"These Happy Golden Years" - Ideal Cast
A while ago, I wrote about my dream cast for an imaginary film of the "Emily" series. I really enjoyed writing it, and, as I don't have time to write a particularly long or thought-out post this week (I'm looking forward to when I can... I have a couple of film reviews in the works, as well as a few others), I thought I'd list my dream cast for the antepenultimate book in the Little House on the Prairie series, These Happy Golden Years. (There will be spoilers throughout!) These Happy Golden Years is the book in the series where Laura leaves home for the first time to teach in a school, takes part in the social life of her town when she's at home, and meets and marries Almanzo Wilder.
First, I should say that I know there's a TV series of the Little House on the Prairie books. This ignores that fact, as I'm not a great fan of it and it's certainly nothing like the books. Also, as with any dream cast, you'll have to imagine that all the actors/actresses are the right age at the right time, and can also be trained to do the correct accent and so on.
The Cast:
1. Laura Ingalls - Julie Andrews
First of all, imagine her with loads of dark brown hair and the correct costume. Otherwise, I think her face is right, and she can definitely act in the more forthright, stubborn way needed for Laura, as well as being able to soften when necessary.
2. Mary Ingalls - Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland could play Mary's sweet yet resilient character to perfection. She's also very beautiful. (Just imagine her blonde.)
3. Carrie Ingalls - Justine Waddell
One of the things I like about These Happy Golden Years is that we see more of Carrie, now she's in her mid-teens. Justine Waddell would portray Carrie's delicacy and sweetness brilliantly.
4. Caroline Ingalls - Emily Watson
Although I imagine Ma being gentler, I think Emily Watson would be, otherwise, nearly perfect. She'd be strong and firm, yet gentle and empathetic.
He's tough enough to be actually like Pa (I think), and he could be soft enough to be as great with his children as Pa is in the books (but, unlike Pa in the series, he doesn't look like he spends 90% of his time in the hairdressers).
This was the best picture I could find of Michael Caine in his younger days (but still looking right for the part). I think he would be good for Almanzo, Laura's husband. I've only seen him in a couple of films, but he would be able to play a dependable, solid character, with enough humour to make him like Almanzo.
7. Nellie Oleson - Kelly Reilly
I've only seen her in Pride and Prejudice (2005), but she's beautiful and can act cold, selfish, and snobbish, just like Laura's enemy. Need I say more?
8. Ida Brown, Mary Power, Cap Garland - Talulah Riley, Olivia Williams, Crispin Bonham-Carter
These people are fairly minor characters, but I think they could act the parts convincingly.
*** *** ***
These were all the major characters, I think. What do you think? Do you agree with my choices? Whom would you cast differently?
My sister Caroline Bingley helped me write this - well, it would be fair to say we co-authored. Thank you! We are pretty amazing at these things, aren't we, Caroline?! (Oh yes, she helped me write the Emily one, too.)
Ooh, what fun! You know, I never would have thought of Julie Andrews as Laura, but I can see it! I can really see Olivia de Havilland as Mary too. (Heh, I appreciated the comment about series-Pa's immaculate '70s hair :P) I like Charlton Heston a lot, but I don't know if any actors could really be Pa and Ma to me...come to think of it, I could see Olivia de Havilland being very good as Ma - but she couldn't very well play both Ma AND Mary, I suppose!
ReplyDelete*waves at Caroline* (Dream casts are such fun to work on as a team, aren't they?)
Yes, finding someone to play Ma and Pa was extremely difficult... Charlton Heston isn't perfect and neither is Emily Watson, but as you say, Pa and Ma are near-impossible to represent in anything other than the books. Olivia de Havilland would be excellent as Ma, in fact; it's just hard to choose whom she should be! I suppose one could have Justine Waddell as Mary, someone else as Carrie, and de Havilland as Ma? What do you think?
Delete*Caroline waves back*
DeleteI like Olivia de Havilland as Ma, but I think maybe Justine Waddell should stay as Carrie...blast, I'd had a brilliant idea for Mary when I was thinking about this the other day, and now I can't remember. I think it was a more recent period drama actress. Oh well. I suppose I'll remember at some point. :P (Wait, maybe it was Tamzin Merchant, who was Georgiana in the '05 P&P...whether or not she's who I was initially thinking of, I definitely could see her as Mary. What do you think? Can you see it?)
DeleteYes, I think Tamzin Merchant would be very good as Mary! I can definitely see that. (I must rewatch the '05 P&P - I think the only time I watched it, I was half-expecting it to be like the '95 one, so I really didn't give it a fair chance.) Anyway, back on track, yes, that sounds like the perfect choice for Mary. We should be film producers ;)
DeleteHmmm, seeing her with dark hair takes a second, but I think I can also see Julie Andrews playing Laura.... And I particularly like Justine Waddell, she isn't exactly the way I had imagined Carrie, but yes, I do think she suits the role🤔 Looking at them all, I realize just how much the illustrations in the books have shaped the way I imagine all of them! Which leads me to liking the character portion of the actor for Almanzo, but wanting brown hair and a bit more boyishness in him😄 (And where but WHERE have I seen this Cap Garland before??! He looks incredibly familiar....🤔)
ReplyDeleteOoh, you girls make a good team ;)
Hi Caroline!!
Yes, the books have completely shaped my image of them all, too, which made writing this post harder than I thought it would be ;) Almonzo's actor would need brown hair, and the photo I found of Michael Caine wasn't the best. I haven't seen him in many films, and I couldn't find any good picture of him smiling (well, I found one, but he was in a helmet and generally didn't look right), so I had to go for that one 😆 He WOULD need to be a bit more smiley, however. (Cap Garland is Mr Bingley in P&P '95!)
Delete*Caroline waves*
What a wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteI think that all of your choices are spot-on - I don't think that I would cast anyone differently. I love the idea of having Julie Andrews play Laura - and she could possibly have a singing cameo?!
Also, the comment about the TV Show Pa's hair... 🤣
Thank you!!
DeleteAgain, thank you. Oh, Julie Andrews could definitely sing at some point!! Maybe while Pa plays the fiddle (though I can't imagine Charlton Heston doing that...)
Oh, I'm glad you liked it ;)