Love Comes Softly is a 2003
ChristianChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
dramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
set in the 19th century, based on a series of books by
Janette OkeJanette Oke is a Canadian author and pioneer of inspirational fiction. Her books are often set in a pioneer time period and centered around female protagonists...
. It originally aired on
Hallmark ChannelThe Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
in 2003. It was directed by
Michael Landon Jr.Michael Landon, Jr. is an American actor, director, writer and producer.- Biography :Born as Michael Graham Landon, Landon is the son of the late actor Michael Landon and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. Michael is the brother of Christopher B...
, and stars
Katherine HeiglKatherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
as a young woman named Marty Claridge.
It is the first in a series of television movies made for
Hallmark ChannelThe Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
based on the books and produced for Hallmark by Larry Levinson Productions. The rest of the films to follow are:
Love's Enduring PromiseLove's Enduring Promise is a 2004 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke.The film is the second in the "Love Comes Softly" series of television movies on Hallmark Channel that includes Love Comes Softly , Love's Long Journey , Love's Abiding Joy , Love's...
(2004),
Love's Long JourneyLove's Long Journey is a 2005 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr...
(2005),
Love's Abiding JoyLove's Abiding Joy is a 2006 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and stars Erin Cottrell and Logan Bartholomew...
(2006),
Love's Unending LegacyLove's Unending Legacy is a 2007 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on April 7, 2007. It was directed by Mark Griffiths and stars Erin Cottrell...
(2007),
Love's Unfolding DreamLove's Unfolding Dream is a Christian Drama and the sixth TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke and second to air in 2007. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on December 15, 2007 and was produced for Hallmark by Larry Levinson Productions. It was directed by Harvey Frost...
(2007), and
Love Takes WingLove Takes Wing is a Christian drama and the seventh TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It aired on Hallmark Channel on April 4, 2009...
(April 4, 2009), and
Love Finds a HomeLove Finds a Home is a Christian drama film, the eighth and final installment based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It aired on Hallmark Channel on September 5, 2009. The film is based on the book Love Finds a Home by Janette Oke...
(April 11, 2009), as well as two prequels,
Love BeginsLove Begins is the first of two prequels of the Love Comes Softly series. It premiered September 17, 2011 on The Hallmark Channel.-Differences from the book series:...
,
Love's Everlasting CourageLove's Everlasting Courage is a 2011 Christian-Drama television film that premiered October 1, 2011 on The Hallmark Channel. This film is the second prequel of the Love Comes Softly StarringWes Brown as ClarkMorgan Lily as MissyCheryl Ladd as IreneJulie Mond as Ellen Willow Geer as SarahTyler...
(both 2011), and
Love's Christmas Journey (November 5, 2011).
Plot
Marty Claridge (
Katherine HeiglKatherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
) has just moved out to the West with her husband Aaron Claridge (Oliver Macready), who dies shortly after. With no other options, she accepts the arrangement offered by widower Clark Davis (
Dale MidkiffDale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
), who offers to give her a place to stay for the winter and provides her with the fare for the wagon train heading back East in the spring. In exchange, they agree to get married, and he wants her to provide a maternal influence for his young daughter Missy (
Skye McCole Bartusiak-Life and career:McCole Bartusiak was born in Houston, Texas, where she lives today with her parents Raymond Donald Bartusiak and Helen McCole. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal school for her elementary education....
). The two do not live together as husband and wife but keep separate quarters. Marty, while expecting her late husband's baby, is even more in need of a warm place to stay. Still, it is not an ideal arrangement for any of them, and at first Marty and Missie do not get along. Marty learns more about "Clark's God" than she ever dreamed, and as the Winter season passes, they all start to feel more like a family, and finally Marty and Clark come to realize they're in love.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
Katherine HeiglKatherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
|
Marty Claridge |
| Dale Midkiff Dale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
|
Clark Davis |
| Skye McCole Bartusiak -Life and career:McCole Bartusiak was born in Houston, Texas, where she lives today with her parents Raymond Donald Bartusiak and Helen McCole. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal school for her elementary education....
|
Missie Davis |
| Corbin Bernsen Corbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych...
|
Ben Graham |
| Theresa Russell Theresa Russell is an American actress.-Biography:Russell was born Theresa Paup in San Diego, California, the daughter of Carole Platt and Jerry Russell Paup. She attended Burbank High School, but did not graduate. She married English film director Nicolas Roeg , in 1982...
|
Sarah Graham |
| Oliver Macready |
Aaron Claridge |
| Adam Loeffler |
Clint Graham |
| Nick Scoggin |
Reverend Johnson |
Rutanya Alda-Life:Rutanya Alda was born as Rutanya Alda Skrastiņa in Riga, Latvia, the daughter of Vera , a businesswoman, and Jānis Skrastiņš, a poet...
|
Wanda Marshall |
| Tiffany Amber Knight |
Laura Graham |
| Jaimz Woolvett Jaimz Woolvett is a Canadian actor. He was born on April 14, 1967 in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. Woolvett's highest-profile role was The Schofield Kid, a near-sighted, aspiring gun-fighter in Clint Eastwood's Academy Award-winning Western Unforgiven . He has a younger brother, Gordon Michael...
|
Wagon Train Scout |
Differences from the novel
- In the book "Love Comes Softly", Missie is a toddler, around 2 years old, whereas in the movie she is 9. Clark and Marty are also older in the film than they are depicted in the book.
- Marty's husband is named Clem in the novel, but is named Aaron in the film.
- The Grahams have a grand total of 13 (11 living, 2 deceased) children in the novel. Ben Graham was a widower with 4 children, and Sarah Graham was a widow with 3, one that died at 7 years old. They then had 6 together, one having died as a baby. This is mentioned in Chapter 11 of the book. In the film, they only have 4; Ben with two sons, Sarah with two daughters. Also, Sarah Graham's first name is not given in the novel. In it, She is referred to as Ma Graham. Laura is also said to be Sarah's daughter in the film, but in the novel, she is Ben's daughter.
- Marty names her baby Claridge Luke in the book, but he's named Aaron Luke in the Film.
Awards
The following people took home a
Camie Award in 2003 for their part in the film:
- Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon, Jr. is an American actor, director, writer and producer.- Biography :Born as Michael Graham Landon, Landon is the son of the late actor Michael Landon and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. Michael is the brother of Christopher B...
(director/writer)
- Cindy Kelley (writer)
- Janette Oke
Janette Oke is a Canadian author and pioneer of inspirational fiction. Her books are often set in a pioneer time period and centered around female protagonists...
(original story)
- Larry Levinson (executive producer)
- Robert Halmi Jr. (executive producer)
- Dale Midkiff
Dale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
(actor)
- Katherine Heigl
Katherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
(actress)
- Skye McCole Bartusiak
-Life and career:McCole Bartusiak was born in Houston, Texas, where she lives today with her parents Raymond Donald Bartusiak and Helen McCole. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal school for her elementary education....
(actress)
In 2004
Dale MidkiffDale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
won the
Grace Award from MovieGuide for Most Inspirational Television Acting.
External links
- Love Comes Softly Series site at Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...