"Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Directors:

Bill Bixby
David Greene

Writers:

Dean Riesner (writer)
Irwin Shaw (novel)

Release Date:

1 February 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An examination of the trials and tribulations of the Jordache family, from the period following World War II to the late 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Johny Falconetti | TV Mini-Series | Family Relationships | Based On Novel

Awards:

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Peter Strauss	...	Rudy Jordache
Nick Nolte	...	Tom Jordache
Susan Blakely	...	Julie Prescott
Steve Allen	...	Bayard Nichols
Edward Asner	...	Axel Jordache
Bill Bixby	...	Willie Abbott
Dick Butkus	...	Al Fanducci
Kim Darby	...	Virginia Calderwood
Andrew Duggan	...	Col. Deiner
Mike Evans	...	Arnold Simms
Norman Fell	...	Smitty
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Clothilde
Lynda Day George	...	Linda Quales
Gloria Grahame	...	Sue Prescott
Murray Hamilton	...	Sid Gossett

Also Known As:

Rich Man, Poor Man - Book I

Runtime:

720 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

Don Johnson, a good friend of Nick Nolte and his co-star in Return to Macon County (1975) auditioned for the role of 'Rudy Jordache'.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the fight with Tom Jordache, Falconetti is taken off the ship with his left eye bandaged up. When we see him later he has his right eye covered with the black patch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (#11.6)" (1999)

The first and one of the few best!

The first ever television mini-series was broadcast as 12 x 50 minute episodes in the U.K., either side of 'News At Ten' on three consecutive Wednesday and Friday nights throughout July, in that summer, of 1976. It was ITV's answer to the BBC's coverage of the Olympics at the time-and what an answer!

The story of Rudy & Tom Jordache...two brothers who battled through their conflicting lifestyles in two different ways. Based on the best-selling novel by Irwin Shaw, we are taken on a roller-coaster ride starting in Port Philip, New York in 1945 through to the French Riviera in the mid-60's. A classic tale of Rags to Riches and Happiness to Heartbreak.

Messrs. Strauss and Nolte are awesome as the brothers with the fine support of Susan Blakely as the love interest in the story. All this interjected with a great well known cast, a legend of the TV Screens was born.

The series won countless Emmy nominations and came away with Four in total in the form of Edward Asner, