Little House on the Prairie - Special Edition Movie Boxed Set (Look Back to Yesterday / Bless All the Dear Children / The Last Farewell) DVD
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Rating:  -
This set was a complete rip-off. I felt absolutely cheated because I paid $26.99 for three episodes that they really could have saved me money on and put them in with Season 9. Or they could have at least not made this set cost almost as much as a season's worth of DVDs. I also wasn't particularly impressed with the episodes, especially "Bless All the Dear Children." It was like the producers ran out of ideas and put anything together just to have a show for viewers to watch. And the "Look Back to Yesterday" about Albert dying, I thought in the episode where he was using morphine, at the end of that episode Laura says that Albert returns to Walnut Grove as a doctor. But then with this episode he dies before ever becoming a doctor. I could be wrong about that, but it doesn't change my mind about being disappointed with this set. I would have rather had these episodes at a much cheaper price.
Rating:  -
I personally think that Look Back to Yesterday is the best of the three LHOP television movies that formed the "unoffical" tenth season of the show. It is, of course, very emotional, but deep emotions are called for when a person we love dies. Thus the tears that Pa and Laura shed over Albert's impending death are fitting; a lack of tears, a lack of deep emotion, would have been unfitting. Popular culture usually either ignores death entirely or does not take it seriously enough. The fact that every person who ever lived or ever will live, no matter how good, how loving, how courageous, how talented, etc. will die, is an aweful fact, one that does call into question the fundamental goodness of the universe and the value of life. But it is hard to dismiss the goodness of the universe or the ultimate value of life based on the fact of death since there is so much beauty in the world and since there are so many good, loving, talented, etc. people. The intrinsic value of good people and the value of their having lived, does not seem to be cancelled by their death and their death can, odly enough, highlight the value of their lives and of life in general. And of course, for the spiritually minded person, the great worth of human life, and particularly of the lives of some humans, points to the existence of an afterlife and of a world to come where all that is precious and good in this life will be preserved.
I can't really express what I mean very clearly, but for me this episode of Little House does clearly highlight both the horribleness of death, the nearly unbearable aspect of it, i.e., that a person whom we love and who is worthy of love, and who has a value beyond price, will cease to exist, at least in the form we know, as well as the way in which death can rouse in us a renewed appreciation of all that is good and valuable in the world. Thus Albert's impending death causes Pa and Laura to become acutely aware of how much they love him, of how deeply their lives have been woven with his, just as Albert's awareness of his death causes him to become aware of how much he loves Pa and Laura and all his family and friends, as well as causing him to become acutely aware of the value of living and of the life he has lived. His attitude toward death in the film is enobling. He does not want to surrender to it by spending the rest of his life in bed feeling sorry for himself but by doing as much as he can and by helping the people he loves.
The last ten minutes of the film are the most moving of all. Albert's ascent up the mountain is symbolic of the triumph of his spirit over death and of the ascent of his soul to heaven, just as the badges he buries in the keep sake box are symbolic of the burial of his body. The children who surrond him and Laura at the end symbolize, certainly, the circle of life and the interconnectedness of all that lives and, perhaps, the communion of saints. Finally, the music in the last ten minutes is masterful. Rose's score is nearly Wagnarian in its eloguqence and the ethereal way he weaves together and transforms the Little House theme and Albert's theme in the very last two minutes of the film sends chills up my spine every time I listen to it. I do agree with other fans on the very high quality of the music Rose wrote for the series and would welcome a recording of the very best music he wrote for Little House.
Rating:  -
These three television specials aired from late 1983 to early 1984 and were the last words Michael Landon had to say regarding the adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
By this time, of course, many of the characters were no longer based on the actual people in the books, but the spirit of the television series continued to emulate the literature.
LOOK BACK TO YESTERDAY
Charles and Albert return to Walnut Grove when it becomes clear that Albert has a serious illness. This is perhaps the most difficult of the films to watch, not for lack of talent or story, but because it carries a somber tone.
BLESS ALL THE DEAR CHILDREN
This is the strongest of the three installments. The story reunites Isaiah Edewards, Laura, and Elmonzo as the search for the couple's kidnapped child. The sub-plot with the Carter Family is the best of the three. A great film to watch annually during the Christmas season.
