Happy heavenly birthday to Michael Landon! He would have been 87 today. Is it any wonder that a man who had such a wicked sense of humor was born on Halloween?
We will never know how long he would have been producing great television shows and movies or what his new ideas would have been, but I am glad to see that Little House on the Prairie continues to attract fans worldwide.
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Little House on the Prairie premiered on March 30, 1974. Next year is the 50th Anniversary of the show, and there are a variety of reunion events planned throughout the country. Here is a recent article about the March 2024 cast reunion in Simi Valley: https://www.simivalleyacorn.com/articles/little-house-huge-festival
Tickets are on sale now at https://littlehousefestival.com
I wanted to share this because it is similar in many ways to Little House on the Prairie and has some connections to those involved in the LHOP world. This movie was directed by Michael Landon Jr. In the sequel movies, Erin Cottrell, who portrayed Caroline Ingalls in the 2005 Little House on the Prairie mini-series, portrays an adult Missie Davis. Skye McCole Bartusiak portrayed Rose Wilder in Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which was released a year before Love Comes Softly.
When Marty Claridge (Katherine Heigl) set out on a pioneering adventure West with her husband Aaron (Oliver Macready), they were filled with hopes and dreams. But Aaron's sudden death soon after arriving, leaves Marty pregnant and alone.
In steps Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff). On the day of Aaron's funeral, he approaches Marty with a proposition: marry him so she has a place to stay over the winter and so she can be a mother to his young daughter, Missie (Skye McCole Bartusiak). Then in the spring, if Marty wants to leave, Clark will pay for her journey back East.
What choice does Marty have? So, she agrees, throwing herself into her new role. Little does she know that patience and faith will have to carry her through.
Love Comes Softly is the first book in the series written by Janette Oke. Made into a movie that aired on Hallmark Channel and was directed by Michael Landon Jr., this wholesome story is one of faith, family, and love. I've never read the books, but this movie series is so well done that I definitely would like to read the book series they are based upon.
Having now watched the entire original movie series (not the prequels), I can say that Love Comes Softly is my favorite. As the movie series continues, Katherine Heigl is replaced by another actress, who while talented, doesn't have the same chemistry with Dale Midkiff and who doesn't have the vitality that Heigl brought to the character.
Love Comes Softly is about two people brought together out of necessity, whose relationship blossoms into love. Skye McCole Bartusiak plays the resentful daughter well, acting out because she sees Marty as a threat to her close bond with her Pa, and because she doesn't want a new mother. The interactions between Marty and Missie in those early days are entertaining and heartfelt. But just like Marty's heart softened toward Clark, Missie's softens toward Marty. That's when she realizes she doesn't want Marty to leave in the spring.
Clark's strong faith plays a role in this movie as well. That faith inspires Marty when she doubts she can help Missie. It is Clark's faith that helps Marty understand that faith doesn't mean bad things won't happen, but that God will be there when they do.
If you enjoy wholesome, faith-based family entertainment, Love Comes Softly is one of the best.
I own this movie on DVD. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
