Love Comes Softly
Encyclopedia
Love Comes Softly is a 2003 Christian
drama
television movie
set in the 19th century, based on a series of books by Janette Oke
. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel
in 2003. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr.
, and stars Katherine Heigl
as a young woman named Marty Claridge.
It is the first in a series of television movies made for Hallmark Channel
based on the books and produced for Hallmark by Larry Levinson Productions. The rest of the films to follow are: Love's Enduring Promise
(2004), Love's Long Journey
(2005), Love's Abiding Joy
(2006), Love's Unending Legacy
(2007), Love's Unfolding Dream
(2007), and Love Takes Wing
(April 4, 2009), and Love Finds a Home
(April 11, 2009), as well as two prequels, Love Begins
, Love's Everlasting Courage
(both 2011), and Love's Christmas Journey (November 5, 2011).
) has just moved out to the West with her husband Aaron Claridge (Oliver Macready), who dies shortly after. With no other options, she accepts the arrangement offered by widower Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff
), who offers to give her a place to stay for the winter and provides her with the fare for the wagon train heading back East in the spring. In exchange, they agree to get married, and he wants her to provide a maternal influence for his young daughter Missy (Skye McCole Bartusiak
). The two do not live together as husband and wife but keep separate quarters. Marty, while expecting her late husband's baby, is even more in need of a warm place to stay. Still, it is not an ideal arrangement for any of them, and at first Marty and Missie do not get along. Marty learns more about "Clark's God" than she ever dreamed, and as the Winter season passes, they all start to feel more like a family, and finally Marty and Clark come to realize they're in love.
In 2004 Dale Midkiff
won the Grace Award from MovieGuide for Most Inspirational Television Acting.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
set in the 19th century, based on a series of books by Janette Oke
Janette Oke
Janette Oke is a Canadian author and pioneer of inspirational fiction. Her books are often set in a pioneer time period and centered around female protagonists...
. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
in 2003. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon Jr.
Michael Landon, Jr. is an American actor, director, writer and producer.- Biography :Born as Michael Graham Landon, Landon is the son of the late actor Michael Landon and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. Michael is the brother of Christopher B...
, and stars Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
as a young woman named Marty Claridge.
It is the first in a series of television movies made for Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
based on the books and produced for Hallmark by Larry Levinson Productions. The rest of the films to follow are: Love's Enduring Promise
Love's Enduring Promise
Love's Enduring Promise is a 2004 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke.The film is the second in the "Love Comes Softly" series of television movies on Hallmark Channel that includes Love Comes Softly , Love's Long Journey , Love's Abiding Joy , Love's...
(2004), Love's Long Journey
Love's Long Journey
Love's Long Journey is a 2005 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr...
(2005), Love's Abiding Joy
Love's Abiding Joy
Love's Abiding Joy is a 2006 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and stars Erin Cottrell and Logan Bartholomew...
(2006), Love's Unending Legacy
Love's Unending Legacy
Love's Unending Legacy is a 2007 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on April 7, 2007. It was directed by Mark Griffiths and stars Erin Cottrell...
(2007), Love's Unfolding Dream
Love's Unfolding Dream
Love's Unfolding Dream is a Christian Drama and the sixth TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke and second to air in 2007. It originally aired on Hallmark Channel on December 15, 2007 and was produced for Hallmark by Larry Levinson Productions. It was directed by Harvey Frost...
(2007), and Love Takes Wing
Love Takes Wing
Love Takes Wing is a Christian drama and the seventh TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It aired on Hallmark Channel on April 4, 2009...
(April 4, 2009), and Love Finds a Home
Love Finds a Home
Love Finds a Home is a Christian drama film, the eighth and final installment based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It aired on Hallmark Channel on September 5, 2009. The film is based on the book Love Finds a Home by Janette Oke...
(April 11, 2009), as well as two prequels, Love Begins
Love Begins
Love Begins is the first of two prequels of the Love Comes Softly series. It premiered September 17, 2011 on The Hallmark Channel.-Differences from the book series:...
, Love's Everlasting Courage
Love's Everlasting Courage
Love's Everlasting Courage is a 2011 Christian-Drama television film that premiered October 1, 2011 on The Hallmark Channel. This film is the second prequel of the Love Comes Softly StarringWes Brown as ClarkMorgan Lily as MissyCheryl Ladd as IreneJulie Mond as Ellen Willow Geer as SarahTyler...
(both 2011), and Love's Christmas Journey (November 5, 2011).
Plot
Marty Claridge (Katherine HeiglKatherine Heigl
Katherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
) has just moved out to the West with her husband Aaron Claridge (Oliver Macready), who dies shortly after. With no other options, she accepts the arrangement offered by widower Clark Davis (Dale Midkiff
Dale Midkiff
Dale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
), who offers to give her a place to stay for the winter and provides her with the fare for the wagon train heading back East in the spring. In exchange, they agree to get married, and he wants her to provide a maternal influence for his young daughter Missy (Skye McCole Bartusiak
Skye McCole Bartusiak
-Life and career:McCole Bartusiak was born in Houston, Texas, where she lives today with her parents Raymond Donald Bartusiak and Helen McCole. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal school for her elementary education....
