Book vs. Movie: Sarah, Plain and Tall
- Charity Harvey
- Jan 17
- 3 min read
This is an oldie but a goodie! The book, Sarah, Plain and Tall, is a classic. And for a very good reason - it's a great story! I read this book as a child and watched the film too. And I've got to admit, this is one of those rare times I will tell you that I actually love the movie a bit more than the book. Shocking, I know! Let's talk about the book first.
This book is a fast read for adults, but it deals with some pretty emotional stuff. The writing style makes it perfect for beginning independent readers, but the content is what makes it great for adults.
The story is told by Anna, who lives on a farm in the prairie with her dad and younger brother, Caleb. Their mother died many years ago, but now they will be getting a new mother - Sarah. Sarah comes from Maine; it's a sort of mail-order bride situation. Caleb has lots of questions about Sarah: "Will she be nice? Will she sing? Will she stay?" Throughout the story, we find out if the mysterious Sarah will indeed stay, as the family seems to fall in love with her. The Goodreads description sums it up best with this line, so I will quote them directly (you can go read their full description if you click on the link under the cover photo): Sarah, Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss, and love. (courtesy of Goodreads)
If you have a child who is starting to read by themselves, you should encourage them to check out this book! And if you have never read it before, you definitely should read it when they finish. Actually, if you have read it before and it has been many years, you should still read it again! And after that, you need to find the movie and watch it. Let's talk about the movie now! I will be ranting and raving and "fangirling" over the movie, because it is one of my favorites from my childhood.
It stars Glenn Close and Christopher Walken, who were absolutely perfect for their roles. This movie was made by Hallmark back in the day; it is part of their Hallmark Hall of Fame Collection. No offense to Hallmark now, but this movie was made back in the day when everything they made wasn't a "cookie cutter" story. They took a quick, simply written story and added a lot of depth and detail to it. The movie explores Sarah and Jacob's relationship a lot more, while still highlighting Anna and Caleb well.
The actors made me fall in love with the characters of Sarah and Jacob. Their relationship is an amazing thing to watch in the film. Sarah shows up with no knowledge of prairie life. At first, she keeps trying to bring some of Maine with her to the prairie. Caleb enjoys her sharing her past life, but Anna and Jacob want (and need) her to move on and enjoy where she is now.
Life on the prairie is tough, and Sarah finds it challenging to adjust. She also faces difficulties in gaining Anna's affection, as Anna is not yet ready to move on from her mother. Jacob is burdened with guilt over their mother's death, making him reluctant to open up to Sarah. Initially, it's evident that this is a business arrangement for him. I believe Walken took on a challenging role and made it unforgettable. Watching Sarah and Jacob fall in love shaped my early expectations of romance! (Not entirely, of course, but you get the idea!) The movie is as much a classic as the book. I don't want to reveal too much more, as I don't want to spoil the film if you haven't seen it yet. Regardless of age, this is a film the whole family should watch.
If you are in South Carolina, I know you can check out this DVD from your local library! If you have a library card in your county, you should be able to access SCLends and rent this DVD, because I have done that. I highly recommend that you check it out! Read the book, whether by yourself or with a child, and then watch the film together. I promise, you will not be disappointed. Happy reading!
