made-for-television
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
based on a series of books by
Janette Oke
Janette Oke (née Steeves; born February 18, 1935) (pronounced "oak") is a Canadian author of inspirational fiction. Her books are often set in a pioneer era and centered on female protagonists. Her first novel, ''Love Comes Softly'', was publish ...
. It originally aired on
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is an American television channel owned by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which in turn is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. The channel's programming is primarily targeted at families, and features a mix of television movies and ...
on April 7, 2007. It was directed by Mark Griffiths and stars
Erin Cottrell
Erin Cottrell (born August 24, 1975) is an American actress who has appeared in the role of Missie LaHaye in five of the eight films in the ''Love Comes Softly'' series. She was born in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
She acted in '' Love's Long Journey ...
. It is the fifth movie in an ongoing series that includes ''
Love Comes Softly
''Love Comes Softly'' is a 2003 made-for-television Christian drama film set in the 19th century, based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on April 13, 2003. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr., and st ...
'' (2003), ''
Love's Enduring Promise
''Love's Enduring Promise'' is a 2004 made-for-television Christian drama film 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 ...
'' (2004), ''
Love's Long Journey
''Love's Long Journey'' is a 2005 made-for-television Christian drama film based very loosely on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and was originally aired on Hallmark Channel on December 3, 2005.
It is the ...
'' (2005), ''
Love's Abiding Joy
''Love's Abiding Joy'' is a 2006 made-for-television Christian drama film based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and stars Erin Cottrell and Logan Bartholomew. It is the fourth movie in the Love Saga, w ...
'' (2006), ''
Love's Unfolding Dream
''Love's Unfolding Dream'' is a 2007 made-for-television Christian drama film and the sixth film based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on December 15, 2007 and was produced for Hallmark by Larry Levin ...
'' (2007), and ''
Love Takes Wing
''Love Takes Wing'' is a 2009 made-for-television Christian drama film and the seventh film based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It aired on Hallmark Channel on April 4, 2009.
'' (2009), and ''
Love Finds a Home
''Love Finds a Home'' is a 2009 made-for-television 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.Love's Everlasting Courage'', and ''
Love's Christmas Journey
''Love's Christmas Journey'' is a 2011 made-for-television Christian drama film based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It aired on Hallmark Channel on November 5, 2011.
Synopsis
The story focuses on Ellie King (née Davis) and Aaron Davis, t ...
'' which fits part way through the movie series.
Synopsis
Missie LaHaye bids a reluctant goodbye at the grave of her late husband Willie, who died two years previously in the line of duty as the sheriff of Tettsford Junction. Even after giving up her job as the town schoolteacher, Missie has found running the ranch on her own overwhelming, so she has resigned herself to letting her son Jeff and his new bride take control of it jointly with her brothers Aaron and Arnie.
Missie and her ten-year-old son Mattie travel back to her hometown to live near the farm of her parents, Clark and Marty Davis. She goes back to teaching school. At her first Sunday service, Missie and Mattie learn from the Pastor that an "Orphan Train" with homeless children in need of good homes will soon arrive from the Children's Aid Society of New York. Outside the church, Clark introduces Missie to sharp-tongued biddy Mrs. Pettis, who disdains the orphans as "ragamuffins." At the same time, Missie catches the eye of a passing horseman: bachelor Sheriff Zach Tyler, another target of Mrs. Pettis’ vitriol. Claiming that Zach is not a godly man, Mrs. Pettis passes her judgment on him, implying he has a shameful past on the wrong side of the law.
On her way to work, Missie passes the church just as the orphan distribution is underway. Although she is firmly determined not to grant Mattie's request for a new sibling, she goes in—just in time to witness 14-year-old Belinda behaving belligerently toward the Pettises as they choose eight-year-old Jacob—looking on him as a farm worker rather than a son. Realizing that the lone orphan Belinda will be sent back to the foundling home in New York, Missie volunteers to adopt the poor Romantic soul.
Unbeknownst to all, Belinda is Jacob's sister. She kept this secret to prevent potential parents from breaking up siblings because they see her as "too old" to adopt. With Jacob secured in a home nearby, Belinda can figure out a way for them to flee; she believes that their father had given them up for adoption with the full intention of reuniting with them in the near future. She is so sure of this that she resists family life within the loving embrace of Missie, the Davises, Zach, and the community; she sneaks out of Missie's home nightly to reassure Jacob that soon they will leave together. She becomes more determined after learning that the Pettises beat and starve him.
