Michael Raschella Movies
Based on true incidents, this movie follows the plight of a young American girl who travels to Japan to start work as a club singer, only to discover that she has been tricked into working as a prostitute for the Yakuza. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1982
James (Jason Bateman) befriends Gideon (played by Peter Billingsley of A Christmas Story fame), the new kid in school. Alas, when the other students make fun of Gideon's stammer, James bows to peer pressure and joins in on the ridicule. Heartbroken, Gideon runs away, and it is up to James' adoptive mother, Caroline (Karen Grassle), to set things right. Also figuring prominently in the outcome of this story is a wild dog whom James met while on a visit to Minneapolis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1981
Adam (Linwood Boomer) and Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) return to Walnut Grove, where Adam wants to set up his law practice. His first client turns out to be the most hated man in town: Edgar Mills (Jeff Corey), who is accused of swindling the townsfolk in a wide-ranging scam. At first believing in Mills' innocence, Adam soon learns the painful truth -- but also discovers that Mills' motives were not as sinister as they seem. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1981
It's in-law vs. in-law when the Olesons meet the parents of their son-in-law, Percival (Steve Tracy), for the first time. Inevitably, the hidebound Harriet Oleson (Katherine MacGregor) clashes with Percival's Jewish father, Benjamin (E.M. Margolese), over whether or not Nellie (Alison Arngrim) should raise her unborn child as a Jew or a Gentile. As it turns out, Nellie takes a hand in solving the matter -- by giving birth to twins! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1980
Alban Branton, a deaf child, makes his acting debut in the role of hearing-impaired Daniel Page. Taking it upon herself to teach Daniel sign language, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) never dreams that the boy will fall in love with her -- but that is precisely what happens. This dramatic situation is tempered somewhat by a comic subplot involving the mischievous Willie Oleson (Jonathan Gilbert) and his efforts to construct an elaborate doghouse for his favorite pooch, Bandit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1979
In the final episode of Little House on the Prairie's fifth season, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) and Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) promise to honor the last wish of their friend Dylan (Steve Shaw), who is suffering from terminal leukemia. This promise, however, turns out to be a tall order, since Dylan wants to see the Pacific Ocean before he dies. Even so, Laura and Albert set out from their Minnesota home with Dylan in tow -- while their father, Charles, (Michael Landon) conducts a frenzied search for his missing youngsters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1979
News that Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) is pregnant reaches New York, the home of Giles Kendall (Philip Abbott), the estranged father of Mary's husband, Adam (Linwood Boomer). Apparently hoping to mend the rift between himself and his son, Giles invites the couple to move in with him, and even offers to send Adam to law school. But when Mary loses her baby, Giles reveals the true motive for his "generosity." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1979
After the death of Caroline's mother, her heartbroken father, Frederick Holbrook (Barry Sullivan), moves into the Ingalls' sod house. Little Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) quickly gravitates to Frederick, who has a gift for weaving fascinating stories out of his lifetime experiences. As a means of pulling Frederick out of his loneliness, Charles (Michael Landon) persuades the old man to gather together his reminiscences in book form -- and even offers to raise enough money to get the book published. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
Charles (Michael Landon) spends so much time with his foster son, Albert (Matthew Laborteaux), that his biological daughter Laura (Melissa Gilbert) feels neglected. Sensing Laura's resentment, Albert sadly concludes that it would be best for all concerned if he ran away. Only after Laura has won first prize at a country fair with Albert's pet calf Fagin does she realize how selfish she has been -- whereupon she attempts to convince Albert that he is truly wanted after all. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
In this first episode of Little House on the Prairie's two-part season four finale, Mary Ingalls (Melissa Sue Anderson) is diverted from her blossoming romance with Seth (Robert Kenneally) by her rapidly failing eyesight. What Mary doesn't yet know, but her father Charles does, is that she will soon go completely and irreversibly blind. Once the tragic news is broken to her, Mary despairs: What other disasters does the future hold in store for her? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
Charles (Michael Landon) and Caroline (Karen Grassle) are thrilled to learn that she is expecting another child. But will Charles be disappointed if the baby turns out to be another girl? To find out what is in store, Caroline goes against her better judgment and consults a gypsy fortune teller, Mme. Maria (Lily Valenty). Things take a somber turn when Caroline goes into early labor, forcing Charles to handle the birth without the aid of a doctor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
In the concluding episode of Little House on the Prairie's two-part season four finale, Mary Ingalls (Melissa Sue Anderson) cannot quite come to terms with her blindness. Reluctantly, she agrees to go to Iowa, there to attend a school for the blind. Ultimately she does so well in her studies, and adapts so satisfactorily to her affliction, that the school's teacher Adam Kendall (Linwood Boomer) -- who is also blind -- asks her to stay on as his assistant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
When the blind school at Winoka is sold by the bank, the people of Walnut Grove decide to establish a new school at the former home of Rev. Alden. Meanwhile, pompous Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor) is doing her best to keep Joe Kagan (Moses Gunn), a black man, from joining the town's church. As so often happens, Mrs. Oleson is due for an immensely satisfying comeuppance -- and it all hinges on her eagerness to meet the blind school's celebrated new teacher, Hester-Sue Terhune. This is the first episode of a two-part story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the imperious Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor) is shocked to discover that Hester-Sue Terhune (Ketty Lester), the prestigious new teacher at Walnut Grove's school for the blind, is a black woman. Ultimately, Mrs. Oleson learns a valuable -- and, it is hoped, a life-altering -- lesson in humility and tolerance. Meanwhile, blind teacher Adam Kendall (Linwood Boomer) is forced to confront his own worst fears. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
The staff at Squad 51 offers comfort and solace as Roy (Kevin Tighe) nervously anticipates a visit from his mother-in-law. Meanwhile, Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) and Dr. Early (Bobby Troup) butt heads over an upcoming medical convention in Mexico. This week's caseload includes a case of poisoning when an old man downs a bottle of "miracle" medice, a model rocket that sets a house afire, and blaze in Rampart Hospital itself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Called to attend the Grange convention in Chicago as a representative of Walnut Grove, Charles (Michael Landon) offers to take his daughter Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson). At first, the two visitors are in awe of the beauty and glamour of the "big city" -- especially Mary, who is reunited with her former fiancé, John (Radames Pera), at a cotillion. Unfortunately, both Charles and Mary are doomed to be disillusioned by Chicago, realizing that they were better off in their own backyard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) has a new friend, 16-year-old Joe Douglas (Peter Miner), who shares his love of aviation. Joe claims that he is on his way to sign up with the Air Corps, and suggests that Jim-Bob go along. The truth, however, is that Joe is a runaway orphan--and the authorities are hot on his trail. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) semi-adopts old Maude Gormley as her "temporary" grandma. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
