Product Details

• Actors: Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Lexi Randall, Malgorzata Zajaczkowska, Jon DeVries
• Directors: Glenn Jordan, Joseph Sargent
• Writers: Carol Sobieski, Patricia MacLachlan
• Producers: Glenn Close, Glenn Jordan, Joseph Sargent, Edwin Self
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: Hallmark
• VHS Release Date: November 30, 1999
• Run Time: 295 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305613524
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,093 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A television treasure from the 1990s, the Sarah, Plain and Tall series stoked audience hunger for a simpler, more neighborly America during the early 20th century, and it did so without being cloying or preachy. Based on the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan, the first feature--originally aired in 1991 on CBS to an enormous audience of 50 million--starred Christopher Walken as Kansas farmer Jacob Witting, a widower with two children. Seeing his newspaper advertisement seeking a bride, Sarah Wheaton (Glenn Close), a Maine schoolteacher, heads out to the heartland for a trial run as wife and stepmother. There are difficulties: Jacob has set ideas about the role of a woman in his house and he isn't emotionally ready for a new beginning. Meanwhile, the kids are dubious about anyone stepping into their mom's old job. But the strong-willed Sarah soon ushers love, energy, and a sense of possibility into the gloomy Witting home, and the resulting bond within this new family proves durable. The bond is tested, however, in the 1993 sequel, Skylark, in which Sarah heads back to Maine with the others when dangerous weather threatens the farm. Finally, 1999's Winter's End brings Jack Palance into the fold as Jacob's estranged father, who comes to make amends during a harsh winter season under the shadow of World War I and the influenza epidemic. It's not hard to see why this Hallmark trilogy means so much to so many, evoking as it does a perhaps mythical period of innocence and most certainly underscoring values of faith, loyalty, and family ties. Throughout, Walken and Close are absolutely first-rate, their chemistry quite special. All three films are suitable for family viewing yet are satisfying in virtually any situation. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forgiveness...., June 14, 2001

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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

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

By 

Computer Junkie (Duncan, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sarah, Plain & Tall Collection (DVD)

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

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

By 

Alan R. Holyoak - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sarah Plain & Tall Trilogy: Sarah, Plain and Tall / Skylark / Winter's End [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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