CENTURY CITY, Calif., September 16, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Hollywood portrayal of men in ever more negative characters has a counter point in the new video/DVD release of “Love Comes Softly” by Fox Home Entertainment which hit video stores Tuesday.
Written, directed and co-produced by Michael Landon Jr., the film based on the best selling novel by famed Christian novelist Janet Oke, presents a man of faith who amidst the struggles and hardships of 19th century living on the great American plains, remains steadfast in his faith and constant in prayer. The film is also notable in that it presents the sentiment of love as flowing from commitment and perseverance, rather than from the tired depiction of lust at first sight. The story follows a woman as she is struck by tragedy with the untimely death of her husband as they were looking to set up a home in the American West. Left alone with no money and no way to return home, she reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience to a widower who is raising a daughter by himself.
Oke notes that she created the character of the widowed father based partly on Michael Landon, Sr. Without that knowledge, Landon Jr. took to writing the screen play based on Oke’s book out of a fascination for the father figure. “Definitely the character of Clark – has goodness. We’re slightly cynical these days, maybe rightfully so, but when I read the story, I just loved this man. I loved the way he handled things. That’s what drew me to the project,” says Landon Jr. Winner of the Character and Morality in Entertainment (Camie) award, and boasting the highest ratings ever for a movie on the Hallmark Channel, ‘Love Comes Softly’ was most popular among female consumers 25-54 and is reminiscent of the quality family entertainment of “Little House on the Prairie.” Skye Mccole Bartusiak, who plays Missie, the 10-year-old daughter of the widower steals the show with a commanding performance. Jhw