Laura Ingalls Wilder: Part 1 (22 Sep. 1980)

Almonzo buys land for he and Laura to begin their life together on, but Laura is upset over his refusal to allow her to teach after they are married. Meanwhile Miss Wilder falls for a friend of Almonzo's.

Director:

Michael Landon

Writers:

Laura Ingalls Wilder (based upon the series of books "Little House" by), Michael Landon

Stars:

Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Landon	...	Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle	...	Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert	...	Laura Ingalls
Lindsay Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Sidney Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Richard Bull	...	Nels Oleson
Kevin Hagen	...	Dr. Hiram Baker
Alison Arngrim	...	Nellie Oleson Dalton
Scottie MacGregor	...	Harriet Oleson (as Katherine MacGregor)
Jonathan Gilbert	...	Willie Oleson
Dabbs Greer	...	Reverend Robert Alden
Patrick Labyorteaux	...	Andrew 'Andy' Garvey (as Patrick Laborteaux)
Matthew Labyorteaux	...	Albert Quinn Ingalls
Dean Butler	...	Almanzo James Wilder
Steve Tracy	...	Percival Isaac Cohen Dalton

Storyline

Almanzo tries to buy some land but the man who sales it to him cheats him by blocking off the water source that goes towards that land. Knowing his crop won't grow Almanzo will fail to pay off the land by the end of the year and will lose it back to the owner. He had planned to get married to Laura and build their first home and have their first land. Now, he wants to wait but Laura wants to take a teaching job to help raise some money but he wants to be the sole provider for their family. So, she gives him back his ring.

---

Plot Keywords:

buying land | pregnant wife | diary | character name in episode title | character name in title | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

---

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1980 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ed Friendly Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[Nellie has stomach pains]
Mrs. Oleson: Do you know what I think it is? I think it's that strange food you make for your husband!
Nellie Oleson: But he likes it, and it doesn't make him sick!
Mrs. Oleson: Well, of course HE likes it - he's used to it! He's Jewish. A person can get used to ANYTHING! Look at the cannibals... they eat each other, and they think it's just dandy!

User Reviews

New Beginnings and Possible Endings...

It's another brand new season of Little House on the Prairie, and you may be wondering if we can expect more big changes for our favorite characters and their town? And how! First off, we see Almanzo having just secured a really nice plot of land, and he was so excited for Laura to see it that he whisked her away in the middle of class and raced out to the land. Had speeding tickets existed back then, Almanzo would be the proud recipient of two. Anyway, Laura loved the land, so it looks as though everything will work out nicely. But with Almanzo working at the Feed and Seed as well as his new farm during the day, there was the question of his sister's place, but Manly had a solution: his old chum from Sleepy Eye, Harve Miller would be coming to tend to that. He's played by that guy who used to always play a smart-ass comedian on television back in the day. Harve gave Eliza Jane a ride home and after just one day, she was sure he was the one for her! She talked about him endlessly that night, boring Almanzo to sleep. Well after a few weeks, Eliza Jane finally worked up the courage to ask Harve to supper. It's taken her a while because, well, Harve is the first fellow she's ever had a thing for, and she hoped the feeling was mutual.

Meanwhile, Laura had been awarded a teaching position at a prestigious school, and she can't take it, because...? She showed the letter to Almanzo, and he copped an attitude. He wanted to be the sole provider in their household and he told her to forget about it and do as he says 'cause he's the man. While all this was going on, Nellie had been taken to see Doc Baker about what Harriet thought was an upset stomach. Turns out she was partly right, because Nellie Oleson-Dalton is preggers! Harriet hit the roof, then the floor, mainly because Doc Baker played a trick on her by subtly hinting that Nellie was dying. Very professional there, Doc. So while Granny Harriet adjusts to this news, it's on to dinner at the Wilders'. Almanzo regales Harve about the "good old days", and afterwords, Harve and Eliza Jane have a nice chat on the porch. She even removed her dorky glasses to reveal her cute face. Harve complimented her on her eyes and agreed to come back for Sunday supper. Eliza Jane couldn't be happier. While she was happy, Laura began experiencing 'life blues.' This was an emotional time for her, having to give up teaching to be with Almanzo, getting married and whatnot, but thankfully Caroline's shoulder was always there for crying on. After Harriet faints in church after being reminded of her impending grandmotherhood, Harve joins Eliza Jane for an awkward Sunday supper. Neither had anything to say, and without Almanzo to liven things up. So EJ fires up the Victrola and they share a reluctant dance. So while things were looking up for Eliza Jane, for Almanzo, they were about to turn crappy. Gray, the guy who sold him the land, had dammed up the river, preventing his irrigation system from getting any water to the land. So Charles rode back with him to have a man-to-man with the man. Matt Gray turned out to be an evil son of a bitch who cheated Manly out of his land. He wanted to punch that guy, but Charles managed to get him to back down...because only HE does the ass-kicking in this family, so Charles decked him and told him where to stick his land, so that's where they stand. Will Almanzo be able to secure land for he and his future wife? Will Eliza Jane get to first base with Harve? Will Laura truly have to give up teaching? Will Harriet ever warm up to being a granny? Will I keep asking annoying questions? Tune in to Part II to find out!

Pretty good episode, loaded with humor, drama and everything that makes Little House such a great show. Dean Butler and Lucy Lee Flippin were pretty good in their performances, the latter being less annoying than usual and actually Eliza Jane was more tolerable. James Cromwell was very good as Harve Miller, a genuinely likable character. As I said, Cromwell has played smart-ass characters, like on All in the Family and M*A*S*H, and who'd have thought he'd make the successful transition to drama with Babe? So if you like Almanzo, you like Laura, you like Eliza Jane (some do) then you should check out Laura Ingalls Wilder: Part I and see all the trials and tribulations people endure just for the sake of love.