautifully that you don't notice that you are returning to the same place time and again.

Now whilst in her 60s Jacqueline Bisset is technically of the age to play Isabella the Grandmother her name doesn't really come to mind because, well lets be honest she is still stunning and that doesn't really fit in with what you expect a grandmother of this era to look like. But strangely it works especially when it comes to her initial attitude because rather than being curmudgeonly it is more frosty towards everyone and it makes her interesting. It means that her transition, and transition is very much what "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" is about, works as we watch her grow fond of her grand children and her true feelings towards Mary reveal themselves.

Bisset's performance is not the only good performance and whilst as Mathilda it feels like Tatiana Maslany is trying a little to hard to mirror what Winona Ryder did in the similar character in "Little Women" it works because it is a strong performance as is Helene Joy's performance as her mother Mary. To be honest for a TV movie the performances are impressive aided by the setting to create an authentic feel with real people.

What this all boils down to is that "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" was a pleasant surprise, not only was it entertaining in the same style of "Little Women" but is much better than you would expect from a TV movie. Even if it doesn't hold true to Louisa May Alcott's it works as a very pleasant period drama especially for those who enjoyed the 1994 version of "Little Women".