The Substitute Wife

I was captivated by this story because you don't see many stories like this. A woman is dying and finds someone to replace her to take care of her husband and children. Eventually the husband and the replacement start to care for each other and the wife approves. There is more to the story. Was sad and funny and very good story telling.

Why this movie isn't screened more often I can't understand. It was delicately and sensitively played by all the actors, and incorporated a gamut of emotions from comedy to pathos, but never becoming over-sentimental, gushy, or stodgy.

The problems of males "getting spliced" on the Prairies in the mid 19th century, must have been difficult to solve at any time considering there were about ten men to one woman. For a widower with a bunch of kids in tow it would have been virtually impossible, particularly if he was a sod-buster...the lowest of the low in farming circles.

This was beautifully and amusingly solved by the dying wife, by arranging impending nuptials between her soon to be bereaved husband and a whore looking for a way out of her present predicament.

The film is strikingly, if not lavishly photographed, has an intelligent well crafted script, which makes all the points it can out of a rather thin plot, and some lovely accompanying music to boot.

It may not appeal to others as much as it did to me, but it's well worth a watch, and I also think worthy of a place in anyone's library.

I had watched this film when it first came out and was left emotionally moved by it, so much so that when the opportunity arose to view it again came up i thought, yes why not! Lea Thompson played the wife who was dying. Loved and determination drove her to find someone to love and care for her husband and children when she was gone. Having loved someone deeply but being unable to be with them, yet being glad that someone else could be, I could relate how she would be driven by pure motives. The subject matter was dealt with in a realistic way and the acting was natural and drew me into the situation as an onlooker, being able to view the situation from each of the characters position. An excellent film, well worth the time taken to watch it!

I thought the movie was good and kept me watching it but I was very surprised when it has a PG-13 rating. I wouldn't want my grandchildren watching it. I thought that it was very similar to the other Hallmark movies with a similar plot but this movie actually came first and I think that is why the other movies were improved on from it. I believe that back in those days they would not have had allowed actions in front of the children such as was in this movie. I really felt, all in all, that the movie was heartwarming and kinda sweet although I wouldn't have done it that way, I don't care what the ways were. Nice movie for a lady to sit down with a cup of tea and watch, not sure that the husband would appreciate it.

this is its basic virtue - it is a different western. not only because the classic confrontations between men front to saloon are absent but for the delicate, seductive and touching answer for a basic question about the brave men . it is a comfortable film. and one who, with high care, gives a precise portrait of family life in prairie, with humor and tenderness, bitter scenes and using the poetry of small details. a film like a book from lost age. with the perfect resurrection of atmosphere and a form of romanticism who not becomes too sweet as great virtues. so, a refuge. or, just a great and profound love story.