Little House on the Prairie (film)

Little House on the Prairie is a 1974 American television film which served as the backdoor pilot to the homonymous NBC television series it started. It is closely based on the novel of the same title; the second of the Little House book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The pilot film was produced by Ed Friendly with the script written by Blanche Hanalis and directed by Michael Landon.

Plot
The movie starts with the Ingalls family leaving their little house in the Big Woods and starting west. After a long and adventurous journey, they stop in Indian Country. Charles builds a house and starts farming, Indians visit them, and they meet Mr. Edwards. After a year, soldiers come and tell the family they have to leave. After packing everything they own, they set off on a new journey.

Cast

 * Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls
 * Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls
 * Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls
 * Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls
 * Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush as Carrie Ingalls
 * Victor French as Isaiah Edwards
 * Victor Mohica as Soldat Du Chêne
 * Cal Bellini as Brave
 * Sam Vlahos as 1st Indian
 * Richard Alarian as 2nd Indian
 * Marian Beeler as Charlotte Holbrook
 * John Steadman as Frederick Holbrook
 * Ruth Foster as Aunt Ruby (uncredited)

Production notes

 * Filmed in early 1974 near Stockton, California.
 * First broadcast March 30, 1974
 * Broadcast in the series' first season on September 11, 1974