A Matter Of Principle

Scrooge may be alive and well and living in West Virginia in the person of Flagg Purdy. He won't pay the county phone tax, and he won't allow his wife and eleven children to celebrate any holiday. He rules his life, and theirs, by his "principles". But something has just happened to his well-ordered universe. Flagg's favorite daughter has decided to get married and to celebrate a certain winter holiday complete with a tree and presents. Christmas is coming to the Purdy household. The serious, and often hilarious, family confrontations that follow sow the seed of women's liberation and face Purdy with the question of whether love is more important than pride. A story of love, devotion, relationships and Christmas adapted for PBS from John D. Weaver's humorous story starring twice Academy Award nominated and Tony Award-winning actor Alan Arkin and his real life wife, Barbara Dana.