Sarah, Plain and Tall (film)
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| Sarah, Plain and Tall | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Glenn Jordan |
| Produced by | Glenn Close Glenn Jordan William Self |
| Written by | Patricia MacLachlan Carol Sobieski |
| Starring | Glenn Close Christopher Walken |
| Music by | David Shire |
| Cinematography | Mike Fash |
| Editing by | John Wright |
| Release date(s) | 1991 |
| Running time | 98 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Sarah, Plain and Tall is a television movie filmed in 1991. It is one of the three film adaptions of Patricia MacLachlan's novel of the same name. Its US film rating was G.
Contents |
[edit] Plot Summary
It is set in the midwestern United States during the early 20th century. Caleb and Anna's father, a widowed farmer who is still saddened by the death of his wife several years earlier, finds that the task of taking care of his farm and the two children is too difficult to handle alone. He writes an ad in the newspaper for a mail-order bride. Sarah, from Maine, answers his ad and travels out to become his wife. But Sarah grows homesick: miles and miles of Kansas farmland prove no substitute for Maine's ocean vistas. When Sarah leaves for a trip into town, the kids wonder if she will come back.
[edit] Cast
- Glenn Close: Sarah Wheaton
- Christopher Walken: Jacob Witting
- Lexi Randall: Anna Witting
- Malgorzata Zajaczkowska: Maggie Grant (as Margaret Sophie Stein)
- Jon DeVries: Matthew Grant
- Christopher Bell: Caleb Witting
- James Rebhorn: William Wheaton
- Woody Watson: Jess Stearns
- Betty Laird: Mrs. Parkley
- Marc Penney: Ticket Agent
- Kara Beth Taylor: Rose
[edit] Reception
Generally well-received by the public, it was considered "Fresh" at Rotten Tomatoes with 80% approval. It was nominated for 9 Emmys in 1991, of which 1 it won. It was also nominated for 2 Golden Globes.
[edit] Trivia
- A long search was made to find working steam engine for Sarah's arrival. One was found at the Sturh Museum in Grand Island, Nebraska. The train had been built in 1908 by the Baldwin Locamotive works. Unfortunately, the train needed extensive repairs before its fires could be stoked. A timely contribution from the Sarah, Plain & Tall production saved the day. However, the train has been preserved and is on display at the towns museum.
- The gravestones for the small cemetery where Jacob's wife Catherine lay were hand carved out of sheets of Styrofoam and then painted and stained to look like old headstones.
- John and Ada Bryan's old home served as the Whiting house. The Bryans lived in the home from 1948 to 1960 before moving. Although they thought about selling the house, the couldn't bring themselves to do it, citing that their kids would never forgive them. Although the house was in very bad shape, it was remodeled by a movie company who wanted it to shoot a movie called "The Last Cattle Drive". Extensive renovations were completed, including enlarging the doors so camera equipment could come in and out. However, the movie plans were scrapped, but when a location scout for Sarah, Plain & Tall came upon the house, he knew he'd found an ideal location.
[edit] External links
- Sarah, Plain and Tall at the Internet Movie Database
- http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sarah_plain_and_tall/| Sarah, Plain and Tall at Rotten Tomatoes
