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Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Courtnie Bull (Actor), J. Scott Bronson (Actor), Marcus Cole (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 352 ratings
IMDb6.0/10.0
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
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DVD
November 23, 2010 		—
1
—
— $22.47
Genre Drama/Television, Documentary/Biography
Format Multiple Formats, Color, Subtitled, Full Screen, NTSC
Contributor Cody Linley, Barbara Jane Reams, Patrick Fugit, Marco Perella, Walton Goggins, Catherine Wyler, Thomas Ian Griffith, Marc Menchaca, David Puttnam, Skye McCole Bartusiak, Christina Stojanovich, Mark Voges, Virginia Dare Paulin, Konstantin Selivanov, Richard Thomas, Chris Warner, Steven Anderson, Meredith Monroe, Marcus Cole, Alandra Bingham, Tess Harper, Haley McCormick, Rob Halverson, J. Scott Bronson, J Scott Bronson, Courtnie Bull, Joe Stevens, Charles Sanders, Heather Kafka, Lindsay Crouse See more
Language English
Number Of Discs 1

Product Description

Amidst the adventure, hardships and excitement of her teenage years on the Dakota prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder (Meredith Monroe) puts pen to paper and begins to document her extraordinary life. Uniquely told in two enthralling movies brought together on one DVD, this story is an honest portrayal of the many challenges and humble delights of the 19th-century frontier. During this time, Laura matures from young girl to woman, making sacrifices to help her family survive. She also meets her loving husband, Almanzo Wilder (Walton Goggins), and together with their daughter, Rose, they set off on their own pioneer adventure in Missouri. Inspirational, remarkable, and true, this heartwarming story is a fitting tribute to the beloved author and the legendary woman who has inspired generations.

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.56 x 5.38 x 7.55 inches; 0.01 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 15059441
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Marcus Cole
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Color, Subtitled, Full Screen, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 3 hours and 1 minute
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ November 23, 2010
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Courtnie Bull, J. Scott Bronson, Alandra Bingham, Rob Halverson, Meredith Monroe
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Catherine Wyler, David Puttnam
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Paramount
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0042RJWRY
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 352 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
352 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

E. Lombard
5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Prairie - True Story of Laura Ingalls
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2012
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I really loved this dvd as I collect everything about Laura Ingalls Wilder. The stories had more true parts than the orginal series of Little House on The Prairie. I thought Richard Thomas was excellent as Charles Ingalls and he looked more like the character described in the books. The actor who played Caroline was ok but she actually looked older than her husband. It is a shame they did not portray Mary and Laura more acurately - it would not have been difficult to colour their hair correctly as that was really important because it was constantly mentioned in the books as Laura often envied Mary her beautiful blond hair against her brown hair.
It is such a shame they cannot follow the books correctly at least most of the time! There were many really good parts of the actual story that were just left out and the time frame was so wrong in several parts. Also many characters were completely left out. It would have been better if they had had more episodes instead of trying to cram so much into just two episodes. But I still loved this dvd as it was very different to the other series which I also loved even though a lot of it was pure fiction.
I would love someone to make a film or series about the latter part of Laura's life when she went to San Francisco to stay with Rose. Also when she visited her sisters and one found out a lot more about what happened to the rest of her family.
Laura was a remarkable person and a true pioneer so the story of her and her family is well worth a lot more telling but in a more accurate way. I am disappointed I cannot find out more about what happened to Rose - her marriage failure - the loss of her son - how it came about that she had an adopted or godson who told a little aboout her life.
I have read all the history of her family (the maternal side) beginning in Scotland and it is really interesting.
5 people found this helpful
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Ruby P. Nichols
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Movie For Every True Laura Ingalls Wilder Fan
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2011
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If you love Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House series, you will love this movie! This is the true story of Laura's life with Almanzo, beginning with when they first met and continuing on with their struggles as a married couple trying to make a life for themselves. The writers did an excellent job of matching the screenplay to the books. I was pleasantly surprised to see someone finally tell Laura's story the way she would have wanted. The only thing I disliked was the actors and actresses cast to play the parts. Melissa Gilbert is the only one that could truly play Laura and Richard Thomas made an AWFUL Charles Ingalls. But the story line is excellent enough that you are able to overlook some mellow actors. If you are a true Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House fan, buy this movie! It will be money well spent and you will cherish the movie for the rest of your life.
11 people found this helpful
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Lady LiberTEA
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite re-enactment. Pair with the Documentary DVD for a great Gift Set!
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2017
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Richard Thomas at his best, the other actors remarkably like the real family photos, and Laura's daughter Rose movingly played by the youngest actress of "The Patriot," who left our world young.

Follow this late teen into relocating adult Laura movie with the LHOP documentary on Amazon too, and you'll want to give them as a set to others young and old for a new appreciation of our American heritage--why General MacArthur had it translated for the Japanese after WWII to better understand our Western culture Japan has incorporated into their ancient culture so well that their West-emulating Emperor would be pleased.
6 people found this helpful
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We3InTX
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Accurate!
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2018
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This 2 part series on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder is faithful to the real person and her story.

The only thing that bothers me is that they changed the name of Laura's mean School Teacher was in fact Manly's older sister - Elisa Wilder. But in this series, they change her name - I guess they had their reasons. But that's the only fault I have with this made for TV Movie Series. Truly worth buying!
10 people found this helpful
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Patty
4.0 out of 5 stars A Laura Ingalls Wilder Purist liked it.
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2013
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Ok so there are many inconsitencies in the movie with the books. However it is much closer to the Little House series than the dredfull TV show. I liked the chemistry between Laura and Almanzo and I thought Richard Thomas made a good Pa. There were several things that I did find hard to accept, such as the way laura was forced to teach school. She was never forced. I would have liked to seen the courtship of Laura and Almanzo played out better, but over all it was a good rendition.
4 people found this helpful
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Joanne M. Crupi
3.0 out of 5 stars I liked this movie
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2016
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I liked this movie . Granted it shouldn't have the true story in the title but I thought it followed the books just fine. Some of the reviews state that it wasn't true to her story but if you take out the measly little detail of Laura's hair color and her discrete romp with Almanzo on thier wedding day, this movie does follow the books. Laura does write that poem about Eliza Jane, they did have a hard winter of 1880, 1881. They did have to twist hay for fuel. Almanzo and Cap Garland did have to ride 20 miles out to retrieve wheat from a homesteader so the town didn't starve .Laura did have to teach and live with the Bouchie's. Mrs. Bouchie's was mean and horrible. Almanzo did come and pick her up in a snow storm so she could come home on the weekend. Laura and Almanzo did have dipthiria, their home did burn down, Almonzo had a hard timem after the dipthiria with his hand and walked with a limp the rest of his life they did move to Missouri .......and the list goes on. Richard Thomas did a great job as Pa, Meredith Monroe did a great job as Laura and also Walton Goggins did a great job as Almanzo

Disney made a movie called Little House on the Prairie and they totally left Carrie out of the story. This title clearly states based on the books, the tv show it self states the same thing. I loved this and everything about Laura Ingalls Wilder . I think it's a great title to add to any Laura Ingalls Wilder collection .
Everyone has thier own opinion but if you want the true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder you have to watch a documentary and or on the biography channel
30 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mr. J. P. Henstock
5.0 out of 5 stars DVD Beyond the Prairie - The true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2017
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The original TV series of "Little House on the Prairie" was great entertainment, but became less and less accurate compared to Laura Ingalls Wilder's books - and the facts. This DVD is different. It tells the truth about Laura and Almanzo's difficult first years of marriage and its disasters - Almanzo's illness; the house fire; and so on - and their final decision to leave Dakota and journey south. We see them arrive in Missouri and settle in to plant the apple orchard that would finally lead to prosperity. Experts on Laura Ingalls Wilder will know that some things are missed out, but it would have been impossible to include everything, and the essential facts are there for us to see. We see their daughter Rose facing difficulties at school - and the story of her disappearance and what followed. The TV series really was great entertainment but wandered far away from the books and the truth. This version is great entertainment too - and it tells the truth about Laura and Almanzo's life after marriage, in those difficult pioneering years.
4 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth Prazenik
5.0 out of 5 stars Little house on the Perry
Reviewed in Australia on April 16, 2019
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Great movie
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George Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, true story
Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2013
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This story, told in two parts, is the true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of The Little House on the Prairie books. She began to write the stories of her teen years when she and her family lived in South Dakota, and went on to write of her time with her husband, Almanzo Wilder and their daughter, Rose, when they farmed in Missouri.

The two movies realistically present the hardships and adventure that the pioneers on the prairies experienced as they travelled from the east to the west. We were drawn into the emotional joy and sadness portrayed not only in Laura's life but in the lives of all the pioneers who gave themselves to farming and ranching and settling the prairies. They paid a tremendous price.

Laura's stories put faces to some of the courageous band of men, women and children who endured unpredictable weather and much physical and emotional suffering in order to bring the prairies into what we know and benefit from today. The production was very well done. The acting was very good. Both movies were so enjoyable I could forgive the application of bright, red lipstick on Meredith Monroe, who played Laura, and the miscasting of Rose, who was transformed from a blond, blue-eyed child to a brown haired, brown-eyed teenager. Good family viewing with some explanation given to pre and early teens.
8 people found this helpful
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tegest
5.0 out of 5 stars surprenant
Reviewed in France on July 1, 2013
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Cette version suite à la série surprend dans sa différence... très beau film mais qui démarre en pleine adolescence des deux filles Ingalls. Une autre vue moins romancée de la série et certainement plus proche du livre. Des acteurs parfait un grand moment de cinéma à part
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Geoff
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movies
Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2021
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These movies were quite well done and follow Laura Ingles Wilder's real life more accurately to her story than Little House on the Prairie. If you are a fan I highly recommend picking up a copy if you can find one.
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