Little house on the Prairie question? Albert Ingalls?
I know this is in the wrong category but I couldn't find the right one.
When Little House on the Prairie used to be on Television, I watched nearly every single episode. A few days ago, a movie called Little House On The Prairie; Look Back to Yesterday was on. It was about Albert and how he was studying to become a doctor, so that he can go back to Walnut Grove and be the local doctor there.
In the early parts of the movie, Albert would suffer from nose bleeds which he dismissed as being normal. Half way through the movie, we learn that Albert has a fatal illness (deadly form of leukemia).
Right near the end, Albert wanted to climb this hill with the school and with Laura so that he can put something in this special box (the school does this every year). We then see the school making a circle and holding hands, also Albert and Laura are hands.
It ends there.
Does Albert survive or is it one of those movies where it's up to the viewer to decided?
- Vet's Daughter
Pretty sure he died, but they didn't show it on the series. He was a fictional character anyway. There was no Albert in Laura Ingall's real life.
- Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ เ ஐ ηαเℓρσℓเรђ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
This is probably one of the most asked (if not controversial) questions about the series. It is unfortunate that there are still many, many "LHOTP" fans who believe that Albert Ingalls did indeed die at the end of "Look Back To Yesterday". While it is still true that Albert did have a rare and potentially fatal blood disease, that certainly did not mean Albert died.
The answer to this question was right there on the screen. Viewers who chose to believe Albert is dead missed three key points:
a) In the closing narration of "Home Again", Laura Ingalls states that Albert returned to Walnut Grove years later and that the family was happy to see Dr. Albert Ingalls home again. Albert did return to the town in "Look Back To Yesterday", but he was already ill and not yet the doctor. But, both the closing narration and the final scene in "Look Back..." (which we'll talk about in a moment) implies that Albert would have had to successfully earn his Masters' degree in medicine and returned to Walnut Grove one final time (as the doctor) at some point after "Look Back...", but before the town was destroyed in "The Last Farewell" (which Albert did not appear in), so therefore his last visit was never deplicted in any subsequent episode beyond "Look Back...".
b) It is very clear to me (and I hope it is to you too) that Albert Ingalls LIVES through the final scene of "Look Back To Yesterday". The very last scene in "Look Back..." has Albert successfully climbing the mountain, finding the treasure, and holding his hands high in the air. There is NO depliction whatsoever of Albert's death or funeral. If Albert had indeed died, then the closing narration of "Home Again" would have been proven TOTALLY FALSE.
c) At the beginning of "The Last Farewell", Charles mentions that he and his wife had last visited Walnut Grove three years back (the film is set in 1901). Although Albert was never mentioned, this point more or less supports Laura's closing "Home Again" narration of Albert returning as the doctor.
The scriptwriters may or may not have meant for Albert to die in the show, but after discussing the three points about his fate, there is absolutely no dispute that the answer to this question is a clear and resounding NO.
You can also watch it on YouTube:
1/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5lv63k_AE0&feature=related
2/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B7zc5iIHgs&feature=related
3/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sItNd6cyPqQ&feature=related
4/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHaUMtwuYqc&feature=related
5/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTirge0M9QY&feature=related
6/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevys_1cf2o&feature=related
7/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjmtosiUb1Y&feature=related
8/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w35fnFC_e9A&feature=related
9/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nZU9KWkRbA&feature=related
10/10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKVZSqBwGNQ&feature=related
Hope I helped!!!! :-D
Leukemia — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment of this blood-related cancer.
Orignal From: Little house on the Prairie question? Albert Ingalls?
Matthew Labyorteaux was a child prodigy. A brilliant young actor, just as talented and instinctive as Michael Landon, maybe moreso. But, his last two appearances as Albert Ingalls on Little House were not very glamorous, were they? First he's puking his guts out, then he's bleeding everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThe doctor said, "Albert's not going to get any better, only worse," and "weaker."
"He's getting progressively worse." When Charles Ingalls says, "Save my son," the doctor replies, "I can't." The doctor goes on to say that it could be anytime and talks about signs that the end is near. Albert begs to be taken back to Walnut Grove. He does not want to go back to Burr Oaks, and he does not want his mother and siblings to watch him die.
I could go on citing more evidence. The final narrative of Home Again notwithstanding, it all adds up to Albert Ingalls dying.
It makes sense, then, that he does not appear, and is not even mentioned, in either one of the subsequent, final movies.
Albert Ingalls, a fictional, not historical character, made an unforgettable impact on the television Ingalls family that was undeniably positive, no matter how sad be ending.
Actually there really was an Albert ingalls in real life. Charles ingalls had a son named Albert in real life. Whoever these ppl are saying he was completely fictional if wrong. Google Albert ingalls and you will find why and what the real Albert's looked like
ReplyDeleteThere was an Albert Graham Ingalls, but he was NOT related to the real Charles Ingalls. Albert on LHOTP was Albert Quinn Ingalks, a fictional character.
DeleteCharles and Caroline Ingalls' son was named Charles Frederick Ingalls, Jr, their 4th child between Carrie and Grace. He passed away less than a year old, and some have speculated the cause of his and Laura's son's death was diabetes that ran in the family which had a more severe effect on males than females.
DeleteYeah! Sorry to have to correct those who believe that Charles Ingalls actually did have a son by the name of Albert Ingalls, when he actually did NOT! The only son Charles Ingalls ever had, was Charles Frederick Ingalls aka “Freddie”, who died almost 10 months after his birth! As any LHOTP fan should know, Michael Landon decided to add Albert to the show after Mathew Labyorteaux or “Laborteaux” played young Charles in the episodes “Journey in the spring part 1” and in “I Remember, I Remember”, seeing that our favorite show was aimed for children viewers as well as adults. So he took the opportunity when Mary Ingalls goes to Winoka in “As long as we’re together part 1” in season 5 episode 1, to teach the blind, after she became blind herself, and met her also “fictional” teacher and husband, Adam Kendall. Because the real Mary Ingalls never married. In Season 5 we see Mathew Labyorteaux again, but this time as Albert, living homeless at the age of 10 after escaping from an asylum where he was treated unjustly! Charles Ingalls falls in love with Albert so when the Ingalls family decided to move back to Walnut Grove in “There’s no place like home part 1”, in season 5 episode 5, Charles Ingalls convinced Albert to go with the Ingalls family back to Walnut Grove. It was later in season 6 episode 3, titled “The family tree”, when the Walnut Grove school teacher, Eliza Jane Wilder aka Ms. Wilder(Almanzo,s sister and Laura Ingalls future husband), gives them a school project of their genealogy, therefore having to turn in their family tree, that Albert finds out that his last name was “Quinn”, and his father a Jeremy Quinn wants him back for all the wrong reasons. Charles and Caroline were devastated because the law was on Mr.Quinn side and so unfair and unjust to now have to lose Albert. But as I like to call him “Wise Albert”, came up with a plan and confronted his real father pretending to be blind. a true LHOTP fan would know that, Albert figured that Charles daughter Mary was blind, and that didn’t stop Charles from loving her any less. A genius way to see whether his real father truly loved and wanted him back no matter what It was after Jeremy Quinn realized that Albert would be of no use to him and decided to give him up after all. Now, Regarding the episode titled “Home again”, about Albert Quinn Ingalls, the only reason Laura Ingalls Wilder narrates that, Albert came back to Walnut Grove as “doctor Albert Ingalls”, was because it was never in the cards that, the characters Charles Ingalls and family would return to the show. So the plan was to have the viewers go on with this thought until Michael Landon decided what to do with the show because of how bad the ratings had gone down. It’s actually the reason he decided to write, “Home again” knowing that he was the reason the ratings had gone down to begin with. So he attempted a strategy with this episode to help the show’s ratings. I stayed loyal to the show, but even so, John Carter was no Charles Ingalls! The real Almanzo Wilder never really recovers from his stroke, so that wasn’t going to sell. And as far as Rose Wilder goes, she cherished both her parents, but not much to go there. Except for she was actually the one who helped her mother Laura Ingalls Wilder write her stories.
ReplyDeleteLastly, regarding Albert Quinn Ingalls illness and expected death, there was no reason to actually have the viewers witness his death. “Look back to Yesterday”, was the third to last episode/short movie when the decision to cancel the show was already at work. The only two remaining episodes/short movies thereafter, were “Bless all the dear children” and “The last farewell”. Notice how only Charles and Caroline come back, and they never even showed Carrie, Grace, James and Cassandra of the Ingalls family in Iowa before going back to Walnut Grove.
Take care ya‘ll and God bless!
P. S. We all know that Michael Landon always did his very best to think wisely before writing an episode. So in order to not contradict when he wrote “Look back to Yesterday”, where Laura Ingalls Wilder narrates that Albert Ingalls came back to Walnut Grove as “Dr. Albert Ingalls”, in “Home again”, he made It true when again in “Look back to Yesterday”, see how the first thing Charles and Albert did, was to go to the university. When discussing Albert’s “tuition, books and laboratory costs”, with the administrator of the university, Mr. Halls, while he was in the “water closet” due to another nosebleed, Charles shows his concern “that the costs are just a lot more than he thought they were going to be”. Therefore giving Mr. Halls a chance to express wanting to give a Albert “his strongest recommendation” for a complete scholarship grant” acknowledging “Albert’s fine scholastic record” & “a fine student”. We see later that Albert goes to the hospital in Mankato where Dr. Houser tells Charles that Albert was dying from a “ blood disorder” and that Albert had this illness for a very long time. Due to this fact, Albert could die “anytime”. That’s when Albert decides to “go back home to Walnut Grove”, to spend the “time he has left”. “Pa? I didn’t want them to watch me die” Albert says about his mother and siblings.” I don’t have much time left”, Albert says again. “Let me go back there. I’ll stay there forever. Please, Pa.” he says again. Now back in Walnut Grove, Living in denial, and feeling out of control of this(which Charles eventually snaps her out of it), Laura wants Albert to “get some rest” hoping that would help somehow, but Albert insists in wanting her to understand that, “the things I want to do, I can’t put off until tomorrow.” he says. Towards the end, Albert receives a letter from the university with their answer to his “ complete scholarship” application, saying, “Therefore, we proudly award you a four year academic scholarship to the university of Minnesota school of medicine.” And here is what makes Laura’s narration true.... “I made it.” “I made it.” Says Albert.” “Darn right, you did. Says Charles. The fact that he was awarded a full scholarship let’s the viewers know that with that alone, Albert would be “Dr. Albert Ingalls” right there while in Walnut Grove. Yet, after that certainty, Albert confirms his death without having the viewers witness it. “You know something? I really think I would have made a fine doctor.” Says Albert. Lastly, what Charles and Albert express to each other right after, was their goodbyes. TTFN 🌹❤️
ReplyDeleteYes I do agree with Albert confirming his death and saying that he would have made a fine doctor, but I don’t agree with the idea of him dying even if we didn’t see it on the show. Usually Laura always narrates something at the end and in this episode she didn’t mention anything about him dying. So I still believe that since he did become the town doctor years later that didn’t happen either because they blew up the town but in the meantime since he received that 4 year scholarship he was away at the University and that’s why we never seen him again. Everything worked out for Charles when it came to his losing his kids so if James could survive a near fatal wound by a miracle, Albert who Charles did say was the best son a man could ever ask for, he could also survive as Leukemia back then wasn’t as easy to treat like now but people did survive so I do believe Albert survived. Another thing that makes sense of this is that when Charles and Caroline come back in The Last Farewell, they do not mention anything about visiting Albert’s grave which if he would have died that’s where he would have been buried. So I still believe he was at the University do I make sense or am I just trying to keep him alive because he’s my favorite and just so adorable as a kid and gets so handsome as he’s growing up? Comments plz
ReplyDeleteLaura's narration is always something to wait, she usually concluded and gave closure through her narration. So because of that, I do believe the fiction character of Albert could survive and he comeback to Walnut Grove as a young doctor, I don't know what Michael Landon and other producer or writer thought by intending to kill off Albert, making him successful in life would definitely convey much greater message and impact for the fans rather than finish him off just like that. By making him a doctor at least the tv version of Charles would have a successful son. They could make Mr Montague finding chinese medicine for Albert then he got cured, and they could also rebuild Walnut Grove, all are fictions anyway as they already deviated from the book since season 1 anyway. So yeah, Albert survived.
ReplyDeleteWell, no one could actually carry on the Ingalls name.
ReplyDeleteThere was no Walnut Grove 20 years later for Albert to return to as a doctor.
ReplyDelete