Premiering as a two-hour TV movie on September 19, 1984, the weekly, 60-minute Highway to Heaven was star Michael Landon's third NBC series -- and like Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie before it, the program was a huge success for both star and network. Landon, who also functioned as executive producer and (sometimes) writer/director, was cast as Jonathan Smith, a "probational" angel. In life, Smith had been a lawyer named Arthur Morton, who, at the time of his death at age 38 in 1948, was an aloof and unfulfilled human being. As an angel, Smith was sent to earth to bring love, harmony, and understanding to people undergoing severe problems -- and in so doing, our hero learned a lot about his own potential for goodness and compassion. Of course, Jonathan had not yet earned his wings and would not do so until the Powers Above determined that he had fulfilled his mission. Jonathan was accompanied on his earthly missions by a "living angel," hardbitten ex-cop Mark Gordon, played by Landon's former Little House on the Prairie co-star Victor French. Originally a surly, embittered man, Mark had "seen the light" thanks to Jonathan and was thereafter dedicated to helping his spectral sidekick get his wings. As often as possible, Jonathan and Mark relied upon their wits and resourcefulness to help those in distress; although he possessed supernatural powers, Jonathan preferred not to use them. Although the series was essentially dramatic in nature, several of the stories had a tongue-in-cheek quality to them. There were also innumerable references to Michael Landon's previous TV and movie credits, including guest appearances by such Little House regulars as Matthew Laborteaux and Richard Bull, not to mention a 1987 Halloween episode which spoofed Landon's notorious starring role in the 1957 horror flick I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Managing to combine the best elements of whimsical fantasy and down-to-earth dramatic reality, Highway to Heaven lasted five years and 111 episodes, ending its NBC run on August 4, 1989. ~ All Movie Guide
Highway to Heaven: Season 01 Highway to Heaven: Season 02 Highway to Heaven: Season 03 Highway to Heaven: Season 04 Highway to Heaven: Season 05 Highway to Heaven: A Child of God Highway to Heaven: A Divine Madness Highway to Heaven: A Match Made in Heaven Highway to Heaven: An Investment in Caring Highway to Heaven: Another Song for Christmas Highway to Heaven: As Difficult as ABC Highway to Heaven: Catch a Falling Star Highway to Heaven: Dust Child Highway to Heaven: Going Home, Going Home Highway to Heaven: Help Wanted: Angel Highway to Heaven: Highway to Heaven, Part 1 Highway to Heaven: Highway to Heaven, Part 2 Highway to Heaven: Hotel of Dreams Highway to Heaven: One Fresh Batch of Lemonade, Part 1 Highway to Heaven: One Fresh Batch of Lemonade, Part 2 Highway to Heaven: One Winged Angels Highway to Heaven: Plane Death Highway to Heaven: Song of the Wild West Highway to Heaven: The Banker and the Bum Highway to Heaven: The Brightest Star Highway to Heaven: The Return of the Masked Rider Highway to Heaven: The Right Thing Highway to Heaven: Thoroughbreds, Part 1 Highway to Heaven: Thoroughbreds, Part 2 Highway to Heaven: To Touch the Moon
Highway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.
It starred Michael Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent down to earth "on probation", and his human companion Mark Gordon, played by Victor French. Jonathan and Mark are given "assignments" by "The Boss" (God) where they are required to use their humanity (and sometimes a little bit of "The Stuff") in order to help various troubled souls to overcome their problems. Examples of these problems include families dealing with sick loved ones, wealthy and greedy businessmen being encouraged to use their wealth for good, and discouraging prejudice in regards to people of different ethnicities/appearances/socioeconomic backgrounds or who have disabilities. While dealing with these situations with sensitivity, Highway to Heaven also utilised humour - particularly between Jonathan and Mark, who would often goad each other. Jonathan's mission on Earth was to do enough good so that he could 'earn his wings' and presumably, ascend to heaven. Due to the close relationship that builds between Jonathan and Mark, this becomes a contentious issue as Mark doesn't want to lose his friend to "The Boss", and sometimes tries to prevent it from happening.
Although French appeared as an old man, he was in fact less than two years older than Landon. The third popular Michael Landon television vehicle (after Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie), it consisted of 111 episodes produced over five seasons.
The theme tune for Highway to Heaven was performed by David Rose.
The show was removed from the 1988 fall schedule and used as a mid-season replacement in 1989. This change was explained by Michael Landon on an appearance he made on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in early 1989 and is why the episodes, which were originally filmed in the fall of 1988, did not air until the late spring and into the summer of 1989 (the last episode aired on August 4, 1989). The series ending was due to it being canceled by the network and may not have been solely the consequence of Victor French's death in June 1989 from lung cancer.
Filming locations included Los Angeles, Simi Valley, Stanislaus National Forest, and Tuolumne County, all in California, USA. In addition, the pilot episode from 1984 was partially filmed along Dawn Road, South of Tucson, AZ. The footage of Jonathan walking before being picked up by Mark was filmed in Tucson and along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton, CA.
Guest stars
Guest stars Devon Odessa, Alyson Croft, and Joshua John Miller all won Young Artist Awards for their appearances. Landon's Bonanza co-star Lorne Greene also earned critical acclaim for his own appearance in a 1985 episode. Barbara Stuart appeared as Carla in the 1986 two-part episode "Love and Marriage". In his last roles, Tyler McVey appeared in separate episodes in 1985 and 1986 as a minister. Don Keefer portrayed Dr. Washburn in the 1986 episode "For the Love of Larry". Anthony Zerbe played a servant of the devil in the episode "The Devil and Jonathan Smith". In the May 1985 2 part episode, "The Thoroughbred", future Academy Award winning actress Helen Hunt starred as a young and expectant mother with cancer.
DVD releases
Region 1 USA DVD Releases
A&E Home Video has released the first 3 seasons on DVD in Region 1. The episodes contained on these releases are edited, syndicated versions and not the original ones. It is not known if the remaining 2 seasons will be released on Region 1 DVD.
Interviews with Cindy Landon, Kent McCray, Susan McCray & Dennis Korn.
Text Biographies of Michael Landon and Victor French
Region 4 Australia DVD Releases
Paramount Home Entertainment/CBS DVD has released the first 3 seasons on DVD in Region 4. The episodes contained on these releases are edited, syndicated versions and not the original ones. According to various websites, Seasons 4 and 5 will be released on DVD on 24 December, 2009.
The Australian Region 4 DVD releases do not contain the Region 1 DVD Extras, but do have English and French soundtracks and subtitles. This appears to be the same line of DVDs being released in Germany as "Ein Engel auf Erden" (An Angel on Earth) and France as "Les Routes Du Paradis" (The Roads Of Paradise). Les Routes Du Paradis "Saison 4" has been available for purchase in France since June 2009. According to Australian retailers including EzyDVD, Highway to Heaven Seasons 4 and 5 will be available on DVD in Australia from 24 December 2009.
