SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL

US, 1991, 98 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, Christopher Bell.
Directed by Glenn Jordan.

Sarah Plain and tall is based on a celebrated children’s'/family novel by Margaret Mac Lachlan. It was adapted for the screen by the author and noted screenwriter Carol Sobieski (whose credits range from The Women's Room to Annie and Fried Green Tomatoes).

The film is set in 1910 in Kansas, a widower advertising for someone to manage his household. Sarah, plain and tall, comes from the east to take up the position. Welcomed by the little boy, not welcomed by the daughter, she is expected to conform to the expectations of the husband. She gradually transforms them and becomes an accepted part of the household and the area. The contrast between her and Maine Seacoast and her love for the water contrasting with the new world in which she found herself.

Glenn Close received and Emmy nomination for her sincere performance as Sarah. Christopher Walken is effective as the father, Jacob. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan, veteran of many strong telemovies.

1. Interesting and entertaining family film? A piece of Americana?

2. The film designed for the home television audience, for the wide family and children audience? The treatment of family, of manners in the period? The contrast with the present day?

3. The Maine locations, the contrast with Kansas and the open spaces? The period, decor and costumes? The musical score?

4. Jacob and his family, their life and the children growing up, the father having to look after them as well as his property? The advertisement, his telling the children? Sarah and her answering the letters, the arrival and Jacob being late? The ride home with him? His regulations, expectations? The demands on Sarah? Her response, Looking after the children, the house? Learning how to work on the farm? His grief for his wife, the visits to her grave? His daughters nightmares? The comparisons? Sarah's influence in the household. his singing? Going out - and people's perceptions of the relationship? The neighbours and their friendship? Celebrations, hard work? His reaction to Sarah driving into the town? Her stances? The tornado and its effect/ His having to learn from Sarah, come to grips with his loss, that his wife was not coming back? The bonding with Sarah and the future?

5. Sarah, her background in Maine, within the family, her brother? Wanting an opportunity to move to a new life? Answering the advertisement, buying the return ticket? Jacob late Sizing him up, her sense of independence? Her relationship with the children, Anna's wariness, Caleb and his welcoming of Sarah, playing with her? The cat and its place in the house? Anna and her resistance, Sarah going out of her way to be with the child, understand her? Telling her stories of her own memories and the death of her mother? The bad dreams? Anna's gradual mellowing and its affect on Sarah? The irony of the return ticket and Anna thinking she would leave? Society in the town, their gossiping? Sarah going out with Caleb, with Jacob, the dancing, dancing with Caleb? Her bringing music and song and dance into the household? Her learning the work, the contrast of the fields with the sea and her explaining this to the children? The sheep? Her cat and her devotion to it? The tornado and its effect, saving the children? The destruction of the house - and the need for re-building? Her strong talking with Jacob, trying to persuade him of the reality of his wife's death? The stances and the strong attitudes of each? Her going to the railway station - their pursuing her, her return - having sold her ticket? Her future with the family?

6. The portrait of the children, their bonds with each other, the memories of their mother? Kaleb and his joyfulness, the anticipation of Sarah's coming? Anna and her missing her mother? Her hostility towards Sarah, polite but antagonistic? Critical? The interaction of the boy and the girl, Caleb trying to influence her to like Sarah? Events in the house, at work? The singing - and Anna's gradual mellowing? The possibility of a family unit?

7. The neighbours, their friendship, arranged marriages succeeding? The people in the town and their attitude towards Jacob and Sarah?

8. Themes of family, deaths in the family, marriages of childhood sweethearts and the effect on the surviving parent? The affect on children? The step-mother and her having to make a new start? The possibilities of transformation? The humanity and hope of the film?