For a long running TV series that seemed so believable and so true to its historical period, A WALTON EASTER set in 1969 is a disaster.
It starts out with the first MOON LANDING taking place and John boy anchoring TV coverage on a local non-network CHANNEL 8 in New York. The date would have to be July 20, 1969. John Jr's folks are watching him in Virgina. If he wasn't on a network, they would not have been able to see him on TV in Walton's Mountain. BTW, there never was a Channel 8 in New York City.
John and his very pregnant wife are headed to Walton's Mountain to finish his novel and celebrate his parents 40th Wedding anniversary. If that were so, that would make John and Olivia's wedding year 1929.
TWO BIG PROBLEMS: When the series began, it was 1933 and John boy was already 17 having been born in 1916. In 1969 that would make him 53 and born 13 years before his parents were married in 1929!
The first mention of EASTER (which always comes 3 to 4 months before July) is not until near the end of the teleplay when Walton mama Olivia is asked to join her black friend Bertie for a lakeside Easter service. This unlikely scene is a tack-on that does not fit with the rest of the story neither in timing nor context. Its main purpose is to give it an EASTER title so the network could draw a holiday audience when it was broadcast March 31, 1997. Nevertheless, the black choir does a very nice job performing a high-spirited gospel song.
Throughout the story, John boy makes several references to worrying about not being able to afford his new babies. He's also driving an older, base model Ford sedan yet he's supposed to be a super successful journalist, novelist and TV anchorman in New York City. By now, he should be wealthy so it makes no sense whatsoever that he's carrying on like a guy with money problems.
Other nonsense: School is being held in the middle of summer.
As a milestone anniversary gift, the big but very cheap family scrapes together just enough money to treat their parents to just 2 measly NIGHTS in a motel in nearby Virginia Beach.
If Grandma was well into her 70s in 1933, by all rights she would be well over 100 in 1969.
The Baldwin sisters pass on their infamous moonshine recipe to the Walton family with no mention of the still to make it in.
The twin babies are born at home all dry and squeaky clean - no blood, no goo, no big crying, no umbilical cords and mommy barely breaks a sweat!
John Sr drives a 35 year old station wagon and still has money problems despite a lifetime of hard work in the lumber business.
Erin's hair color changes about 5 times in 90 minutes.
There are many other details that are wrong in this program. Overall it's a sad finale to a very successful and long running franchise.
The only redeeming quality to this film are the characters and the actors who remain very likable. That almost saves it for long-time Walton fans like myself but I still feel very let down.
Sadly, series creator Earl Hamner Jr really dropped the ball on this one. I think he owes us one more good reunion show. Maybe he'll get it right next time and then we can hear everyone say a final, "GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY".
It starts out with the first MOON LANDING taking place and John boy anchoring TV coverage on a local non-network CHANNEL 8 in New York. The date would have to be July 20, 1969. John Jr's folks are watching him in Virgina. If he wasn't on a network, they would not have been able to see him on TV in Walton's Mountain. BTW, there never was a Channel 8 in New York City.
John and his very pregnant wife are headed to Walton's Mountain to finish his novel and celebrate his parents 40th Wedding anniversary. If that were so, that would make John and Olivia's wedding year 1929.
TWO BIG PROBLEMS: When the series began, it was 1933 and John boy was already 17 having been born in 1916. In 1969 that would make him 53 and born 13 years before his parents were married in 1929!
The first mention of EASTER (which always comes 3 to 4 months before July) is not until near the end of the teleplay when Walton mama Olivia is asked to join her black friend Bertie for a lakeside Easter service. This unlikely scene is a tack-on that does not fit with the rest of the story neither in timing nor context. Its main purpose is to give it an EASTER title so the network could draw a holiday audience when it was broadcast March 31, 1997. Nevertheless, the black choir does a very nice job performing a high-spirited gospel song.
Throughout the story, John boy makes several references to worrying about not being able to afford his new babies. He's also driving an older, base model Ford sedan yet he's supposed to be a super successful journalist, novelist and TV anchorman in New York City. By now, he should be wealthy so it makes no sense whatsoever that he's carrying on like a guy with money problems.
Other nonsense: School is being held in the middle of summer.
As a milestone anniversary gift, the big but very cheap family scrapes together just enough money to treat their parents to just 2 measly NIGHTS in a motel in nearby Virginia Beach.
If Grandma was well into her 70s in 1933, by all rights she would be well over 100 in 1969.
The Baldwin sisters pass on their infamous moonshine recipe to the Walton family with no mention of the still to make it in.
The twin babies are born at home all dry and squeaky clean - no blood, no goo, no big crying, no umbilical cords and mommy barely breaks a sweat!
John Sr drives a 35 year old station wagon and still has money problems despite a lifetime of hard work in the lumber business.
Erin's hair color changes about 5 times in 90 minutes.
There are many other details that are wrong in this program. Overall it's a sad finale to a very successful and long running franchise.
The only redeeming quality to this film are the characters and the actors who remain very likable. That almost saves it for long-time Walton fans like myself but I still feel very let down.
Sadly, series creator Earl Hamner Jr really dropped the ball on this one. I think he owes us one more good reunion show. Maybe he'll get it right next time and then we can hear everyone say a final, "GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY".