User Reviews

I have seen this movie at least 200 times over the years. I just bought a copy of it to watch again. As far as I'm concerned, it's a great movie about a great woman. It's about a family with a father that can't adjust to his life. Right from the beginning, you can see where this is going and I give Liz Gavin all the credit in the world for raising their kids.If my husband, after many years of marriage, announces that the best time of his life was when we weren't married, would be wearing my foot in an uncomfortable place. She is incredibly naive and complacent in her life. But she has an inner strength she never knew she had. Her and her husband plan to move to Australia with the kids, who are all against it. When the time comes to leave, Sam finds every excuse not to go. From here on, it's a battle to succeed. As for the previous comment about her singing a baby lamb to sleep, you lost the point of the movie. That is an extremely poignant part of the movie and shows what Liz Gavin is about. This is based on a true story and I admire the courage of Liz Gavin. I highly recommend this movie to everyone and I hope you'll try to locate it to watch.

Points for plucky Linda Lavin, especially at the end when she gives her eunuch of a husband the heave ho--she should have thrown HIM into the rushing water and gone back to the sheep station with her kids!!! How ironic that he wanted to move there because he thought the kids were going' soft, yet he didn't have the *Beep* to divorce his wife before he forced her to move to the other side of the globe. What a catch he was, eh? Meanwhile, ya gotta admire Lavin's character in this role, though I found her acting a bit understated--like she was holding back. And the kids, though equally plucky (and the little ones were cute) had their annoying moments. Still, it was a good "fish out of water" story.

A really good, heartwarming true story of a Houston family that relocates to the outback of Australia (minus the father). The wife (played by Linda Lavin) is forced to raise all 11 children by herself when her deadbeat husband decides he wants no part of the family life anymore. All seems to work out in the end, with many of the children deciding to stay in the outback.

It may have been a typical formula for Linda Lavin; a woman who sacrifices all for her children and has to stand up for herself against her neglectful husband, but 'A Place To Call Home' is nevertheless an interesting and involving story that took place in the early seventies. Both the culture shock of living in the Australian outback and the woman herself, who had numerous children and adopted others as well, are intriguing and do well to hold the attention. Lori Loughlin as the oldest daughter may be Hollywood beauty, but even she rebels against the unhappiness of the new life down under; yet there are children who do stand out and not inhabit the background who are not Hollywood beauties. Plus, there is no cliched interests like going to the mall or a concert. We are treated to the visits from a snake, the raising and unpredictability of sheep, and how involved the children get in their new environment. And rebellion is shown as a natural part of being a child, not put on a pedastol like in other movies.

Lavin delivers her usual work, no big surprises, Loughlin is a recognizeable face, Lane Smith as Lavin's husband Sam, appears at the end, and Robert MacNaughton, best known as the older brother in ET, towers over the other kids as a hyperactive teen, and Maggie Fitzgibbon works well as an Australian storekeeper who plays voice of reason to Lavin.

But the strongest player in this story is the story itself; the importance of sheep raising overwhelms everything else we are led to believe is important to a child. It is interesting to listen to the dialogue and observe the goings on at times as well, such as when Fitzgibbon and Lavin are talking, and at Christmastime. When Smith does arrive, he is now the outsider of this delightful situation. It really is a shame to see this saga end, but then we are treated to where all the children and the woman herself have gone to.

hi, i have seen this movie "a place to call home" made in 1987 years ago and i just loved and enjoyed it!!! And i have been looking every where to find it but so far i haven't found anything. It is the best drama movie I've ever seen and i just want to be able to watch it again and enjoy it...

so if your no where i can find this movie please write me a comment saying where to find it and it doesn't matter if its second hand or anything, i just want it so badly!!!

thank you,

Melissa

This film seems to be missing the main motivation for its heroine. It is made clear throughout the film, particularly in the epilogue, that Linda Lavin's character is an extremely devout Catholic. She is raising her 11 children by herself in the Australian Outback while her husband is away-- money is short-- the children hate their new life on the ranch-- she has a surly ranch hand to contend with-- but you never see her praying, let alone gathering everyone 'round for the family rosary. Sure, she mentions she loves being pregnant, a veiled reference to her adherence to the Catholic Church's ban on artificial contraception, and a Catholic priest shows up occasionally as a family friend, but surely in real life this woman's spiritual life was so much richer. The only intense spiritual practice in this film is the aboriginal belief, immediately adopted by the children, that magical stones can make it rain.

I have also been looking for this movie all these years. I loaned it to a friend and she lost it. I would very much like to know where I can get a copy. I do not care if it is used either. Please respond ASAP. I enjoyed this movie so much and would love for my son to see it. Any help would be appreciated. Linda Lavin was wonderful in this movie. She had a daunting experience ahead of her. She must have felt very lonely and forgotten, yet she and her children overcame and endured. It was funny, heartwarming, sad, scary and very intense. It had all the emotions and drama anyone could hope for. If anyone has a copy I would love to get this movie. Thanks, Vickie

A place to call home is one of the most memorable movies I've ever watched. Linda Lavins performance was excellent and the supporting cast did a great job too. The trials the characters faced in their new surroundings and the reaction they got from the locals was very well written and totally believable. The culture divide between the American family and the Australians was not overdone, this was a very pleasant surprise. If you judge a movie on how well the characters are fleshed out and whether or not they touch you emotionally then this movie is a keeper. If action and overly dramatic scenes reminiscent of soap opera are your thing then this may not be for you.

I grew up on a farm. We raised sheep, showed them in 4-H (as well as hogs and cattle). This movie is very authentic in how it handles the situations with the sheep and it is based on a true story! Also, when she swings the lamb over her head - - we have had to do that! What you are trying to do it get the lamb to breath and with the lamb having afterbirth all over it, yes it is slippery and could slip out of your hands this is just one of many life or death situations you come across when raising animals. It isn't easy but when you love animals, farming and truly enjoy it - you do what you have to do. Also, her hips wouldn't be wide because some of the children have been adopted. If you haven't seen this movie buy it. It is based on true to life experience, any mother can relate to it, they did an excellent job with this movie!

A FANTASTIC worthwhile movie. This movie should be readily available worldwide. All the actors in this were GREAT! This movie stands out in my memory.

As noted below, this was somewhat familiar territory for Linda Lavin. She is an actress with very distinct mannerisms, and due to that I forgot she wasn't playing Alice yet again. Yet, she is also an actress of emotion and intensity, and she does her best with the material.

The movie veers between cornpone and genuine feeling. The children seem too good to be true; the Christmas sequence is particularly sugary. Only Matt and Michael are interesting in terms of individual personalities.

The only truly bad moment is when Linda has to fling an oxygen-deprived lamb around, and Michael magically catches it just as Linda accidentally lets it go. Very funny for all the wrong reasons.

The best reasons to watch are the first-rate supporting performances of Paul Cronin and Maggie Fitzgibbins as misogynistic ranch hand Bob Jakes and tough-but-fair shopkeeper Alva. They provide true color and flavor for the strange new land which locations alone could not. The movie sensibly avoids any type of romance for Bob and Linda's character, which gives their grudging friendship a greater depth.

07/03/2006

An excellent movie to watch & tune into at school, when there might be no outgoing educational field trips, for whatever reason(s). This movie is actually based on one woman's journey/adventure. Would be nice to get a surprise sequel to this Australian movie, and/or a remake of a longer duration including explanatory variation and expansion, consisting of new actors & actresses, and a few brief service extras with a stated identity. This movie reminds me of the movie from the 1970's "The Wilderness Family", or "The Adventures of the Wilderness Family". "A Place to Call Home" is a movie about roots and achievement.

This true story of a woman's struggle to keep her family together in a strange land with strange custom's after being deserted by her husband is one to be enjoyed time and again. I loved Linda Lavin's portrayal.

I think a few people got this movie in the wrong perspective, first of all she didn't have 11 children, some were their own and some were adopted. The Father is just a workaholic (you could put the Dad in the military and the same scenario could be played out) sometimes Dad's need to travel in order to support their family. Yes, they need their Dad but sometimes that is the way life goes.

I can relate to the days when I was taking care of 4 kids in 3 different states while my husband was obliged to travel for his job. Its the way life is sometimes; instead of acting like its a desertion you focus on giving the kids their emotional support and keep on going. I had a stay at home Dad and quite frankly I don't think it was as happy even though he was a good guy.

Linda Lavin plays a women who prefers a supportive stay at home husband and finds out she can do it on her own. Its good to know you can do things on your own and I am happy it happened to me too.

The only stupid part of the movie was her rocking the lamb to sleep that was rather bizarre. Otherwise it was a good movie.

I COPIED THIS MOVIE OFF TV YEARS AGO, WHICW I USED TO WATCH OFTEN, NOW I'M AFTER THE DVD OF IT TO BUY, OTHERWISE MY ONLY HOPE AT THE MOMENT IS TO WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE.

saw this earlier & could not stop laughing! Linda Lavin swings a sheep over head and lets go of it! It nearly flies into the barn wall but her ugly son catches it mid-air. What a hoot!

Overall it is a pretty good TV movie. Lavin gives good accent but the children are annoying. I'd tend to think she'd be a little wider in the hips after delivering ELEVEN kids. Yikes!