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BEYOND THE PRAIRIE: THE TRUE STORY OF LAURA INGALLS WILDER (TV)

Summary

This made-for-television drama film explores the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the popular "Little House on the Prairie" book series. The story begins in 19th-century South Dakota as young Laura and her father Charles witness a bizarre lightning strike that sparks a fire in the dry brush near their family home. They manage to put it out before too much damage is caused, and when father and daughter ride out to check on their neighbors, Laura finds an empty home with a letter addressed to an "Almanzo." Later, Laura talks with her blind sister Mary, who is soon to leave for college, and Charles wonders if the family should continue moving west to avoid the harsh Dakota winter. In school, Laura is scolded for a "malicious" poem written about her teacher, and her show-off classmate Patsy mocks her and brags that she herself will soon depart for Chicago. Charles tells Laura not to use her gift for writing against others, not even her unkind teacher, and Laura is smitten when their new neighbor, who turns out to be Almanzo Wilder, arrives to deliver lumber. Later in the winter, the school is hit with a strong blizzard and Laura is nearly lost in the dangerous cold as she rescues her sister Carrie, but the students all make it to the general store. The Robbins children go missing, however, and though Almanzo helps to save the family's baby, Laura is saddened to find that Patsy has died in the snow.

Realizing that there is not enough coal and food to keep the town going, Almanzo offers to travel twenty miles to the nearest farm to retrieve provisions, pointing out that he, unlike Charles, will not be leaving a family behind if he does not survive the trip. Laura grows worried as the days pass with no sign of Almanzo, but he eventually returns with enough food to save the town, much to everyone's relief. Sometime later, Laura gives a history presentation at school, and the obsequious Mr. Bouchie offers her a teaching position thirty miles away, promising her room and board at his home as well as a salary. Despite her discomfort, Laura accepts the position for her family's sake, though Almanzo wistfully notes that he will miss her. Laura is lonely and unhappy in her new life, though Mrs. Bouchie interprets her sadness as "prissiness," and she is thrilled when Almanzo arrives to escort her home for Christmas. Charles points out that the journey was a risky one and guesses that Almanzo was motivated by his romantic feelings for her.

Laura happily returns to her hometown when her teaching job concludes and spends more and more time with Almanzo as the weather improves. They discuss their dreams for the future, with Laura admitting that she was intrigued by him from the moment she spotted the letter, and she gladly accepts when he proposes to her, though stipulates that she will not agree to "obey" him, but will instead follow her own mind. Laura prepares for her marriage as Charles again ponders moving west, feeling that South Dakota is "filled up," but Caroline puts her foot down and states that the family will not follow his impulsive whims yet again, and Charles sheepishly agrees to "stay put." Laura, however, begins to rethink her engagement when she realizes that she and Almanzo will likely live a quiet life in the Midwest forever, and he tells her to think things over as he travels to New York. Laura is sure that their relationship is over, but he quickly returns, explaining that he could not bear to be without her. The two are soon married, and Mary later returns home from school and meets her new niece, Rose.

Laura and Almanzo's blissful life together is then disrupted by a severe hailstorm that destroys their crops, and though Almanzo survives a bout of diphtheria, he is left physically weakened. Laura is happy when she falls pregnant again, but she falls into despair when her son dies after twelve days and quickly begins to document his short life, wanting to preserve her memories through writing. When their home is destroyed in a fire, Laura realizes that the family may not survive another harsh Dakota winter and, after a heart-to-heart with Charles, resolves to move to Missouri. Almanzo constructs a writing-desk for her, having noticed that she finds happiness in her work, and Laura bids a heartfelt farewell to her family before setting out on their six-week journey to their new home. Many years later, an older Laura explains that she and Almanzo lived happily in Missouri for decades. She notes that she kept a diary for many years and, at Rose's urging, wrote her first book at age sixty, inspired by her own life experiences. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: January 2, 2000 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:36:23
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:83844
  • GENRE: Drama
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Biography; Writers
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 2000
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Dori Weiss … Executive Producer
  • Robert M. Rolsky … Producer
  • Stephen Harrigan … Producer, Writer
  • Marcus Cole … Director
  • Ernest Troost … Music by
  • Richard Thomas … Cast, Charles Ingalls
  • Meredith Monroe … Cast, Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • Walton Goggins … Cast, Almanzo Wilder
  • Lindsay Crouse … Cast, Caroline Ingalls
  • Tess Harper … Cast, Narrator / Older Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • Haley McCormick … Cast, Carrie Ingalls
  • Barbara Jane Reams … Cast, Mary Ingalls
  • Steve Anderson … Cast, Mr. Bouchie
  • Mary Parker Williams … Cast, Miss Walter
  • Courtnie Bull … Cast, Grace Ingalls
  • Virginia Dare Paulin … Cast, Patsy Robbins
  • Terra Allen … Cast, Rose Wilder
  • Jeremy Hoop … Cast, Cap Garland
  • Tracy Pfau … Cast, Mrs. Bouchie
  • Kurt Woodruff … Cast, Royal
  • Lyndee Probst … Cast, Grace at 9
  • Michael Flynn … Cast, Loftus Claney
  • J. Scott Bronson … Cast, Mr. Robbins
  • Jan Jensen … Cast, Mrs. Robbins
  • Luke Stoddard … Cast, Clarence
  • Alandra Bingham … Cast, Laura at 3
  • Cory Dangerfield … Cast, Cory