Little House on the Prairie on DVD

Little House on the Prairie

(2006) | Approx. 255 min. (6 episodes) | Not Rated | Reviewed by Lisa Perkis

*Click to Buy*	Ratings Summary (Scored out of a maximum of five)
	Audio		Video
	Goodies	None	Interface
	Value

The Film

Fans of the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder tend to be very opinionated about the classic and very successful TV series that aired from 1974 to 1983. They either have fond nostalgia for the show—Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert in particular—and could not imagine a better retelling of the book series. In the other camp are the fans of the book series who find the older television show a saccharine, watered-down version of the very real difficulties and hardships the Ingalls family faced as they migrated west. Then there are those who haven’t even read the series and wonder what all the fuss is about. Your enjoyment of the new Little House on the Prairie DVD will depend on which of the above camps you frequent. I most definitely lean towards the second (and much smaller) camp of Little House lovers; to be honest, I found the TV series irritating, even as a child. I approached the DVD series with open arms, hoping to find more of what I know and love, developed closely from the writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The Wonderful World of Disney

TV show originally aired the miniseries Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie (the title was shortened for the DVD release) spring 2005. It was shown over five Sunday nights, with the first evening a two-hour presentation. Packaged on to the DVD with commercials and previews cut, the series runs approximately 4.5 hours. The six complete episodes are packaged onto two discs.

Disc One contains the first three episodes of the series; “The Ingalls’ Journey Part 1” (45:32), “The Ingalls’ Journey Part 2” (39:50) and “Adventures on the Kansas Prairie Part 1” (46:20). These episodes cover the Ingalls’ departure from the “Big Woods” and their journey to the Kansas prairie. Some of the iconic scenes from the book series are enacted, such as crossing a thawing lake, losing their beloved dog Jack in a rushing river (don’t worry; he comes back), and meeting their new neighbor Mr. Edwards. The first episodes are full of action and movement, right down to the use of a hand-held camera used for some scenes. It gives the drama more immediacy and reality, but can become tiresome as the jerking, swirling movement seems more like NYPD Blue than a pioneer tale. Overall I appreciated the director’s efforts to add a more realistic aspect to the account, and I much prefer it over the Burbank back lot quality feel from the original TV series.

The second disc contains “The Ingalls’ Journey Part 2” (39:50), “Adventures on the Kansas Prairie Part 1” (46:20), and “Adventures on the Kansas Prairie Part 2” (38:37). These episodes deal with the challenges the Ingalls’ faced while homesteading on the prairie, including several encounters with Indians who are none to happy that people from the east are moving into their territory. The latter episodes are increasingly serious as the family faces danger from wild animals, uprising Indians, and finally American soldiers, who tell the Ingalls they must leave their homestead at the conclusion of the final episode. This disc also contains the memorable Christmas-on-the-prairie sequence so beloved from the book, where Mr. Edwards swims the river to help Santa Claus deliver presents to the two Ingalls’ girls. For some reason, baby Carrie is not featured in the miniseries at all—one of the few departures from the book series.

The cast of Little House on the Prairie are sure to encounter many comparisons to the original TV cast, but do a fine job of bringing originality to their roles. Standouts include Cameron Bancroft as Pa, who probably had the most difficult job of playing a role made famous by Michael Landon. He brings a youthful, capable quality to Pa that goes well with the more realistic settings of the series. Newcomer Kyle Chavarria is a fresh-faced Laura Ingalls who doesn’t have a lot of dialogue, but does have a sense of wonder as she surveys her new surroundings and has nice, sisterly chemistry with Mary (Danielle Ryan Chuchran). Mr. Edwards, played by Gregory Sporleder, is another standout; he steals every scene with eccentric good humor.

The Goodies

I would have been interested to learn about the filming locations, casting decisions, and adaptation of the book series, but I was disappointed to find there is not one goodie to be had on the Little House DVD. Not one “making of” featurette, “about the author” discussion, or even trivia game. Even the lowliest direct-to-DVD sequel contains some sort of bonus feature. I was disappointed, to say the least.

Audio, Video and Interface

The audio, video and interface on the DVD is pretty much what one might expect from a TV miniseries-to-DVD release: workmanlike and adequate. Nothing fancy in the interface department; just still photos with the score playing in the background, and very easy to navigate. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and is well done, especially with the quieter moments when the camera surveys the landscape with nothing but the sound of swishing prairie grass.

Final Evaluation

The main irritation of this DVD was in the lack of bonus materials. Anyone can Tivo or record a television show, so there is not a whole lot of incentive to purchase what one can record for free. However, even with the annoying lack of bonus materials, this miniseries is worth a look. And even if you are bristling at the very idea of someone trying to step into Michael Landon’s scuffed boots, consider adding this DVD to your Netflix queue. If nothing else, the makers of the miniseries tried a fresh perspective and a new emphasis on the hardships the pioneer families faced as they settled land few people had ever seen before. It may even inspire you to revisit the source of all the fuss; the cherished, timeless books that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote over 60 years ago.