). The two do not live together as husband and wife but keep separate quarters. Marty, while expecting her late husband's baby, is even more in need of a warm place to stay. Still, it is not an ideal arrangement for any of them, and at first Marty and Missie do not get along. Marty learns more about "Clark's God" than she ever dreamed, and as the Winter season passes, they all start to feel more like a family, and finally Marty and Clark come to realize they're in love.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Katherine Heigl Katherine Heigl Katherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007... |
Marty Claridge |
| Dale Midkiff Dale Midkiff Dale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His... |
Clark Davis |
| Skye McCole Bartusiak Skye McCole Bartusiak -Life and career:McCole Bartusiak was born in Houston, Texas, where she lives today with her parents Raymond Donald Bartusiak and Helen McCole. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal school for her elementary education.... |
Missie Davis |
| Corbin Bernsen Corbin Bernsen Corbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych... |
Ben Graham |
| Theresa Russell Theresa Russell Theresa Russell is an American actress.-Biography:Russell was born Theresa Paup in San Diego, California, the daughter of Carole Platt and Jerry Russell Paup. She attended Burbank High School, but did not graduate. She married English film director Nicolas Roeg , in 1982... |
Sarah Graham |
| Oliver Macready | Aaron Claridge |
| Adam Loeffler | Clint Graham |
| Nick Scoggin | Reverend Johnson |
| Rutanya Alda Rutanya Alda -Life:Rutanya Alda was born as Rutanya Alda Skrastiņa in Riga, Latvia, the daughter of Vera , a businesswoman, and Jānis Skrastiņš, a poet... |
Wanda Marshall |
| Tiffany Amber Knight | Laura Graham |
| Jaimz Woolvett Jaimz Woolvett Jaimz Woolvett is a Canadian actor. He was born on April 14, 1967 in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. Woolvett's highest-profile role was The Schofield Kid, a near-sighted, aspiring gun-fighter in Clint Eastwood's Academy Award-winning Western Unforgiven . He has a younger brother, Gordon Michael... |
Wagon Train Scout |
Differences from the novel
- In the book "Love Comes Softly", Missie is a toddler, around 2 years old, whereas in the movie she is 9. Clark and Marty are also older in the film than they are depicted in the book.
- Marty's husband is named Clem in the novel, but is named Aaron in the film.
- The Grahams have a grand total of 13 (11 living, 2 deceased) children in the novel. Ben Graham was a widower with 4 children, and Sarah Graham was a widow with 3, one that died at 7 years old. They then had 6 together, one having died as a baby. This is mentioned in Chapter 11 of the book. In the film, they only have 4; Ben with two sons, Sarah with two daughters. Also, Sarah Graham's first name is not given in the novel. In it, She is referred to as Ma Graham. Laura is also said to be Sarah's daughter in the film, but in the novel, she is Ben's daughter.
- Marty names her baby Claridge Luke in the book, but he's named Aaron Luke in the Film.
Awards
The following people took home a Camie Award in 2003 for their part in the film:- Michael Landon Jr.Michael Landon Jr.Michael Landon, Jr. is an American actor, director, writer and producer.- Biography :Born as Michael Graham Landon, Landon is the son of the late actor Michael Landon and his second wife, Marjorie Lynn Noe. Michael is the brother of Christopher B...
(director/writer) - Cindy Kelley (writer)
- Janette OkeJanette OkeJanette Oke is a Canadian author and pioneer of inspirational fiction. Her books are often set in a pioneer time period and centered around female protagonists...
(original story) - Larry Levinson (executive producer)
- Robert Halmi Jr. (executive producer)
- Dale MidkiffDale MidkiffDale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
(actor) - Katherine HeiglKatherine HeiglKatherine Marie Heigl is an American actress and producer. She is possibly best known for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on ABC's Grey's Anatomy from 2005 to 2010, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Series in 2007...
(actress) - Skye McCole BartusiakSkye McCole Bartusiak-Life and career:McCole Bartusiak was born in Houston, Texas, where she lives today with her parents Raymond Donald Bartusiak and Helen McCole. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal school for her elementary education....
(actress)
In 2004 Dale Midkiff
Dale Midkiff
Dale Alan Midkiff is an American actor.-Early life:Midkiff was born in Chance, Maryland, the son of Joyce and Thomas Midkiff. He attended Edgewood High School near Baltimore. His first acting experience came playing Jack in a production of Jack and the Beanstalk for a local children's theater. His...
won the Grace Award from MovieGuide for Most Inspirational Television Acting.
External links
- Love Comes Softly Series site at Hallmark ChannelHallmark ChannelThe Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...