The Waltons (TV Series) The Five Foot Shelf (1974) User Reviews

A Curious Story

[DeepFriedJello · 7/10 · 26 November 2021]

A few questions: The book salesman Reed claims to have family in NY. Strange to accept a territory so far away. It would be just as easy to be destitute and not sell books closer to home.

Of all the worse things a person travelling on foot to sell, are books. He claims 4000 miles lugging around that heavy case. Spend a couple dollars and get a wagon mister, instead of that darn big doll which he could buy in NY anyway.

Still, it's a fun and charming story which you should enjoy.

Deep Tone - I recommend watching this twice

[jhamaura-30321 · 9/10 · 14 June 2024]

I love the tone of this episode. This was such an odd off-the-beaten-path storyline I watched it multiple times. I believe a lot of thought was put into this show. Not surprisingly, this episode was directed by Ralph Waite.

Our family had an "encyclopedia set" - it was our form of Goggle in the 70's & 80's. That's all we had to "look up" information other than what you learned from your parents, elders and teachers.

They were great. It must've cost a fortune for my parents, but they probably knew how beneficial they would be. We had many sales persons doing door to door. It came to a point where we just didn't answer the door if we knew it was a "seller" But man, when my dad answered the door, he had no problems shutting the door before the salesperson finished talking lol!

John Walton is so much like my dad, who just turned 98. The demeanour, how he answers questions, his attitude toward morals and ethics, and essentially living his life the way he wants without regrets. He has a big heart, but rarely shows you. He is a powerful presence. I don't think I've ever seen him rush or panic, unless it was an emergency. Very controlled.

The folks in that era lived hard and worked hard. My paternal grandparents immigrated to Canada in the late 1890's. They travelled on ships and were displaced and uprooted during WWII. Manual labour for everything living low-middle class, and just making sure everyone is fed, has presentable clothes for school, making sure everyone is treated fairly, and have everyone eat together for dinner.

The directors and producers bring you into Reed's head. The tone, mood, and words provide a subdued and complex atmosphere.

Now I want to re-watch all of the episodes that Ralph Waite directed.

One of my absolute favorites

[hmoika · 10/10 · 15 January 2019]

Each time I watch this episode on my DVDs, it's like the first time.

Above all, I love the simplicity of the story. This episode, like some others I've especially enjoyed, are so beautifully crafted. There aren't several "side stories" to interfere with the beauty of the main story. Not that I think there's anything wrong with some well-crafted side-stories, mind you.

Once again, the casting is perfect. Once again, the over-arching theme is the forgiving nature of each member of the Walton family.

When this show is at its best, it reminds us that it is, indeed, possible for us to be our better selves.

A solid episode from season 2

[timmcd-84202 · 10/10 · 18 August 2021]

Ben Piazza lends poignancy as Mr. Reed, a down-on-his-luck salesman with the thankless task of schlepping around the mountains trying to peddle books to impoverished mountain folk. Desperate for his daughter to have a birthday present, he sells The Harvard Classics to the Waltons with the intention of pocketing their down payment and skipping town. It's an oft told story of forgiveness and redemption made special by a sharp script and excellent performances. Piazza is absorbing as Reed, a man very near the end of his rope. Dirty and disheveled, his voice barely rising above a whisper, he looks, as Ike Godsey puts it, "like he's about to pass out from hunger." The scenes of Reed struggling along the dusty roads lugging his heavy case of book samples is enough to make your back hurt. The rest of the cast turn in their usual solid efforts, but it's Ralph Waite as John Walton that stands out. When John finally confronts Reed about his theft, we see John's indignation and anger, but also a sad resignation that Reed has been brought to his desperate actions by forces outside his control.

The Books

[garyldibert · 5/10 · 24 February 2014]

TITLE: THE FIVE-FOOT SHELF ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 7, 1974 WRITER: John Hawkins DIRECTOR: Ralph Waite

PROLOGUE: "Looking back down the years to the great Depression, I realize now that our family was much more fortunate than most. Many things were in short supply, but we had the advantage of being able to live on the bounty of the rich Virginia country. However, even more important than the gifts of the land, our family remained intact. We stayed together under one roof and were never deprived of the comfort and closeness of our mother and father. Those feelings easily made up for what we often lacked in material things."

SYNOPSIS: Elizabeth meets a man by the name of Reed on the road to Ike's. He is repairing his worn shoes. He asks if anyone in her family likes to read. He is selling the Harvard Classics, a five foot self of books, over 418 stories in 50 volumes for $3 down and a small monthly payment thereafter. They stop into the store where Elizabeth admires the large doll that Ike is giving away in a bean-counting contest. When George Reed tries to pitch the books to Ike he stops him short saying that he has a full store of merchandise that he has troubles trying to sell himself and that he doesn't need any books. Mr. Reed then makes his way to the Walton's where John shuts him down. Olivia invites him inside for some coffee. John-Boy and Olivia are very excited by the collection and she decides to buy them with her egg money. She lets him spend a few nights in the barn. While repairing an ice box at Ike's John learns from Horace Brimley that Olivia has ordered a set of books. John returns home to discuss the matter with Olivia. Meanwhile George decides to use Olivia's $3 down payment to buy his daughter Serena the large doll from Ike's for $2.98. Later John-Boy discovers that George is in fact an out of work printer from New York who just picked up this salesman job and hasn't read any of the books he is selling.

QUESTIONS: What did Elizabeth win? Who was George and where did he come from. Why did John have along talk with George?

EPILOGUE: "The salesman was right about one thing - the wit and wisdom of the ages were contained in those books, and many of the voyages we took were no less memorable for having been enjoyed through the written word."

MY THOUGHTS: I give this episode 3 weasel stars