THE LAST FAREWELL
Something of a controversial end to the beloved series that was enjoyed for being more sweet than sour. I believe Michael Landon was making a statement about where television was heading and taking a stand as he brought his acclaimed series to an end. This installment far outshines "Look Back to Yesterday", but will most certainly be difficult for some fans to swallow.
I have grown up with the "Little House" series and have great respect for most of the beliefs and values that Mr. Landon propogated on this show. These tele-pictures represent the last three statements he made through this set of characters and circumstances. He would never again return to the past for inspiration, but looked to contemporary times for "Highway to Heaven" and the short-lived "Us" series.
Rating: -
I am so happy that these TV movies of "Little House On The Prairie" have found a new home on DVD. These are such beautiful and heart-warming movies. I have seen them many times on TBS as a child growing up. But I do not believe they have been shown on TV Land or The Hallmark Channel, making these tales very rare in recent years. This DVD is coming out at the perfect time because it would make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.
These are the TV movies included on the "Little House On The Prairie - Special Edition Movie Boxed Set:"
Look Back To Yesterday (original air date: December 12, 1983)
Charles comes home from the big city to Walnut Grove to try to get the farmers to share their crops. He brings his oldest son, Albert. While in Walnut Grove Albert displays mysterious medical symptoms. Charles brings Albert to a specialist and finds out that he has a serious disease. This is actually a very sad episode, so be warned. Some say that Albert died in this episode, others say that he was able to beat the disease and go on to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. What happens to Albert is never stated, instead the movie lets the viewer form their own conclusions.
The Last Farewell (original air date: February 6, 1984)
Charles and Caroline return to Walnut Grove to learn that somebody else owns the town and wants everyone to leave Walnut Grove. The townspeople decide that the person can keep the land but they own the town. Allison Arngrim (Nellie Olson on the original series) has a cameo as a telephone operator.
Bless All The Dear Children (original air date: December 17, 1984)
This was actually a Christmas-themed movie. (Didn't "Little House On The Prairie" always have the best Christmas episodes?) Laura and Almanzo's baby daughter Rose is kidnapped while they are Christmas shopping.
Michael Landon was a genius and no one compares to the very high standards that he always set!
Rating:  -
For the last year or so my husband and I have been sharing the Little House stories with our children. We have slowly viewed all 9 seasons together and have thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the earlier seasons. I would characterize the earlier seasons (up to about #4) with words like heartwarming, family-affirming, authentic, excellent, well-acted, etc. I was eager to view this final "Season" as I don't recall seeing them when they originally aired and was very curious about what ever became of the Ingalls and the citizens of Walnut Grove.
I pains me to report that my entire family agrees that these three episodes are just awful! I struggle to even find words to characterize these three stories but melodramatic, over-the-top, ill-contrived, and stupid (the word my kids used most often) are just a few. I'll try not to provide a spoiler, but I will say that the first episode involves killing off one of the principal characters.
Which brings me to a point that has bothered us many times as we've viewed the entire series--there is a terrible problem with continuity. It's as if no one can remember what was written in previous episodes. I seem to recall in a previous season that the very same character who is now dying was said to have gone on to lead a very productive life, pursuing their dream. Likewise, the final episode involves the takeover of the town by someone who supposedly has the deed to all the land, which seems to conflict with episodes in previous seasons that dealt with land ownership--ie, when the railroad wanted to force everyone to sell to them. Of the three, the second episode involving the kidnapping of Rose, is perhaps the most ill-contrived story line in all of LHOTP.
In fairness, I'll admit, we did enjoy the interviews with Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson. Ms. Anderson stunned me with her continuing beauty as she has not aged at all. The camera person was also impressed, as evidenced by the many close ups of her. (Sorry, no close up of Ms. Gilbert.)
The two stars we've given reflect our enjoyment of the interviews and the fact that there was some entertainment value in that we laughed our fool heads off while watching! What a contrast to season one, which always left us with a tear in the eye and a warm spot in our hearts.
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