67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Forgiveness...., June 14, 2001
After watching the first two movies in this trilogy, you will find the third story to be a satisfying conclusion. In the first movie, Sarah and Jacob write letters, fall in love and then marry. The story deals with the loss of Jacob's wife and how Sarah is taking her place and finding her way into the hearts of his children. Skylark is the second movie in the series and deals with a family staying together despite the difficulties of farm life. They are committed to making their way on the dusty Kansas prairie.
In Winter's End, the issues drift to the past and how they affect the future. Jacob's children have grown considerably and his daughter Anna (Lexi Randall) is in love with a boy who has gone off to war and she spends her time waiting for him to return home while nursing the ill in town. Caleb (Christopher Bell) is now old enough to take on more farm responsibilities. Jacob and Sarah's daughter is quite impetuous and will make you laugh as she will remind you of how Sarah was in the first movie! In dealing with life on the farm, Jacob has an accident and Sarah spends a night out in the snow.
While all these issues are presenting themselves, Sarah has a calm understanding and supports Jacob while he is dealing with the challenge of forgiving his father. Their love is more mature and while the heady days of the first movie seem to have faded, they are deeply commited to one another and their children. They open their home to a stranger who they later find out is Jacob's father.
Jack Palance takes center stage as Jacob's father who returns to the Witting family farm which is the only place he ever felt was home. The issues are presented in a loving way which will make you value family more and see the hurt a person can do by making the wrong choices. They can change, but they hurt the people they care most about.
If you enjoyed the first two stories, I think I can safely say you will enjoy this third heartwarming tale of triumph over life's challenges. If you haven't seen the first two movies, I would recommend purchasing the trilogy. These are movies you will want to share with friends and family and watch again when you want to escape to a Kansas prairie for a few hours.
~The Rebecca Review
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57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three DVD set available on Hallmark for $29.95, January 27, 2005
The three DVD collection is still available at the source for $29.95. No need to pay $75 for a used one. Search Hallmark for "Sarah Plain and Tall" or use this link:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?R2681265A
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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 5-star trilogy, well worth a look, December 20, 2000
Christopher Walken and Glenn Close headline the cast in this excellent series of three Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.
In the first movie of the series, "Sarah, Plain and Tall," Walken plays a widowed Kansas farmer who desperately needs someone to help him rear his children while he tends to providing for the family via his farm in the early 1900s. Glenn Close plays Sarah, a woman from Maine, who responds to Walken's newspaper ad search for a wife. The rest of the story focuses on the developing relationships between Walken, Close, and the children. An excellent story and great movie -- 5 stars all the way.
In the second movie, "Skylark" (sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall), the story of Walken and Close's life continues as they face a severe drought, possible failure of the farm, and stresses those things place upon the family. Top-notch, equal in emotional impact and believability with "Sarah, Plain and Tall" -- definitely another 5-star movie.
The third movie, "Winter's End" finds an unexpected guest in Walken and Close's home -- Walken's father, long absent from any family interactions. In this movie, the children have grown considerably (I believe that all the members of the original cast are still together). While an enjoyable movie, this one is not in the same class as the first two, and hovers someplace around 3.5 to 4 stars.
I awarded the set 5 stars on the collective strength of the first two movies.
Just in case you hadn't noticed, Walken is often cast in somewhat quirky roles, but this is probably my favorite work of his. He plays a devoted father dealing with a range of believable real-life issues. These movies also underscore the incredible talent of Close, who can pull off roles as diverse as Sarah's and that of Disney's Cruella DeVil!
Do yourself a favor...if you haven't watched these movies, watch them. They are wonderful.
Have a great day!
Alan Holyoak
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