O Pioneers! (1992 TV Movie) User Reviews (15)

Nice attempt, but it falls a little short

[paulwbakersf · 6/10 · 6 August 2013]

I would refer readers of this review to the review written by Steve Skafte in this review forum. He has pretty much nailed the movie in his review and I agree with most of what he has to say.

However, I would add the following. Heather Graham's struggle with the role of young Alexandra entails more than just the written dialog. She also struggles with a Swedish dialect (as to other characters). It's too bad because she really looks like she could be a young Jessica Lange. I would add that Reed Diamond's performance as Emil seems stilted to me. Maybe that is just the dialog, as Steve Skafte suggests, but I really think it's an acting problem. These two aren't the only actors that fall short.

To the praise of Jessica Lange, I would add significant praise for Anne Heche as Marie. She really brings this role to life and you will see no issues with her dialog. Her performance alone makes the love between Marie and Emil believable.

Now, for the spoiler. If you haven't seen the movie, don't read this part!!! The story of Emil and Marie is beautifully done and when they finally consummate their love, great tension is generated as her husband goes through a series of actions that lead to his taking up his rifle. This part is very, very well done. And when he kills the lovers, it is a perfect tragic moment.

I wish I could give this movie seven stars instead of six, but the great photography, locations, directing, music, and the performances of Lange and Heche cannot make amends for the poorly written dialog and the other unprofessional performance issues that keep this from being a great film.

I won't ride with the dead.

[SteveSkafte · 7/10 · 4 September 2011]

There are several very good points to "O Pioneers!" that are partially drowned under miscasting and stilted dialogue. Heather Graham (who plays the younger version of Jessica Lange's character) is the worst of the lot. Even the more talented actors sometimes struggle to get the words out. There are far too many cases throughout where unnecessarily complicated lines are forced to be delivered in a way that is anything but natural. It's too bad that this is the only major flaw, because the constant recurrence of the issue is the only thing that keeps "O Pioneers!" from being a great film.

Jessica Lange is certainly the best thing here. The emotion and power with which she imbues her character is palpable. David Strathairn, who is one of my favorite actors, is given much less to work with. He tries his best, but the character is written too coldly to truly come to life. The absolute stand-out performance, however, is that of Tom Aldredge. His depiction of Ivar is amusing, alive, deep and absolutely human. Most of the other actors live up to standard, save for the aforementioned dialogue issues.

Glenn Jordan directs quite nicely, but it's less his sensibility than the eye of cinematographer Dick Bush that makes "O Pioneers!" so visually appealing. Bush captures a washed-out world of warm-pale greens, blues, and sepia tones that fill you with a sense of longing and overwhelming calm. This film has something in common both visually and thematically with Jordan's film of the previous year, "Sarah, Plain and Tall". That movie is ultimately more consistent and satisfying that this one. I couldn't say there's any reason for me to watch "O Pioneers!" a second time, but it was a meaningful experience in spite of the flaws. It has much to say about contentment and the search for home. You should gain something from it.

You missed the culture

[rreagan-2 · 5 October 2004]

Scandinavians are, as a rule, stoic -- I think the previous viewer missed that dynamic. That, and for a woman to have achieved success during the time this woman did was quite an accomplishment. I guess we just want more drama or shoot-em-up in our films these days, but having run a farm and done so well seems a task that eludes many in our modern world.

Whoever didn't like this film most likely was sorely out of touch with the culture at the time it was set, as well as that of the ethnic group. Jessica's character reminds me very much of someone in my own family, and her accomplishments, against often insurmountable odds, is nothing short of spectacular.

Sorry it's not exciting enough for some. The real world is not made up of alien invasions and ghetto trauma. It's a feel-good film of a culture that worked hard and succeeded. I, for one, appreciate it.

Could Have Been Much Much Better

[xenolambrose · 1/10 · 5 April 2024]

My wife and I thoroughly enjoy watching Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. For example, we really loved Glenn Close in "Sarah, Plain and Tall," "Skylark," and John Corbett, Jessy Schram, Logan Huffman, Moira Kelly, and Cynthia Wathros in "A Smile As Big As The Moon." While the Performances of Jessica Lange and David Strathairn was superb, the senseless Murder of Marie and Emil by Frank made this but a PG rated feature. If this is rated PG, why would the studio ever represent two young people being shot to Death, showing them grasping at each other as they slowly die? This should have been rated PG13. Little children watch these Hallmark Hall of Fame movies; at the very least think of the children...

Quietly epic tale of one woman's love of the land

[budikavlan · 10/10 · 14 August 2002]

Alternately tragic and triumphant story of Alexandra Bergson's love of the sometimes unwelcoming farmland of the southern Nebraska plains. Captures well the quiet tone of Willa Cather's best work--had she seen this, she might have rethought her (evidently ignored) demand in her will that her work not be adapted. All the performances are excellent, including early performances by Reed Diamond and Anne Heche as the doomed lovers Emil and Marie and one more in a lifetime of stealthily perfect turns by David Strathairn. But the whole enterprise depends on the broad, strong shoulders of Jessica Lange's Alexandra. Looking more than ever before like a beautiful, lanky, long-necked mare of a woman, Lange's spirit expands to fill the wide-open landscape. Don't expect a thriller when this comes up, but if you see it, you'll remember it forever.

Very disappointing adaptation of a great novel

[my_superstar73 · 4/10 · 9 November 2006]

I watched the film right after I finished Willa Cather's novel. The book is very beautifully written and I highly recommend reading it. But the movie is a failure in my opinion. Although Lange and Aldrich are brilliant in their acting, but the rest of the characters not only are chosen improperly, but also are pretty disappointing in their acting. The portrayal of Marie and Frank are not accurate enough and do not explain things such as why Alexandra wanted to help Frank get out of jail. The scene of the murder was very generically done, especially after one reads that same scene in Cather's description. In other words I would like to highly encourage the reading of the novel itself, but beware of the disappointing film. Do not waste your time on it.

MUST see, genealogically speaking!

[cooknena · 10/10 · 26 June 2003]

Awesome story of how a woman takes over the ranch aft her father dies. Looking at it from a genealogical viewpoint of a genealogist's....I am so glad they made this excellent film. Stories such as this came from our ancestors for sure as such ocurrences actually did happen very often. Women were left to run many outfits when the men died or went wandering....they had the gusto, fortitude and fight to do it, thats why we are here today, because of these courageous ancestors. Nebraska is a gorgeous state and the scenery is truly depictive of it as I lived there. The culmination of the two childhood friends marrying, even though she was 4yrs his senior...happened all too often back in those days. Its a very emotional, heart beating film and well done. Jessica Lange is such a wonderful actress and did an excellent job in this film as did David Strathairn.

For people with insomnia ...

[Ratspinkie · 4/10 · 22 September 2005]

I had never read the novel before so I was coming into this movie cold. While I understood that the basis for the story was about a woman's learning to love and respect the land, I nonetheless found it to be quite the little snoozefest. Thanks much for tipping me off that it was faithful to Willa Cather's novel (which I won't be buying anytime soon unless I happen to go through another bout of insomnia).

For a much more entertaining movie about a woman's love for the land, pop Gone With the Wind into your DVD player. Give me the emotional Irish any day of the week next to the "stoic" Swedes. It actually took a hotheaded German capping off some rounds into a couple of lovers before anyone expressed a little emotion.

What truly surprised me was how actors as talented as Jessica Lange and David Strathairn generated absolutely no chemistry together. I'm guessing that Strathairn's character, Carl, the sensitive, caring artist was actually gay trying to pass for straight. That would certainly explain their gentle platonic friendship.

If Willa Cather's book struck a cord with you then so will this film.

