The Incredible Journey of Dr. Meg Laurel (1979)

Hillbillies or Cavemen?

As a hillbilly, I'm not offended by that term. I am offended by this movie, though. This collective group of hill people make the Beverly Hillbillies look like Albert Einsteins.

The production values and writing are poor. The plot is predictable and cheesey. Don't waste your time. Just turn on the Hallmark channel and watch a couple of episodes of Little House instead. They won't be quite as ridiculous, but they'll hit ya in the same place. July 12, 2007

A wonderful potrayal of life in the Appalachians

What begins as what seems to be a fish out of water story becomes a tale of tolerance for others and the acceptance of that which we cannot change.

Dr. Meg Laurel (portrayed by Lindsey Wagner) was once one of them, an Appalachian mountains resident (my mother being of the same heritage was never a hillbilly so I resent calling them that) who suffered at the hands of a "healer" while a small child.

Fast forward to Dr. Meg as a medical doctor now living in Boston suffering nightmares of her mistreatment so long ago. Following several discussions with her husband, the decision is made to "exorcise" her demons in the form of returning to the Appalachians so as to render modern medical care to those she thought she had left behind so long ago.

Following a rough beginning, losing much of her possessions over the edge of a ridge, Dr. Meg attempts to incorporate herself into the society that by its very nature refuses to accept her. She is given constant reminders of the life that could have been hers but for the grace of God. She attempts to care for a man who should have died but was somehow saved by Granny (portrayed by Jane Wyman) and has a greater time of convincing these people her knowledge and skill as a medical practitioner is really the best way to go.

Dr. Meg is also witness to a wedding between a middle-aged man to a child who is now responsible for raising children not much younger than herself. The fear and concern she shows of this arrangement is never more evident than when the child tells her that at the tender age of about twelve or thirteen she was becoming concerned she would be an "old maid".

She eventually develops a "friendship" of sorts with Granny who she trusts enough to care for her when she develops a cough. To be sure, the treatments Granny utilizes have always been viable for someone with an understanding of nature and even acupuncture, but as a doctor, Dr. Meg has a difficult time accepting this. However, Granny is witness to some miracles of "modern" science as well and comes to see that her way isn't always the best way either.

So as not to give away any ending, the synopsis should stop here but to say this is definitely a movie worth seeing, if for no other reason than to see the beautiful scenery that is the Appalachian Mountains, is an understatementThe best reason to watch it is because it gives a wonderful look inside a society that refuses to change, unless it's kicking and screaming, and refuses to allow outsiders in, unless there's a good reason to allow it.

I had to give this movie only four out of five stars due to the poor appalchian accents applied to some of these people. While James Woods is wonderful as the sin eater, his accent is just a bit over the top. Some of the females in this movie perform accents that are also too much. Having visited the Appalachians as much as I have, having relatives still living there, I can assure you the accents aren't as pronounced as this movie would have you believe.

If you like this movie, watch Songcatcher. with Aiden Quinn and Janet McTeer. Though the premise is different, the basic lessons are the same.
May 29, 2007

A Great Family Film

This picture hit the theaters on January 2 1979 starring the lovely Lindsay Wagner as Doctor Meg Laurel, Jane Wyman as Granny Arrowroot and Andrew Duggan as Judge Adamson. The picture starts out with the producers taking us back in time when Meg was a little girl. Meg was sick and a woman looking like a witch is cutting her arm. Meg wakes up screaming because of her having another nightmare. Meg is now a doctor living in Boston Massachusetts in 1932 and is married to Dr Tom Laurel. The next day while sitting at the table having breakfast, Meg notices that her picture is in the morning newspaper with the headline reading Woman Doctor Exposes Judge Adamson sins and down below the other headline said Explosive Dr Meg laurel Blast Judge Adamson. Tom tells Meg that even though she may believe in what she said, she needs to go to Judge Adamson to apologize. So that night the Laurels were invite to a party at Judge Adamson house. However, when it came time to apologize Meg couldn't do it. Therefore, Meg decides its time for her to return to her roots, which are in the Blue Ridge Appalachia Mountains in Virginia. Therefore, Meg packs her stuff along with medical supplies and gets on a train that stops in Little Oak Virginia. After Meg gets her things together, the first place Meg goes to is the orphanage that she grew up and was raised. Therefore, the next day Meg gets herself two mules, a wagon, a horse, a shotgun and heads toward the Blue Ridge Mountain. All Meg wants to do is to give back to the people that put her through medical school. The next day Meg is making her way through the mountain trails when her mules are startled by a mountain lion. Meg takes her shotgun and shoots it towards the mountain lion missing the lion, but scaring of her horse. Now Meg has trouble because she can't get the mules to go forward and the wagon is hanging on the edge of a cliff. So Meg must now start to unloaded the wagon with one of her crates bouncing down over the cliff. Just as Meg has the wagon unloaded the Lion strikes again and Meg's wagon goes over the cliff smashing into little pieces that are scattered all over the place. However, the Mules are still hitched to a small part of what was left of the wagon. So Meg put the remaining supplies that are left, on that small part, takes what's left of the wagon her mules, and moves out on her horse that comeback. However Meg, isn't getting the reception that she thought she would she would. When Meg finally gets to the cabin she's going to she fines that her friend is really ill. Now Meg not only has to deal with the reception she has received but she has to also deal with the woman they call Granny Arrowroot. Granny is the local medicine woman who believes that her simple, backwoods remedies and methods are good enough for the people of Blue Ridge Mountain. I bought this movie because of Lindsay Wagner. I thought she great in this picture as the modern age doctor. I also like the shots of the mountain that the production crew took when this filmed this movie. I also like the role of Granny who was the feisty old local medicine witch who didn't want to give the modern new medicine a chance. All and all I give this movie 9 weasel stars on Lindsay Wagner performance alone. March 24, 2007

A Must Have Video For Your Movie Collection

If you are a Lindsay Wagner fan then this movie is a must. If your not a Wagner fan then this movie is still for you. The story is very good, showing how herbal treatments and medicene does not have to be foes against each other. Powerful performances by Wagner, Wyman and Woods. This movie was well worth the money and is one I will watch over and over. You will not waste your money and/or time on this movie...order it today. November 21, 2001

This movie will steal your heart away.

Beautiful scenery - the epitomy of dedication - Lindsey Wagoner is outstanding as a young doctor who goes back to the "hills" to bring modern medicine to the "hill" people who "don't take to outsiders." Jane Wyman as the "Granny doctor" is wonderful. James Wood as the "sin-eater" is spell-binding. This movie gives a wonderful glimpse of life in the "back woods." Heart-wrenching at times. A true classic. Get your "hankie." If you watch it, it will steal your heart away. It's one you won't forget....... March 22, 1999

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