IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
A single New England woman responds to an advertisement by a Midwestern widower in which he asks for a bride to help him raise his two children.A single New England woman responds to an advertisement by a Midwestern widower in which he asks for a bride to help him raise his two children.A single New England woman responds to an advertisement by a Midwestern widower in which he asks for a bride to help him raise his two children.
- Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 1 win & 10 nominations total
Malgorzata Zajaczkowska
- Maggie Grant
- (as Margaret Sophie Stein)
Lawrence Moran
- Jedidiah
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
What a nice movie! In this day-and-age, a movie this low-key and simply nice is refreshing to see. It's almost shocking, especially with Christopher Walken, playing against type. He and Glenn Glose end up being an inspiring romantic couple.
What I think I enjoyed best was the wonderful cinematography. With all the beautiful rural scenery, it was pretty to see. It was also nice to see Walken play a role this sedate and a pleasure to see a modern film that featured well-mannered kids, not spoiled brats. In fact, there are no nasty people nor bad language is this film, either.
Unlike many films which call themselves "family-oriented," this one truly lives up to that billing. It's not anything super dramatic that will knock your socks off, but a pleasant, very nice low-key 98 minutes to kick back and relax watching.
What I think I enjoyed best was the wonderful cinematography. With all the beautiful rural scenery, it was pretty to see. It was also nice to see Walken play a role this sedate and a pleasure to see a modern film that featured well-mannered kids, not spoiled brats. In fact, there are no nasty people nor bad language is this film, either.
Unlike many films which call themselves "family-oriented," this one truly lives up to that billing. It's not anything super dramatic that will knock your socks off, but a pleasant, very nice low-key 98 minutes to kick back and relax watching.
"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a beautifully told story. It has a nice vibe to it. It grabs hold of you right away. It has a lot of emotion but it never gets sappy. I've never been a fan of Glenn Close. I could only take or leave her. But I have to admit, Close does a very good job in this movie. The rest of the cast is also very good, especially the children. "Sarah, Plain and Tall" never fails to hit the spot. I need to watch this one more often.
I can name a half a dozen reasons why I like the movie. The plot is good wholesome plot. This is a movie I can sit my children down and not worry about any bad words. It brings the past to life its like you are there. It shows what true love is all about . When you can go through all different things together and still be in love then you have it going on. You can feel the warmth and kindness Sarah shows toward the children.
If you haven'tseen it then I only have onething tosay RUN Don't WALK to your nearest video store.
If you haven'tseen it then I only have onething tosay RUN Don't WALK to your nearest video store.
Sarah,Plain and Tall was a great pleasure to watch,it was a simple story that was told,just as it should have been,simply.Sarah,almost a mailorder bride,comes to live with a widower and his two young children on the prairie and her life never is the same again.The story revolves around friendships formed,ideals changed and above all the importance of family.No character is a stereotype they are realistic people with their own shortcomings but are essentially good human beings with morals and integrity.Glenn Close and Christopher Walkin bring so many truths to their characters and the chemistry between them is real and heartfelt.A very special movie,great to watch with the family!
I remember reading the book, Sarah, Plain and Tall, as a small child, probably for school or something. In most cases, movies based on books are usually a let-down, but this movie, in my opinion, was even better than the book itself. It's a wonderful story of a young mail-order bride who travels from her home in Maine to the vast strangeness of undeveloped, prarie-town, Kansas. One of the things I really liked about this movie was that it didn't have any sticky-sweetness that is common in family films. Sarah, the main character, is far from perfect, and there is a constant battle-of-wills between her and Jacob. Probably the biggest conflict in the film, besides the fact that Sarah is extremely homesick, is that Jacob expects Sarah to be like his late wife--who seems to have been a quiet, gentle woman. Sarah is nice, but she is also stubborn and quick to speak her mind. She and Jacob have to come to terms with each other, over and over again. Jacob's character was well-written. He's a man trying to raise his family the best he knows how, but he can't seem to let go of his late wife. He blames himself for her death, and seems almost afraid to let his children remember her. He doesn't have much room in his heart for Sarah, but she barges in anyway, neatly disobeying him and breaking down the walls in his heart. The children were very good as well--Anna struggles with accepting Sarah, and her growing fondness towards her. Calab loves Sarah, simply because he is small and doesn't remember his real mother. I thought the story line was great, as was the actual casting. Glenn Close doesn't usually play such wholesome, family roles, but she actually pulled it off, which proves, of course, that's she's a terrific actress in any role. She was convincing as Sarah, and gave her a little added spice... Christopher Walken, also, was great as the father, who, I think, falls for Sarah without really realizing it. The children, played by Lexi Randell and Christopher Bell, fit snugly into their roles. The whole movie is a very touching family story. I give it ten stars, for a wonderful performance.
Did you know
- TriviaMovie writer, Patricia MacLachlan said that the story was based on a true life event from her family's history.
- Quotes
Sarah Wheaton: The past steps on the heels of the present whether you like it or not.
- ConnectionsEdited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
- SoundtracksCome all ye fair and tender ladies
Traditional American song
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall (#40.2)
- Filming locations
- Osage City, Kansas, USA(Interior of Home)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was La nouvelle vie de Sarah (1991) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer