On Demand Weekly

6 Things You Need To Know About Ed Burns’ THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMASDecember 10, 2012

Tribeca Film

With The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Burns returns to the working-class, Irish-American roots of The Brothers McMullen. Reuniting with McMullen co-stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), and Mike McGlone, along with Noah Emmerich (Little Children, Beautiful Girls) and Kerry Bishé (Newlyweds, Red State), Burns seamlessly weaves an ensemble story of adult siblings dealing with the desire of their estranged father (Ed Lauter, The Artist, The Longest Yard) to return home for Christmas for the first time since he walked out on his family 20 years ago. Family rifts emerge, and like with any family, Christmas brings a mixed bag of complicated emotions and dynamics. Alliances form, old wounds are reopened or glossed over, and the possibility for a new hope and forgiveness emerges.

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6 Things You Need To Know About Ed Burns' THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS

1. Anita Gillette, who portrays matriarch Rosie Fitzgerald is one of film’s most dependable moms, having played mother to Jennifer Aniston, Mary-Louise Parker, Jack Black, and John Goodman.
2. Writer/director/star Ed Burns’ first time acting for a director other than himself was when he appeared in Steven Spielberg’s SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.
3. Ed Lauter, who plays Big Jim Fitzgerald is the only actor other than Burt Reynolds to appear in both the original LONGEST YARD and the remake.

Ed Lauter and Mike McGlone

4. In addition to doing a spot-on Rod Serling impression in the GEICO commercials, Michael McGlone, who plays Fitzgerald brother Quinn, is the author of three novels.
5. Joyce Van Patten, who plays family friend Mrs. McGowan, is not only a member of the Van Patten acting dynasty, she is the mother of MAD MEN co-star Talia Balsam.
6. Kerry Bishé, who has been in Burn’s last 3 movies (NICE GUY JOHNNY, NEWLWEDS & TFFC) can currently be seen in ARGO.