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 fo ...
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 ...
and the sixth film 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 publi ...
. 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 a ...
on December 15, 2007 and was produced for Hallmark by Larry Levinson Productions. It was directed by Harvey Frost. It is the sixth film 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 ...
Love's Unending Legacy
''Love's Unending Legacy'' is a 2007 made-for-television Christian drama film 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. It is t ...
'' (2007), ''
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.Hallmark Channel Press Release 2/9/2009 as well as the 2011 prequels ''Love Begins'', '' 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, ...
''.
Plot
In a time when and place where women were not usually permitted careers, especially in the medical field, Belinda Tyler (
Scout Taylor-Compton
Scout Taylor-Compton (born Desariee Starr Compton; February 21, 1989) is an American actress. She has frequently worked in the horror genre, most notably as Laurie Strode in the 2007 remake of ''Halloween'' and its 2009 sequel. Outside of horr ...
) deeply wants to be a
doctor
Doctor or The Doctor may refer to:
Personal titles
* Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree
* A medical practitioner, including:
** Physician
** Surgeon
** Dentist
** Veterinary physician
** Optometrist
*Other roles
** ...
and feels that God has called her to be one. She displays her abilities while helping out a local doctor and caring for Mrs. Stafford-Smith (Nancy Linehan Charles), an elderly woman who recently had a stroke.
While Belinda nurses Mrs. Stafford-Smith back to health and helps her regain the use of her right arm, she meets Drew Simpson ( Patrick Levis), the nephew of a deceased neighbor. He has come to town to prepare his uncle's farm for sale. Once that's done, he will return to
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
to join his father's law practice; he has no wish to stay in this small, unsophisticated town.
But after meeting Belinda, he has second thoughts. She also feels something for him, but her life plan is to become a doctor, then move back home to provide medical care to her family and neighbors; She says to Drew in regret that his life in New York seems now a "dream" to Her and that after a while he won't even "remember" Her. Although most women of the time only
married
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
and had children, Belinda wants more and is not marriage oriented. She has a great mind for
medicine
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...
and also feels called to it by God. She doesn't see how a relationship with Drew would work, especially when Mrs. Stafford-Smith offers to put her through medical school in Boston. She informs Drew of her plan and prepares to leave. But after Belinda's grandfather shares how he recognized his feelings for wife Marty, Drew realizes that he cannot live without Belinda. Meanwhile, Belinda's mother and grandmother counsel her about her future and advise her to pray.
Just as Belinda boards the stagecoach, Drew arrives and tells her he loves her and is willing to practice law in Boston while she's in medical school. Once she becomes a doctor, they will move back to this small town together if that is what she wants. He asks her to marry him.
Knowing she feels the same way about Drew, Belinda finally admits her feelings and accepts his marriage proposal. She and Drew are married with her family and friends present before they move to Boston together.
Cast
Differences from the novel
* In the novel, Belinda is 11–16 years old and becomes a nurse for her brother, Luke Davis.
* Dr. Jackson is a possible reference to Jackson Brown, a boy who went to school with Belinda, and later becomes a doctor working with Luke Davis, in the books.
* Belinda and Drew Simpson meet differently in the film than in the novel. In the novel, Belinda is with Luke when he removes Drew's arm after it is crushed in a logging accident. Drew later saves her after she is thrown from her horse. They get married in the novel ''
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 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, ...
'', but do not have the same spouses and children that are mentioned in the novels.
* Belinda's care for Virginia Stafford-Smyth after she has a stroke takes place in ''
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.
''. She became ill on the train and was brought to Luke's office. Windsor came later to see her. Virginia is said to have two grandsons whom she raised after her son and his wife died. It is stated in the film that her son never had children. Belinda later returned to Boston with her.
Awards
Timmy Deters was nominated in 2008 for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actor
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 a ...