Karl Swenson Movies
Karl Swenson was one of the busiest performers in the so-called golden days of network radio. Swenson played the leading role in the seriocomic daily serial Lorenzo Jones, and was also heard on Our Gal Sunday as Lord Henry, the heroine's "wealthy and titled Englishman" husband. He carried over his daytime-drama activities into television, playing Walter Manning in the 1954 video version of radio's Portia Faces Life. From 1958 onward, Swenson was seen in many small roles in a number of big films: Judgment of Nuremberg (1961), How the West Was Won (1962), and The Birds (1963). One of his more sizeable movie assignments was the voice of Merlin in the 1963 Disney animated feature The Sword in the Stone. One of his last roles was the recurring part of Mr. Hansen on TV's Little House on the Prairie. Karl Swenson was married to actress Joan Tompkins. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1978
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the Ingalls, Olesons, and Garveys, disillusioned with life in the "big city" of Winoka, have packed up and returned to Walnut Grove. Alas, the community has fallen into an appalling state of disrepair in their absence. With nowhere else to go, the returning families set about the task of rebuilding their beloved home town. This episode marks the final series appearance of Karl Swenson (Lars Hanson), who passed away in October of 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
Actually, there are two sets of rivals in this episode. While farmers Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Olsen) must square off against some tough professional competitors in a freight-hauling contest, Charles' daughter Laura (Melissa Gilbert) finds herself battling with attractive Samantha (Seeley Ann Thumann) over the affections of young Jimmy Hill. Beginning with this episode, the character of schoolteacher Miss Beadle, played by Charlotte Stewart, is rechristened Mrs. Simms, befitting her recent marriage to hog farmer Adam Simms. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) lands a teaching job in an isolated rural community ruled by religious zealot Miss Peel (Anita Dangler). Declaring that education is the tool of Satan, Miss Peel rallies the townsfolk in opposing the school, going so far as to spread malicious lies about Mary. As it turns out, however, Miss Peel's violent opposition to book learning stems from a shameful secret -- shameful to her, that is. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
When Charles (Michael Landon) comes into an unexpected inheritance, everyone tries to tell him how best to spend the money -- including the troublesome Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor). Only after getting deeply into debt with the Olesons does Charles discover that his windfall consists of worthless Confederate money. Intending to milk the situation for all it is worth, the spiteful Mrs. Oleson gleefully humiliates the Ingalls by auctioning off their belongings -- and that is when Charles discovers who his real friends are. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1978
The Oleson family is saddled with Mr. Oleson's obnoxious nephew Peter (Michael Sharrett), who has been sent to Walnut Grove in hopes that he will learn the proper values in life. Somehow or other, Peter ends up on the Ingalls farm, where he rapidly proceeds to rub everyone the wrong way. Even so, can there be any doubt that the troublesome youth will change his ways before the final fade-out? Guest star Nehemiah Persoff appears as Peter's father -- Scandanavian accent and all. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Mary Ingalls (Melissa Sue Anderson) is in dire need of a life-saving operation. Lacking the necessary funds, Mary's father, Charles (Michael Landon), signs up for a high-paying -- and highly-dangerous -- new job. Working shoulder to shoulder with his neighbor Mr. Edwards (Victor French), Charles becomes a "powder monkey," part of a team blasting a tunnel for the railroad. Inevitably, disaster befalls Charles and Edwards in the form of a sudden cave-in. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
The Walnut Grove schoolchildren put together a stage production in which snooty Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) lands the leading role. Meanwhile, another student, Ginny Clark (Rachel Lonaker), hopes to use the play to help her widow mother, Della (Kay Peters), a faded debutante, get back into the higher rungs of Walnut Grove society -- and by extension, to land a new husband. A crisis arises when Ginny sells her beautiful long hair so that she can afford to buy Della a new dress -- whereupon Della jumps to the conclusion that her daughter has stolen the money. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
The classroom rivalry between Mary Ingalls (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) reaches its peak when both girls run for school president. Also in the electoral race is nerdy, unpopular student Elmer Dobkins (Eric Olson), who was nominated as a cruel practical joke. Things take a peculiar turn when the "slow-witted" Elmer gradually emerges as the best possible candidate. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
