Synopsis
Experiences of a pioneer family on their journey from Illinois to the Midwestern plains.
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 10 minutes
- Collection
- Prelinger Archives
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- U.S. History: Westward expansion
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★ · Thoughful Pioneers · PRG · 2005-02-28
Made when it was, this film could easily have been inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder's pioneer books for children. The film features a fiddle playing 'Pa', a staid mother and two quiet children venturing across the plains to start a new life living in a sod house. Their only contact with people are a couple of friendly neigbours, a belligerent cowboy and a travelling minister. At first glance the acting seems rather wooden but actually, whether by design or accident, their demeanor accurately reflects the reserved, thoughtful outlook that was encouraged in the late 19th century. Recommended…
★★★ · Teacher in the classroom · espinosa_roger · 2003-01-08
Students like the film, we use it with the ecourse and online testing I built for US History using CA standards.
★★★ · Ever see "The Piano"? · Bill T. · 2004-02-20
A documentary about a family moving out to California to start a new life on the plains. Going there, they meet a happy go lucky couple (which was, according to this film, the norm) some cowboys and other people who just can't wait to meet their new neighbors. I was surprised at how soft spoken the family were, almost reserved. The wife in this film looks totally opressed, like this life was the only choice for her (oh yeah, it was!). All this reminds me of the Piano. Kept wondering when the partner the father has to plow his field was going to surprise the farmer's wife by walking in naked…
