Michael Landon, the Father I Knew (1999) (TV)

Director:

Michael Landon Jr.

Writers (WGA):

Michael Landon Jr. (story) and
Linda Bergman (story) ...

Release Date:

23 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Michael Landon Jr. directs this biographical story of his television star father, 'Michael Landon' (John Schneider)...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Schneider	...	Michael Landon
Cheryl Ladd	...	Lynn Noe Landon
Joel Berti	...	Michael Landon Jr.
Sarah Lancaster	...	Leslie Landon
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	Andy Glennon
Julie Condra	...	Cindy Landon
Trever O'Brien	...	Michael Landon Jr. - Age 15
Shawn Pyfrom	...	Michael Landon Jr. - Age 10
Rachel Duncan	...	Leslie Landon - Age 12
Daveigh Chase	...	Shawna Landon - Age 8
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicolai Bolom	...	Christopher Landon - Age 5
Alexis Brigante	...	Brittany Landon
Corey Bringas	...	Christopher Landon - Age 10
Justin Chapman	...	Josh Landon
Gino Conforti	...	Antonio
William Cowart	...	Hippie Driver
Robert Crow	...	Director
Jill Drexler	...	Dodie Landon
Sivonna Hass	...	Shawna Landon - Age 13
Annie Hinton	...	Female Tourist
Jack S. Kimball	...	Adult Jack
Lucinda Lewis	...	Screaming Fan
Lynsey Parker	...	Shawna Landon - Age 11
Marisa Petroro	...	Sharee Landon (as Marisa Parker)
Laura Richardson	...	Betty
Gabriel Romero	...	Armando
Von Schauer	...	Big Man
Angela Seger	...	Leslie Landon - 1983
Graham Sterling	...	Presenter
Orian Sterner	...	Hippie #2
Larry Stoerts	...	Man Behind Door
Timothy Storey	...	Young Pastor
Camryn Walling	...	Christopher Landon - Age 8
Anne Welles	...	Actress
Pauli Wolfe	...	Ashley Landon
David Grant Wright	...	Obnoxious Father
Adam Wylie	...	Teenage Jack

Also Known As:

A Father's Son (Australia)

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials) | Canada:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Green/Epstein Productions

An engaging story of the relationship between a son and his less-than-perfect father.

While I was prepared for a nasty tell-all in the form of "Mommy Dearest," as the reviewer in TV Guide had written, I was pleasantly surprised to see a poignant story of the son of a once-loving father having to come to terms with his own and his father's imperfections.

While it was a joy to see the depicted Michael Landon, Jr. eventually triumph over many life-controlling problems, and learn to love his father, the viewer will be compelled to use up a box of Kleenex when he learns that his father, the nationally-beloved Michael Landon, must inevitably die of inoperable cancer. Even though many of us lived through it ourselves as we watched Michel Landon's courageous fight against pancreatic cancer in the news, it was even tougher this time; we had to see the process through the eyes of a loving son who is unable to help his father fight a relentlessly progressing disease.

Most surprising of all is the clarity of Michael Landon, Jr's directorial vision. From the first moment, his style easily drew the viewer in to the point that the audience could actually experience what it was like to be part of the Landon family. That makes watching the family deteriorate later on even more involving and immediate. He will grow to be a true master of the art of film as he matures. I look forward to more of his work.