The Awakening Land

Elizabeth Montgomery gave a surprisingly impressive performance in this story from a rarely covered period of US history, back when the edge of the American frontier was just over the Appalachians. In the unlikely event that this is ever shown again or otherwise becomes available, don't miss it... and let me know so I can see it again.

The Awakening Land was an excellent movie with an all star cast. Elizabeth Montgomery played her part with grace and Hal Holbrook was very convincing as the Solitary. The cast and performance was award winning. The time frame was neither to short or too long. Each sequence was well covered. The movie's setting was absolutely beautiful. The storyline was strong and very heartwarming. I have watched the Awakening Land about 5 times and have loved it each and every time. It's story is clean and depicts in such a wonderful way the struggles of early pioneer life and the triumph over adversity. The movie is full of love and adventure. It was a pleasure following Sayard and Portus through out their lives and the lives of their family and friends and how they all succeeded in what they came to this land to do, make a new and better life. I put The Awakening Land right up there with Lonesome Dove. The Awakening Land is brilliant as were it's characters.

This mini series was based upon a series of books, The Trees, The Fields and The Town, by Conrad Richter, who also wrote A Light in the Forest. I am in the process of re-reading them, and I 'see' many of the scenes I remember from the show.

This mini series was also one of my favorites, I keep wishing that it would be released on Video/DVD.

Elizabeth Montgomery did a good job of playing "Saird", the woodsy who was responsible for building a town. Hal Holbrook was believable as the Solitary. What surprised me was reading that William Macy played Will Beagle, the Bound Boy.

In vain, I keep checking to see if someone has had the intelligence to put this out on DVD......I would buy it in record time. I absolutely love this movie and am right now in the process of re-reading the books (The Trees, The Fields and The Town) for the 5th time...and will probably re-read them every two years or so - that's how good they are. The miniseries pretty much echoed the books and was a real treat. I can't believe I missed it when it was telecast again the early 90's. Elizabeth Montgomery was wonderful - completely believable as Sayward and made me a fan of hers for her all too short life. I come from "the hills of Pennsylvania" which I used to "run" as a child so felt a connection.

Holly Michaels

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.