Victor French Movies

Director Joel Schumacher makes like Robert Altman in the made-for-TV Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill. In the tradition of Altman's Nashville, Schumacher's film is a rambling, anecdotal study of an amateur talent show in a tawdry Southern saloon. The link between the two films is strengthened by the presence in Amateur Night of Henry Gibson, who'd played a Porter Wagoner type in Nashville. Among the contestants is country-western singer Tanya Tucker, who also contributed some of the background themes for the film's musical score. Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill was produced by Motown Industries' motion picture division. Sidebar: To improve ratings, the ad copy for this film was headlined "Disco Killer on the Loose!"--then, in smaller type, the copy explained that "killing" was merely a slang term for winning over the audience! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Victor French returns to Little House on the Prairie in the role of Isaiah Edwards, now a successful logger. When he is crippled by a falling tree, Edwards loses his will to live. Though he appears to shake himself out of his doldrums when he renews his friendship with the Ingalls family, Edwards nonetheless continues to exhibit suicidal tendencies -- never more dramatically than during a hunting trip with Charles (Michael Landon). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Young Joseph Stokes (Caesar Ramirez), the son of a Sioux Indian father and a white mother, arrives in Walnut Grove to live with his maternal grandfather, Jeremy (George Murdock). Unfortunately, Jeremy is still bitter over the fact that his daughter married an Indian, and treats his grandson with contempt. Things get worse for Joseph when he is subjected to the bigoted taunts of his schoolmates -- but the boy's integrity and inner strength prevails and wins the day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After helping Doc Baker (Kevin Hagen) tend to a mountain fever epidemic in another town, Mr. Edwards (Victor French) returns to Walnut Grove, which has already been quarantined. Unwittingly, Edwards has brought the fever virus into town, and as a result, his adopted daughter falls seriously ill. The only person willing to help Edwards care for his daughter is the only person unaware of the quarantine: Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tired of his family's grinding poverty and of being treated as a freak by the local white bigots, 11-year-old black youngster Solomon Henry (played by future Diff'rent Strokes co-star Todd Bridges) runs away from home. Showing up at the Ingalls home, Solomon offers to sell himself as their slave in exchange for a decent education. In the course of events, both Solomon and the Ingalls learn many important lessons about tolerance and pride -- and as a bonus for fans of the series, Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) amusingly plays upon the ingrained prejudices of the insufferable Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Just before the Christmas vacation, Walnut Grove is threatened by a driving snowstorm. Schoolteacher Miss Beadle (Charlotte Stewart) decides to let her students go home earlier than usual so that they can avoid the impending blizzard; only the Oleson children remain behind to help their teacher clean the schoolroom. Alas, the storm is more violent than anyone could have expected -- and when the homebound children are lost and the Oleson youngsters come down with frostbite, the outraged citizens hold poor Miss Beadle responsible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, an embittered Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) holds her widowed grandfather, Lansford (Arthur Hill), responsible for injuries sustained by her beloved horse Bunny. Sadly concluding that moving in with his son Charles (Michael Landon) was a mistake, Lansford wanders away from Walnut Grove. Upon realizing how wrong she was, Laura conducts a frenzied search for Lansford, who by this time has all but lost the will to live. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Laura (Melissa Gilbert) and Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) are outraged when their little sister, Carrie (played by twin actresses Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush), lets loose a collection of bugs that the girls have been gathering for a classroom project. But their anger gives way to terror when, while chasing a pretty butterfly, Carrie falls into an abandoned mine shaft. Worse still: The only person truly capable of rescuing the girl is Mr. Laudy (John Ireland), a former miner who has degenerated into a drunken derelict. Though some sources indicate that this episode was telecast on January 10, 1977, the official TV listings of the period indicate that it was actually shown earlier, on October 17, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While on a hunting trip, Laura (Melissa Sue Anderson) accidentally shoots and wounds her father, Charles (Michael Landon). The only other person within miles of the accident is Sam (Burl Ives), a blind recluse who is reluctant to offer assistance, feeling that he is totally worthless. It is up Laura, and Laura alone, to restore Sam's self-confidence to the extent that the old hermit will help her find someone who can tend for her injured father. This 90-minute episode is one of several Little House on the Prairie installments filmed on-location in California's Gold Rush Country (though the action is set in Minnesota!). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mr. Edwards (Victor French) is disappointed that his eldest adopted son, John Jr. (Radames Pera), would rather read books than go hunting. When Edwards gives John a gun as a birthday gift, the boy writes a letter explaining his reluctance to kill any living creature. Despite the letter, Edwards is convinced that John does not love him. It takes an eventful hunting trip for the two men to come to an understanding -- and to reveal a hitherto well-kept secret concerning the proud Mr. Edwards. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Victor French and Bonnie Bartlett, heretofore guest stars in the roles of Isaiah and Grace Edwards, graduate to regular status as Little House on the Prairie enters its third season. The opening episode, "The Collection," features country legend Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, in the story of a reprobate who is reformed by the kindness and generosity of the Walnut Grove townsfolk -- including farmer Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon), his wife, Caroline (Karen Grassle), and daughters Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Laura (Melissa Gilbert). In other season-three developments, Mary falls in love with the Edwards' adopted son; bratty Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) continues pulling off nasty and spiteful pranks, including pretending to be paralyzed after a fall from Laura's pony; and in the 90-minute episode "The Hunters," Charles nearly loses his life in a hunting accident. Also, the season features a brace of compelling two-part stories: "Journey in the Spring," highlighted by a flashback to Charles' childhood, and "To Live With Fear," in which Charles takes an extremely risky job to finance the operation that will save daughter Mary. The season ends with yet another two-parter, "Gold Country," in which Charles and his family try to compensate for the loss of their crops by prospecting for gold. ~ All Movie Guide

Thanks to the interference of Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor), Walnut Grove's schoolteacher Miss Beadle (Charlotte Stewart) is replaced by Mr. Applewood (Richard Basehart), a harsh disciplinarian. Wrongfully convinced that Laura (Melissa Gilbert) is a troublemaker, Applewood (or "Crabapple," as he is known to the kids) mercilessly persecutes and punishes the girl, finally expelling her for the mischief perpetrated by another child. Laura's father, Charles (Michael Landon), takes a hand in matters to prove that the Walnut Grove schoolhouse was better off with Miss Beadle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide