Dean Butler Movies

As Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) awaits her role as sacrificial victim for monstrous hell-god Glory (Clare Kramer), her slayer sister (Sarah Michelle Gellar) withdraws deeply into herself. Devastated by the shame of having allowed Dawn to be kidnapped (see "Spiral"), Buffy retreats into the safety of an illusory childhood in which she's safe with her long-estranged father, her now-deceased mother, and her mystically incarnated baby sister. Meanwhile, Glory battles for control with Ben (Charlie Weber), her unwilling host body. Ben's conscience and memories keep leaking into Glory's consciousness, leading her to pontificate about the misery of the human condition to the captive Dawn. Ben briefly manages to wrest full control from his demonic sibling. He attempts to free Dawn, but Glory promises him immortality if he'll stop fighting. He acquiesces, earning Dawn's disgust. Meanwhile, a firm but patient Willow (Alyson Hannigan) uses her magicks to wrench her way into Buffy's subconscious and give the Slayer a good talking-to. Buffy awakens from her catatonia, ready to save the day. That's when Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), recovering from his injuries, reveals that Glory's plan to break down the barrier between dimensions requires that Dawn's blood be spilled at a certain place and time; the barrier will remain open until all of Dawn's blood is spent. Originally broadcast May 15, 2001, on the WB network, "The Weight of the World" marked episode 99 of the cult-favorite series. This episode marked the first of several posthumous appearances by Buffy's mother, Joyce, played by Kristine Sutherland. The recently deceased Summers matriarch would feature in another of her daughter's hallucinations (see "Normal Again") and pop by for a beyond-the-grave chat with Dawn (see "Conversations With Dead People"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Everyone returns from summer vacation with unresolved issues that they're just itching to uncover. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) flirtatiously eat ice cream together, and after Xander licks ice cream off Willow's nose -- perhaps about to kiss her -- they are rudely interrupted by a vampire who wants something other than sweet treats. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who spent the summer with her father, saves them from the attack, the first such attempted biting since the Master's death. The trio's happy reunion is short-lived though, as Buffy is clearly distant, irritable, and wanting to get on with her Slayer training. She is overly mean to Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), blows off Angel (David Boreanaz), and seductively slow dances with Xander at The Bronze, making everybody uncomfortable. Her bad attitude is exacerbated after having a nightmare in which Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) attacks her while Willow and Xander idly watch. This all karmically leads up to the disappearance of the Master's bones. Giles researches a revivification rite, suspecting that someone might be trying to resurrect the Master. Giles accidentally mistranslates the text and he, Willow, Cordelia, and Jenny (Robia La Morte) are taken by the Anointed One (Andrew J. Ferchland) and his new minion Absalom (Brent Jennings) to complete the ceremony. Buffy comes to save them, and in doing so, cathartically takes a sledgehammer to the Master's bones. This episode is the first in which Angel was listed as an official cast member. ~ All Movie Guide

In this comedy, Gidget, the all-American surfer girl, has grown up, married Moondoggie, and become a travel agent. She and he, who have been married for seven years, are experiencing marital problems due to their careers and monetary pressure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A baby kidnapping strikes the Ingalls family in this made-for-television movie which was based on the popular series Little House on the Prairie. In this story, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) and her husband Almanzo's (Dean Butler) baby, Rose, is kidnapped during the Christmas holiday season. The family goes in search of the child and finds a woman who stole the baby because she wanted a child of her own. In keeping with the show's family-values tone, they try to help the woman find a needy child at an orphanage. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

Although the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie ran its course in March of 1983, producer/star Michael Landon managed to extend the property's life for an additional year with the aid of three expensively mounted TV-movie sequels. The first of these was Little House: Look Back to Yesterday, in which 19th century farmer Charles Ingalls (Landon) paid a return visit to Walnut Grove. During his stay, Charles learns to his horror that his son Albert (Matthew Laborteaux), a doctor in training, has contacted a blood disease that nearly always results in a slow and painful death. The other citizens are sympathetic, but have problems of their own -- namely, an economic recession that threatens to destroy the community. Of the original cast members, only Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls) was conspicuous by her absence, while Victor French pulled double duty as the film's director and in his familiar role of Isaiah Edwards (NBC publicity at the time suggested that Landon himself directed, though all print ads gave credit where credit was due). Look Back to Yesterday first aired on December 12, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Little House on the Prairie commences its ninth season with a new title -- Little House: A New Beginning -- and minus the series' longtime stars Michael Landon and Karen Grassle. When Charles Ingalls (Landon), his wife, Caroline (Karen Grassle), and their younger children (both "natural" and adopted) leave the family farm and move to Burr Oak, IA, the only Ingalls left in Walnut Grove is daughter Laura (Melissa Gilbert), now the wife of Almanzo Wilder (Dean Butler). The Ingalls' old farm is sold to blacksmith John Carter (Stan Ivar) and his wife, Sarah (Pamela Roylance). Having recently given birth to daughter Rose, Laura becomes surrogate mother to her orphaned niece, Jenny (Shannen Doherty), and of necessity must give up her teaching job to new schoolmarm Etta Plum (played by Leslie Landon, daughter of Michael Landon). Meanwhile, the bitter loneliness of the Ingalls' longtime friend Isaiah Edwards (Victor French) is relieved when Edwards adopts an abused young sideshow performer named Matthew (Jonathan Hall Kovacs). In other developments, Laura begins her literary career; her adoptive brother Albert (Patrick Laborteaux) shakes a serious morphine addiction and makes plans to become a doctor; and the formerly bratty Nellie Oleson (Alison Arngrim) returns to town for a confrontation with her youthful "clone," Nancy (Allison Balson). Although the nine-year Little House saga ends on a bittersweet note, the property would return for a trio of uplifting and forward-looking TV movies, produced during the 1983-1984 season. ~ All Movie Guide

Hester-Sue (Ketty Lester) is astonished when her ex-husband, Sam Terhune (J.A. Preston), who left her years ago for another woman, suddenly shows up in Walnut Grove. Insisting that he has giving up drinking, gambling, and womanizing, Sam tries to charm his way back into Hester-Sue's heart. Unfortunately, there are a few "details" about Sam's so-called reformation that he has kept secret from his former bride. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, the troubles that have recently beset the Wilders continue unabated. Their crops have already been wiped out by hail, and Almanzo (Dean Butler) has been partially paralyzed in an accident. Now, a tornado destroys the couple's home, injuring Laura (Melissa Gilbert), who has recently given birth. In the depths of depression, Almanzo is ready to give up -- but is suddenly galvanized into a valiant effort to get back on his feet, both figuratively and literally, with the help of Laura's father, Charles (Michael Landon). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With Dr. Baker (Kevin Hagen) in tow, Caroline (Karen Grassle) responds to a call for help from a prospector's camp. Here she finds her old friend Louisa (Ruth Silveira) now pregnant and suffering from the influenza that has spread throughout the camp. Though Louisa dies, her baby survives -- whereupon Caroline makes a fateful decision concerning the infant's future happiness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

This story begins in 1982, with a set of old blueprints discovered in a Minnesota auction barn. Flashing back a century or so, the audience discovers that the blueprints were drawn up by Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon), who has taken up cabinet-making as a means of establishing a legacy for his family. Alas, when he brings his handiwork to the Big City, an unscrupulous manufacturer steals Charles' cabinet design and mass-produces them. Meanwhile, the Ingalls family farm is left in the hands of Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) -- but is he up to the new responsibility? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jack Kruschen guest stars as Gambini, an aging circus artist in whose footsteps his sons are reluctant to follow. When Gambini's show comes to town, Albert (Matthew Laborteaux) is fascinated with the old man's "escape" act -- so much so that he tries to be Gambini's protégé. This proves to be a near-fatal mistake, not only for Albert, but for many of the other kids in Walnut Grove. On a less dangerous note, Albert develops a crush on another circus performer, a girl named Anna Rosa (Gloria Manos). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide