ERNEST BORGNINE : "A GRANDPA FOR CHRISTMAS"

One of the several Hallmark Channel Christmas movies I have watching this month, is a 2007 production, "A Grandpa For Christmas",  starring veteran American actor, Ernest Borgnine.  In it he plays the grandfather of a ten year old granddaughter, who didn't know he had until his estrangled daughter is in a serious accident, and the granddaughter is placed in his temporary custody.  It is a compelling and very moving story and a film I highly recommend to you.  The most remarkable thing for me is that Ernest Borgnine was 90 years old when he made this movie, yet I say looks like a man in his seventies.  An Academy Award winning Best Actor in 1955, for the motion picture, "Marty", in the 1960's he starred on television in, "McHale's Navy", with Tim Conway and Joe Flynn; and in the 1980's returned to telecvision, co-starring with Jan Michael Vincent in, "Airwolf".  Borgnine also had a role in the classic 1977 Franco Zeferelli miniseries, "Jesus of Nazareth".  I remember hearing and seeing seeing news reports in 1964-85, of his brief, stormy, marriage to Ethel Merman.  Next month in Hollywood the Screen Actor's Guild will present the now, 93 year old Ernest Borgnine, with their Lifetime Achievement Award.  He is one of those few old school actors who is truly beloved for his career in films and television.  Thanks Mr. Borgnine, may your wonderful acting continue to entertain us..........Fr.  Troy