Missie tells her mother Marty that she feels as if a voice inside told her to adopt Belinda, but she still can't explain why. Perhaps, says Marty, "God knew that Belinda needed you. And maybe, for some reason you don’t understand yet, you need her." Little Mattie LaHaye befriends together with Mr. Davis a white pup out of the dog heard he names Snowball! Zach attempts to court Missie, but she resists, explaining she could never love anyone the way she loved her late husband. Missie then struggles to convince herself that although she is not in love with the sheriff, at least he would make a good marriage partner.
While Missie discusses Belinda's disturbing nocturnal disappearances with Zach, who has warmed her heart with his kindness toward the young girl, he states he has no faith in God if a child can suffer like Belinda. Later, Missie tells her mother she couldn't love a man who didn't share her faith. Zach and Missie discover Jacob's plight, but are anguished that they can't rescue him unless he exposes the Pettises, which he won't out of fear of reprisal. While Missie and Zach appreciate their mutual desire to help the boy, they clash over how to save him. An angry Belinda berates them for their inability to help Jacob, claiming her father will soon come to their aid.
Exasperated by Belinda's rejection, Missie visits Marty, who reminds her that Missie once had trouble accepting Marty as her stepmother. Sagely, she tells Missie that "loving a child has nothing to do with giving birth" and "being a family is a choice, not necessarily something that just happens because you’re related by blood." Belinda shows Missie a note written by her father. Belinda can't read, but is sure the note explains how he'll come back for her and Jacob. Missie then reads her the note, and Belinda learns that her father had actually left them at the orphanage for good.
Later, Zach visits Missie at the school to explain his lack of faith: his fiancée was an innocent victim of murderous bank robbers. Missie then relates the story of her husband's death.
After Missie again fails to rescue Jacob, Belinda runs away with him into the stormy night. Everyone joins a desperate search for them. Amid the lightning-laden thunderstorm, Zach prays. He then hears a voice over the din and follows it to the abandoned mine where the children have sought shelter. Zach tells Missie it was God's miracle that guided him in the wilderness, but as she later admits to her father, she doesn't know how to "let go" of her late husband. Clark tells her love doesn't die when a person passes away; it stays in a person's heart forever as she moves on to a new life with a new chance for happiness. Missie takes that chance by marrying Zach. They adopt Jacob as well and begin their lives as a family of five.
Cast
Differences from the novel
* Belinda is Clark and Marty's daughter, who is born in this novel. Belinda is not seen until the end of the novel when she is born. Most of the movie is about Belinda, unlike the book.
* Willie is still alive in this novel. Therefore, Missie does not return home or marry Zach Tyler. Zach Tyler is not an existing character in the book.
* The situations in the film were not directly from the novel.
Notes
* Many of the themes in this film are similar to ''
Little House On The Prairie
The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books is a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adolescence in the Midwestern United States, American M ...
'' episode #159, The Lost Ones Part 2.
* The town is the same town used in ''
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' is an American Western drama television series created and executive produced by Beth Sullivan and starring Jane Seymour, who plays Dr. Michaela Quinn, a physician who leaves Boston in search of adventure in the O ...
'' Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Awards
Victor Browne and
Erin Cottrell
Erin Cottrell (born August 24, 1975) is an American actress who has appeared in the role of Missie LaHaye in five of the eight films in the ''Love Comes Softly'' series. She was born in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
She acted in '' Love's Long Journey ...
won a
Camie Awards
The CAMIE Awards, sometimes known as the CAMIEs, are awards for outstanding, uplifting films emphasizing character and morality. They are awarded annually by CAMIE Awards, Inc.
Overview
The word CAMIE is an acronym for "Character And Morality I ...
Dale Midkiff
Dale Alan Midkiff (born July 1, 1959) is an American actor, best known for playing Louis Creed in the horror film ''Pet Sematary'' (1989) and Captain Darien Lambert in the TV series ''Time Trax''.
Career
Midkiff acted in off-Broadway plays lik ...
Braeden Lemasters
Braeden Matthew Lemasters (born January 27, 1996) is an American actor, musician, and singer. He is best known for his role as Albert Tranelli in the TNT comedy-drama series ''Men of a Certain Age''. He has made guest appearances in several telev ...
and
Holliston Coleman
Holliston Taylor Coleman is a former American actress. She is perhaps best known for starring in the Paramount feature film, ''Bless the Child'', and her recurring role in the television series ''Medium''.
Life and career
Coleman was born in P ...
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is an American television channel owned by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which in turn is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. The channel's programming is primarily targeted at families, and features a mix of television movies and ...