Laura (Melissa Gilbert) befriends a new schoolmate named Anna (Katy Kurtzman), who has a pronounced stutter. Hoping to humiliate Anna, bratty Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) agrees not to snitch on Laura when the latter "borrows" and breaks one of the Olesons' precious music boxes -- but in return, Laura must agree to be mean to Anna. This is only the beginning of Nellie's nastiness in this particular episode -- but be assured that a delicious comeuppance awaits the little monster in the final scene. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
While skinny-dipping with Laura (Melissa Gilbert) and Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), little Ellen Taylor (Mia Bendixsen) accidentally drowns. Arriving at the Taylor home after the funeral to offer her condolences, Laura is kidnapped by Ellen's grieving mother, Eloise (Corinne Michaels), who is convinced that Laura is her own daughter, returned to life. As Laura languishes in the delusional woman's root cellar, her father, Charles (Michael Landon), conducts a frenzied search for the girl -- but is there any real hope for her rescue, so long as Mrs. Taylor refuses to face reality? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
In the opening episode of Little House on the Prairie's fourth season, Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert), grieving over the death of her beloved dog Jack, rejects the efforts by her father, Charles (Michael Landon), to replace her pet with a scruffy cast-off pooch named Bandit. Ultimately, however, Laura is made to realize the value of the "unwanted" in the world when she meets Kezia (Hermione Baddeley), an elderly eccentric who has moved into a burned-out shack and lives in a world of her own imagination. Merlin Olsen makes his first series appearance as farmer Jonathan Garvey. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
In the two-hour finale of Little House on the Prairie's third season, the Ingalls family faces yet another crisis when their crops are destroyed. In desperation, Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) packs up his brood and heads to the nearby gold mines, hoping for better luck. Surprisingly, the family strikes it rich -- and not surprisingly, the sudden influx of wealth all but destroys them. This episode marked the final appearance of Victor French as Mr. Edwards until his return to the series several years later. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
Two worldly "land speculators" calling themselves Dankworth (Dennis Rucker) and Hobbs (John Bennett Perry) arrive in Walnut Grove. There is something decidedly strange about these two newcomers, especially since Hobbs is apparently suffering from a recent wound. By the time "Dankworth" and "Hobbs" are revealed to be the notorious outlaws Jesse and Frank James, the community is in the thrall of a tense hostage situation. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) takes charge of the Ingalls household while her parents are away. Unfortunately, Mary's well-meaning sister Laura (Melissa Gilbert) has joined forces with the equally idealistic Andy Garvey (Patrick Laborteaux) in providing shelter for an injured wolf and her pups -- even though the neighboring farms have lost a lot of livestock to marauding wolves. When the barn in which the kids' "pets" are dwelling is surrounded by wild dogs, no one can get close enough to rescue Laura and Andy -- but Andy's dad, Jonathan (Merlin Olsen), is willing to make the effort. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
With Charles (Michael Landon) in Mankato on business for two weeks, Caroline (Karen Grassle) must find someone to complete the new kitchen in the Ingalls house. She hires a handsome handyman named Chris Nelson (Gil Gerard) to do the job. Outraged at the apparent too-friendly relationship between Chris and Caroline, Caroline's daughter Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) suspects the worst -- and perennial gossip Mrs. Oleson (Katherine MacGregor) is all too willing to spread malicious rumors throughout Walnut Grove. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
John Jr. (Radames Pera), the adopted son of Mr. Edwards (Victor French), astonishes 13-year-old Mary Ingalls (Melissa Sue Anderson) by proposing marriage. Naturally, John expects Mary to wait for him until she comes of age -- but then he is offered a colleague scholarship that will keep him away from Walnut Grove for four long years. Will the lovestruck Laura force John to forsake his education and remain in town until she is old enough to wed? This episode was originally scheduled to air on October 4, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
When Jonathan Garvey's crops burn, leaving his family destitute, his wife, Alice (Hersha Parady), decides to take a job at the local post office. But the stubbornly proud Jonathan (Merlin Olsen) is outraged that his wife must support his family, and threatens to divorce her if she doesn't quit her job and come home. Before long, the conflict separating the Garveys has spread to the rest of the men and women of Walnut Grove. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1977
In this special 90-minute episode, Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) replaces the injured Jonathan Garvey (Merlin Olsen) in a high-stakes boxing match. Charles wins with astonishing ease -- only to discover that his opponent, a black man named Joe Kagan (Moses Gunn), is in no condition to be in the ring. Doc Baker (Kevin Hagen) tells Kagan that he must give up boxing or face an early death -- but what else can Joe do, and where can he go without facing racial prejudice? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
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