The Ballad of Lucy Whipple

An odd combination of actors - glenn close, meat loaf. And such a different role for close, after fatal attraction, dangerous liaisons, or big chill. When lucy's family heads to the hills of california to cook for the gold miners, she hates everything about it. Ma whipple (close) makes her learn lessons the hard way. And as much as ma wants to be independent, they come to rely on the miners as friends. Like the traveling preacher (robert pastorelli), or rattlesnake jake (meat loaf). Friendships, hardship, loss. Good neighbors, not so good neighbors. Lessons of the old west. It's a very simple tale, possibly aimed at a younger audience. Or maybe a hallmark movie. Like a 90 minute little house on the prairie. Some deus ex machina, when lucy gets advice from a dead relative. It's okay. Directed by jeremy kagan. Story by karen cushman. Pastorelli was also eldin on murphy brown, but overdosed in 2004 at age 49.