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The Waltons
S5.E16
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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

The Elopement

  • Episode aired Jan 13, 1977
  • TV-G
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
148
YOUR RATING
Richard Thomas and Joe Conley in The Waltons (1972)
DramaFamilyRomance

The forestry student who previously visited Waltons Mountain (in "The Competition") now returns, and asks Erin to marry him.The forestry student who previously visited Waltons Mountain (in "The Competition") now returns, and asks Erin to marry him.The forestry student who previously visited Waltons Mountain (in "The Competition") now returns, and asks Erin to marry him.

  • Director
    • Harry Harris
  • Writers
    • Earl Hamner Jr.
    • Hindi Brooks
  • Stars
    • Richard Thomas
    • Ralph Waite
    • Michael Learned
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    148
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Harry Harris
    • Writers
      • Earl Hamner Jr.
      • Hindi Brooks
    • Stars
      • Richard Thomas
      • Ralph Waite
      • Michael Learned
    • 1User review
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Richard Thomas
    Richard Thomas
    • John-Boy Walton
    Ralph Waite
    Ralph Waite
    • John Walton, Sr.
    Michael Learned
    Michael Learned
    • Olivia Walton
    • (as Miss Michael Learned)
    Ellen Corby
    Ellen Corby
    • Esther Walton
    • (credit only)
    Will Geer
    Will Geer
    • The Grandfather
    Jon Walmsley
    Jon Walmsley
    • Jason Walton
    Mary Beth McDonough
    Mary Beth McDonough
    • Erin Walton
    • (as Mary Elizabeth McDonough)
    Eric Scott
    Eric Scott
    • Ben Walton
    David W. Harper
    David W. Harper
    • Jim-Bob Walton
    Kami Cotler
    Kami Cotler
    • Elizabeth Walton
    Joe Conley
    Joe Conley
    • Ike Godsey
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    Earl Hamner Jr.
    • The Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as Earl Hamner)
    David Clarke
    David Clarke
    • Abel Bingley
    Merie Earle
    • Maude Gormley
    David Hooks
    • Andrew Farrell JP
    Ruth Manning
    • Mrs. Farrell
    Michael O'Keefe
    Michael O'Keefe
    • Chad Marshall
    Hank Stohl
    • Radio Announcer
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Harry Harris
    • Writers
      • Earl Hamner Jr.
      • Hindi Brooks
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    7.4148
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    Featured reviews

    4timmcd-84202

    Overacting and dumb looks

    Michael O'Keefe returns to Waltons Mountain in all his hammy acting glory as Chad Marshall, the forestry student we first saw in the season 4 episode "The Competition" with an eye on marrying Erin. "THIS IS MYYYYY LAAAAAAAAND," he screeches like a bizarre maniac when he shows Erin the plot of land he plans to build his house on. Erin couldn't be more thrilled, and the viewer couldn't be more bewildered at who would want to marry this insane, bellowing person. As the title of the episode gives away, their marriage plans are not approved by John and Olivia (an unintentionally hilarious scene thanks to Chad's slack-jawed reaction throughout) and they plan their elopement with predictable results. The secondary storyline treats us to Jason ineptly running Godsey's store while Ike's away, allowing shrieking, addled Maude Gormley to run up a big debt. Thankfully she's done a bunch of awful bird paintings which she sells (really?) to settle her bill.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
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    Family
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the narration at the end of the Season 4 episode "The Competition" (where Chad first appeared), it is stated that the family never saw Chad again.
    • Goofs
      When 2 pigeons are seen outside Maude Gormley's window, the incorrect sound of Mourning Doves cooing is heard.
    • Quotes

      Narrator: [narration as John 'John Boy' Walton, Jr. reading from his journal] Of all the people whose lives touched ours on Waltons Mountain, my sister Erin remembers most vividly a young forestry student who visited us briefly in the summer of 1936. He was her first love. In the spring of 1937, with the blossoming of the dogwood, Chad Marshall returned.

    • Soundtracks
      I've Got A Crush On You
      Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

      Sung by Michael O'Keefe to music on the radio while dancing with Erin

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 13, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Hallmark Channel
      • INSP Television Network
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 20, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Lorimar Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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