[Forest Floor · 2 May 2001]

I have yet to see a film that follows its original version so well. More often than not books and movies of the same story, just don't match up. In this case the people are just as alive and able to pull at your heart strings either source and follow each other to perfection. Some of the actors are in a new genre than what we are used to seeing them in, but it all adds to a wonderful effect when they pull off their parts so well. This movie captures Willa Cather's book well and I highly reccommend it to any who love her stories. This is a wonderful film!

a wonderful memory of my young years on the prairie

[rgnewell · 10/10 · 28 September 2007]

I grew up near Red Cloud, Nebraska the home of Willa Cather, author of the O'Pioneers novel. In coming of age I fell in love twice with girls like Jessica Lange. In watching this movie for a second time, I have now fallen in love four times. Most people today associate love with sex, drink, and having fun. They miss the whole point. It is like bringing a city slicker to the prairie and wondering why they just can not see the beauty and joy of nature. If you can not get joy from wheat waving in the wind, you will miss the whole point of laying in it with someone wonderful. This movie brought back these feelings. I even thought wouldn't it be wonderful to have lunch with Jessica Lange to ask what the land taught her.

Jessica Lange Soars as the Older Alexandra Bergstrom

[Sylviastel · 8/10 · 2 September 2018]

Jessica Lange went from the big screen to the small screen with her performance here. She is just excellent here as she is anywhere else including stage as well. Jessica Lange played the elder Alexandra Bergstrom. A young Heather Graham played the young Alexandra. She did an excellent job. Anne Heche had left "Another World" for other opportunities. This film highlighted her talent as an actress. David Straitharn played the elder Carl Lindstrom, the love of Alexandra's live. The film is kind of slow at times. The film was made for television. The ending of the film was a surprise since I haven't read the novel.

wonderful adaptation

[metalback · 10/10 · 25 June 2007]

Such a stunningly beautiful film, lovely score, Jessica Lange and David Strathairn are wonderful as Carl and Alexandra. Any fan of Willa Cather's novels will be pleased at how well they have kept to the story of O Pioneers,I loved every minute of it. I wish everyone who sought to adapt a novel for screen {big or small] would do it with the same care and attention to detail that this production shows I thought the film was well cast, the actors look as they are described in the book.I think this film would appeal to a wide range of tastes and interests, beautiful scenery, beautiful people, wonderful love stories. This is one movie that I watch often.

American Classic

[susanjmaki · 2 June 2004]

I was looking at some other reviews of this and felt pressed to say, it rally was pretty good. Criticisms that it was predictable are a bit unfounded when you remember that this was based on Willa Cather's novel.She wrote it first. I enjoyed the production. It talked about how people make decisions that have consequences beyond their expectations. The affair between Marie and Emil is more about Marie's decision to marry who and when she did. These things could happen today. Still, the slice of life in for American settlers is what has always drawn me to Willa Cather's works. I think Hallmark's depiction is quite solid. Jessica Lange was a good choice for the lead. Her story could have been that of so many others. Nowadays we forget that this country was settled by people faced with different choices and harder lives than we face today.

I loved it

[jewelch · 9/10 · 9 February 2021]

O Pioneers!" is a screen adaptation of Willa Cather's novel set in Nebraska at the turn of the century. It was originally shown on television as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series.

Jessica Lange plays Alexandra Bergson, a competent and courageous woman whose dying father leaves her control of his failing farm. Over the years through shrewd management and persistence, she prospers. She has a mystical relationship with the land, a reverent approach she shares with a bare-footed hermit (Roberts Blossoms) who becomes her lifelong adviser and friend.

Filming in Nebraska, producer and director Glenn Jordan makes the prairie an important character in the drama. In one the most visually spectacular scenes, a group of Catholic men ride out in procession to escort a visiting bishop back to the church; it's a welcome today's clerics would certainly appreciate! O Pioneers! in many vivid and affecting ways proclaims the bounty which comes to those who respect nature and nurture it like a child. Yes I recommend it James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/8/2021

Not emotional enough

[MLDinTN · 1 April 2003]

I was expecting a better movie. It just wasn't that touching, and the story was not entertaining. And the scenery wasn't that great. Heather Graham uses a horrible accent. I guess the plot of this film was a young Alexandra takes over her family's land when their dad dies. She tells her brothers they will stick together and the farm will grow. Cut to 20 years later, and we saw how the farm has grown. They grow a lot and have a big house. A subplot involves the younger brother, Emil, who falls for a married woman. Tragedy ensues, surprise, surprise! The end of the film deals with Alexandra getting together with an old friend. So, she has a life other than the farm. Sounds really exciting, uh? Not!

FINAL VERDICT: I don't recommend this because it is too boring.