Michael Landon, knew a wise man learned from the past. Before this film, he made an outstanding motion picture with a somewhat similar premise, but the film which was supposed to be a pilot with Gil Gerard did mot make it as a television series, but was a fine motion picture. Here Michael Landon is able to bring both of those factors together and the way he does that is two words, Michael Landon. That is not to say that there are many other people that without them, he would not be able to bring this project and others together. He would be the first person to tell you such. However, from the point of view of watching the film, Landon's gifts as an actor, make this both a film that can stand on its own and a television pilot that can stand on its own.
Much of the images from the film come from Landon's subconscious, I believe, based on my knowledge of the him as a person. A lot of his work, was him working out things that were going on in his personal life on paper. At the time of the production of this motion picture "Us" Mike was in the seventh year of his third marriage, which had produced two children, Jennifer Landon of FBI: Most Wanted and Sean Landon a real-estate developer. The time from the end of Little House to the beginning of Highway to Heaven was a tough time for Michael personally. He had come off a divorce to Lynn, mother of four of his nine children, which was quite painful for him and a film called Love is Forever, in which he gives an outstanding performance, but had to deal with a director that he did not see eye to eye with and this director ruined the picture. I will not mention the name of the director, because he was not someone Mike liked during or after.
I feel that this pilot, film is a release and recovery for Michael as an artist and a human being. He got to travel America as the angel Jonathan and suddenly everything and everyone around him is dying. Things are changing, more so than before. So, the script was letting a lot of things out that he was trying to get out of his system. It was relief of pain. There are images in this film that to me clearly show that it is a commentary not only on America, and the American family, but Michael and his family.
One striking image in the film, is a criminal in it, a jewel thief, smashes through a vase window, when they are caught by the police. There was a vase window in Michael and his second wife's home. When he is released from prison, his relationship with his son's mother, seems like the relationship that he was having with his second wife Lynn and his son Mike jr. I have no doubt that they inspire the characters, to a degree. The father that Barney Martin plays is likely inspired somewhat by Mikes own father Eli. For example, Jack does not like to talk out problems, he would prefer to wash his "damn shoes". Michael often said his father was this way, he would not confront his problems. In fact, in 1955, when Landon was known as Eugene Orowitz and was leaving to go to University of Southern Cal on an athletic scholarship, Landon said his father asked him if he knew about sex yet, and proceeded to try and have the 'talk' with him, but could not get it out, and so he told his father he already knew everything he needed to know, by talking to the guys. The film is about Landon reconciling the relationship with his son and it is a commentary on a lot of fathers and sons, but is also about Michael and Mike jr, I believe. Great motion picture and this would have made a great series.
