The Faith Healer (19 Nov. 1979)

On Mrs. Oleson's invitation, the Rev. James Danforth comes to Walnut Grove to give residents his charismatic, fiery style of preaching. The hypnotic Danforth claims to have actually "... See full summary »

Director:

Maury Dexter

Writers:

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

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
Scottie MacGregor	...	Harriet Oleson (as Katherine MacGregor)
Jonathan Gilbert	...	Willie Oleson
Dabbs Greer	...	Reverend Robert Alden
Merlin Olsen	...	Jonathan Garvey
Hersha Parady	...	Alice Garvey
Patrick Labyorteaux	...	Andrew 'Andy' Garvey (as Patrick Laborteaux)
Matthew Labyorteaux	...	Albert Quinn Ingalls

Storyline

On Mrs. Oleson's invitation, the Rev. James Danforth comes to Walnut Grove to give residents his charismatic, fiery style of preaching. The hypnotic Danforth claims to have actually "witnessed" the Word of the Lord and can perform great miracles as a faith healer. He demonstrates his abilities during one of his revivals, restoring sight to a blind person and giving a crippled person the ability to walk. The people are awestruck and soon flock to his services. Rev. Alden, Dr. Baker and Charles have all seen Danforth at work and reject his ministry; in the aftermath, attendance at Rev. Alden's Sunday services declines sharply, while Dr. Baker's practice also suffers. Later, a farmer's son complains of abdominal pain and places complete trust in Danforth to have it healed. Dr. Baker is nearby and urges the farmer to have surgery instead, but Danforth seems to heal the boy. But later that night, the boy's appendix bursts (just as Dr. Baker feared was about to happen) and he dies; the ...

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Plot Keywords:

faith | charlatan | revival | faith healing | healer | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1979 (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

User Reviews

Do You Believe?

The citizens of Walnut Grove flocked into town to see their special visitor: Reverend Jacob Danforth of the Divine Church of Salvation. Rumor has it he could heal people just by prayer, so this was something people wanted to see for themselves. Only Charles remained skeptical, mostly because he was worried that this Danforth fellow would take away from their usual church service. You see, people actually cared about going to church back in them days. That night, in a giant tent erected behind the Feed & Seed, Reverend Danforth carried on about how sickness is the Devil's work and it is not God's will for you to be sick, however that's debatable if you've read Exodus 4:11. He called out to those ailing and in pain to step forth and let them be healed. He quickly got three volunteers, including a woman in a wheelchair. He called out for this poor woman to be healed, and then, she was able to stand! It was a miracle! Or was it? Anyhow, the folks in attendance were dazzled, except for Reverend Alden who had a smaller church service on Sunday, but then as the Bible says, whether 2 or 3 gather in His name... Anyway, after horsing around, young Timothy Dobbs began experiencing severe stomach pains and was rushed to the original healer of these parts, Doc Baker. He diagnosed it as appendicitis and instructed Matthew to take his boy to Mankato for surgery straight away. However, Matthew wasn't willing to drive so far to help his boy and thought about taking him to Reverend Danforth, despite Baker's vehement protests.

Timothy's stomach pains got so bad that his pa immediately escorted him up to the reverend, with a very skeptical Doc Baker following. Danforth called out to the heavens for this boy's pain to be gone and then...another miracle! The pain was gone! Wow, this guy's good. On Wednesday, Danforth stopped by the church to visit Reverend Alden, who subtly hoped he would be moving on, but no dice. Danforth wanted to stay in Walnut Grove permanently. Alden told him nothing doing, he's not sharing this pulpit with nobody, especially some gimmicky evangelist...he didn't say that last part, but I'm sure he was thinking it. Danforth didn't take this well, and decided to impose on Alden's territory regardless. As a result, only the Ingallses, Garveys and Doc Baker showed up for Alden's service. As if things weren't bad enough, Matthew Dobbs rushed in looking for Doc Baker. Apparently Timothy's pain had returned, but by the time the doctor got to him, it was too late. Timothy was gone. There, aren't you glad you didn't listen to the doctor, Matt? Aren't you glad you put your son's life at risk by not taking him to have surgery because you believed some gimmicky mumbo-jumbo? Jerk-ass. So they confronted Danforth on the matter and guess what? He said it was God's will, and painted a lovely portrait of Timothy in heaven, and not only did his idiot father believe it, so did Danforth's congregation. As a result, Danforth was chosen by the community as the new reverend, and a hurt Alden decided to move on next Saturday. The Ingallses, Garveys and Baker were the only smart people left in town, well including Nels Oleson who didn't actually like Danforth, but only voted for him out of peer pressure. Things looked pretty bleak. One night, when Charles was in Sleepy Eye on a freight run, he heard Reverend Danforth doing his song and dance for the town, but what Charles found unusually odd was that Danforth had the same three volunteers as he did in his Walnut Grove service, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that Danforth was a phony. Charles devised a plan to expose him, so together with the Olesons, Doc Baker and Matthew, they headed to Reverend Looney Tunes' next service, where of course he was using the same volunteers. They exposed him, brought to light that he indirectly killed Timothy Dobbs and that his volunteers were phonies. Danforth's congregation walked out on him, and come Sunday in Walnut Grove, Reverend Robert Alden took his rightful place at the pulpit, with his entire congregation back again to hear him speak the REAL words of God.

I think we can all be sure that when Danforth's judgment day arrives, he'll be going to a very, very warm place. But anyway, The Faith Healer was a very good episode. Intriguing, keeps you guessing, and many good twists. Dabbs Greer was great as Reverend Alden, a true preacher in his own right, and it's sad that most of the ministers today are more like Danforth than Alden. Also great were Michael Landon, Tom Rosqui, Joey Seifers, Kevin Hagen and of course, James Olsen as that double-dealing clergyman. All fantastic. If you know that faith healing is a lot of baloney like all rational people do, if you like Reverend Alden and you like Little House, definitely check out this episode. It will put faith to the test.