The Awakening Land

The Awakening Land is a 1978 television miniseries based on Conrad Richter's trilogy of novels: The Trees; The Fields; and The Town, published from 1940 to 1950. The series originally aired on NBC in three installments from February 19 to February 21, 1978; directed by Boris Sagal, it starred Elizabeth Montgomery and Hal Holbrook.

The Awakening Land
Written byConrad Richter (Novels)
James Lee Barrett
Liam O'Brien
Directed byBoris Sagal
StarringElizabeth Montgomery
Hal Holbrook
Jane Seymour
Theme music composerFred Karlin
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of episodes3
Production
Producer(s)Harry Bernsen
Robert E. Relyea
Editor(s)Bernard J. Small
Running time420 mins.
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseFebruary 19–21, 1978
For the trilogy of novels of the same name by Conrad Richter on which this miniseries was based, see The Awakening Land trilogy.

Premise

The storyline follows the struggle of Sayward Luckett (Montgomery) after she travels to the unsettled Ohio Valley frontier from post-revolutionary Pennsylvania. She and her family carve out a homestead in the forest, and a community with other settlers. The series follows Sayward from a young single woman, left with three sisters to raise after their mother dies and their father abandons the family, to a married woman who has her own family of seven. Her faithful devotion to her family is recounted against the day-to-day struggle for survival.

Main cast

Production notes

Location

The series was shot in historic New Salem, Illinois. Interiors were filmed in a set constructed in a gymnasium in Springfield, the state capital. The gym was also used to house the prop and wardrobe departments. Filming took 2 1/2 months. As an incentive for the production company to choose the area, the Springfield city council agreed to fill a nearby lake to resemble the Ohio River. The city arranged for animals from the Elgin Zoo to be transported to the set.

Coaching of cast

The production was faithful to Richter's use of language characteristic of the Ohio Valley in those years. Actress/choreographer Marge Champion instructed the actors in both speech and body language of the region to add to the authenticity of the historical drama.[1]

Crew
  • Directed by: Boris Sagal
  • "The Trees" and "The Fields" script: James Lee Barrett
  • "The Town" script: Liam O'Brien
  • Novels written by: Conrad Richter
  • Executive Producer: Harry Bernstein
  • Associate Producer: Robin S. Clark
  • Executive Producer: Tom Kuhn
  • Producer: Robert E. Relyea
  • Original Music by: Fred Karlin
  • Cinematography by: Michel Hugo
  • Film Editing by: Bernard J. Small
  • Production Design by: Jack DeShields
  • Set Decoration by: Fred Price
  • Costume Design by: Frank Tauss
  • Key Costumer: Bill Blackburn
  • Hair Stylist: Sugar Blymyer
  • Assistant Director: Alan R. Green
  • First Assistant Director: Dennis E. Jones
  • Property Master: Matt Springman
  • Sound Mixer: Glenn E. Anderson
  • ADR Editor: Jerry Jacobson
  • Assistant Cameraman: Jim Mazzula
  • Choreographer: Marge Champion
  • Dialogue Supervisor: Marge Champion
  • Extras Brian Halcomb, Allen Tomlin, Dan Yeager

Award nominations
Year Award Result Category Recipient
1978Emmy AwardNominatedOutstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama SeriesJeanette Nolan
For part one
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited SeriesElizabeth Montgomery
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited SeriesHal Holbrook
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical CraftsSugar Blymyer
For part three
Outstanding Cinematography in Entertainment Programming for a SeriesMichel Hugo
Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)Fred Karlin
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References
  1. Hal Erickson, Overview: The Awakening Land, The New York Times
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