Movie #3397 ........................."Little House on the Prairie: Look Back to Yesterday 1983" (stand alone movie)

 Movie #3397 "Little House on the Prairie:  Look Back to Yesterday 1983" (stand alone movie)  Disclaimer --- I am a HUGE Little House fan --- in fact, I remember one particular night I was running scenes late into the evening and had told Dave that I was missing Mary getting married on "Little House" (this was before easily taping or DVRing) and after rehearsal, he surprised me by setting up the t.v. so I could watch it before I drove home.  I felt like I was one of the family I had watched the show so many times  and cried through it so much.  But as I got older and was busy teaching and coaching, I missed quite a bit of the last couple of years.    I would just catch a show once in a while after Michael Landon left, and although I made sure to watch the end movie, I had gaps in my memory about the show.  I now  own the whole set of DVD's, and I plan to sit down and watch them in order some day, but that some day hasn't occurred yet.  One thing I always wondered about is   what happened to Albert, the adopted brother.  Well, the other day, I was going through channels and noticed there was a movie just on Albert , and while I was watching, I googled this movie and  discovered that Landon ended the show with 3 stand alone movies --- I had seen the very end, but not the other two.  Well, this was one of them so I took the time to watch it and cry through most of it.  I looked at some critiques on line about this particular movie, the first of the three, and learned quite a bit about how close the actor who played Albert was to Michael Landon and how Landon wanted to finish his story.  There is a controversy about the end and how the Little House series leaves Albert.  After watching this movie,   I think Landon did end it the way he did (up in the air somewhat) with the open door idea that the actor who played Albert might continue the role some day.  If that's the case, what a way to go...in the loving hands of a caring director.  This is also considered one of "the best" in the series shows with an outstanding quiet moment at the very end  ---- nothing said in words but so much in action and emotion.  Wow! I'd give this a 5 out of 5 and recommend you see it some time.  

"LITTLE HOUSE:  LOOK BACK TO YESTERDAY"      1983    2 hours    

Albert Quinn Ingalls wants to be a doctor.  But soon he discovers he is fatally ill.  He decides to spend the rest of his life in Walnut Grove.  Meanwhile, children from school are preparing for their traditional climbing of the mountain.

Director:  Victor French

Writers:  Vince Gutierrez, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Actors:  Melissa Gilbert, Matthew Labyorteaux, Michael Landon, Victor French