Sarah, Plain and Tall (film)

*Sarah, Plain and Tall*
Sarah, Plain and Tall
	Video release poster
Based on	Sarah, Plain and Tall; by Patricia MacLachlan
Screenplay by	Patricia MacLachlan; Carol Sobieski;
Directed by	Glenn Jordan
Starring	Glenn Close; Christopher Walken;
Composer	David Shire
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	William Self; Glenn Close;
Producer	Glenn Jordan
Cinematography	Mike Fash
Editor	John Wright
Running time	98 minutes
Production companies	Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions; Self Productions; Trillium Productions;
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	February 3, 1991

Sarah, Plain and Tall is an American drama television film that premiered on CBS on February 3, 1991, as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series. It is directed and produced by Glenn Jordan from a teleplay by Patricia MacLachlan and Carol Sobieski, based on the book of the same name by MacLachlan. It stars Glenn Close, who also serves as an executive producer, and Christopher Walken. It tells the story of a Maine spinster who goes to Kansas in the early 1900s in response to a widower's newspaper advertisement seeking a wife.^[1]

The film was nominated for nine Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special and Miniseries, winning one for its editing. It also received two Golden Globe Award nominations, for Best Miniseries or Television Movie and Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie for Close. It was followed by two sequels, Skylark and Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End.

Plot

The story is set in Kansas in 1910. Jacob Witting is a widowed farmer who is still saddened by the death of his wife, Katherine, during childbirth six years before. Since then, the task of taking care of his farm and two children, Anna and Caleb, is too difficult for him to handle alone. He advertises in the newspaper for a mail-order bride. Sarah Wheaton of Maine responds describing herself as "plain and tall". She travels to Kansas to become his wife.

Upon arriving, Sarah proves to have good sense, an interest in helping with even the most physically demanding chores, and a quiet, warm personality. But she grows homesick because miles and miles of Kansas farmland prove no substitute for Maine's ocean vistas. She is under no obligation to marry Jacob and is free to leave if she so desires; much of the story's suspense depends on whether or not she will decide to stay.

Cast

Glenn Close as Sarah Wheaton
Christopher Walken as Jacob Witting
Lexi Randall as Anna Witting
Margaret Sophie Stein as Maggie Grant
Jon DeVries as Matthew Grant
Christopher Bell as Caleb Witting
James Rebhorn as William Wheaton
Woody Watson as Jess Stearns
Betty Laird as Mrs. Parkley
Marc Penney as Ticket Agent
Kara Beth Taylor as Rose

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.^[2] John J. O'Connor of The New York Times praised the story for "the kind of clean, simple line that television handles most skillfully", but opined that it "proceeds charmingly to a conclusion that is far from surprising." O'Connor concluded his review by writing, "Sarah, Plain and Tall delivers an affecting portrait of that rare phenonmenon in popular mythology: the good stepmother."^[1] Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret News stated that the film "deals with emotions - love, loss, loneliness, yearning - on a very mature level" and called it "a television treasure."^[3] Patricia Brennan of The Washington Post described it as "a beautifully filmed story set at the turn of the century in the Kansas farmlands."^[4]

Audience viewership

According to Nielsen ratings, the filmwas the top-rated program of the week, attracting viewers in about 21.5 million homes.^[5]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
1991	43rd Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special and Miniseries	Glenn Close, Glenn Jordan, William Self, Edwin Self	Nominated	^[6]
		Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special	Christopher Walken	Nominated
		Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special	Glenn Close	Nominated
		Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or a Special	Glenn Jordan	Nominated
		Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or a Special	Patricia MacLachlan, Carol Sobieski	Nominated
		Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special (Single Camera Production)	John Wright	Won
		Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special	Robert W. Glass Jr., Jacob Goldstein, Grover B. Helsley, Richard Rogers	Nominated
		Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special	Van Broughton Ramsey	Nominated
		Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special	Robert Checchi, Ed Wittstein	Nominated
1992	49th Golden Globe Awards	Best Miniseries or Television Movie	Sarah, Plain and Tall	Nominated	^[7]
1992	49th Golden Globe Awards	Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie	Glenn Close	Nominated	^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b O'Connor, John J. (February 1, 1991). "TV Weekend; An Independent Spirit on the Prairie". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ "Sarah, Plain and Tall". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ Pierce, Scott D. (February 1, 1991). "'SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL' IS A TV TREASURE". Deseret News. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ Brennan, Patricia (February 3, 1991). "'SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL'". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ Margulies, Lee (February 6, 1991). "TV RATINGS : 'Plain and Tall'...and First". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ "Sarah, Plain And Tall Hallmark Hall Of Fame". Television Academy. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
^ "Sarah, Plain and Tall". Golden Globes. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

External links

[nytimes-1] O'Connor, John J. (February 1, 1991). "TV Weekend; An Independent Spirit on the Prairie". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[Rotten_Tomatoes-2] "Sarah, Plain and Tall". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[3] Pierce, Scott D. (February 1, 1991). "'SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL' IS A TV TREASURE". Deseret News. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[4] Brennan, Patricia (February 3, 1991). "'SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL'". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[5] Margulies, Lee (February 6, 1991). "TV RATINGS : 'Plain and Tall'...and First". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[6] "Sarah, Plain And Tall Hallmark Hall Of Fame". Television Academy. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

[7] "Sarah, Plain and Tall". Golden Globes. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

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