To put many previous posters out of their misery, I'm happy to say that this magnificent mini series is now available on DVD. It is not cheap, but for something which will be watched over and over again, it is worth it.
I have had it on VHS tape (complete with commercials) since it was first shown and have watched it whenever I want to recall the winter nights when we would curl up in front of the fire and wallow in a few nights of great TV.
The series beautifully recreated what must have been a hard life for the early pioneers as they pushed the frontier further and further west. I particularly loved the 18th century dialogue and the rustic frolicking at the wedding of Sayward and "the hostile", after the failure to marry him off to an available spinster. the storyline which saddened me the most was that of the teacher, a refined and educated woman who fell in love with the only educated man in whom she had any contact with. How desperately lonely her life must have been.
The lovely songs, although few, added greatly to the atmosphere. They sure don't make them like this any more.
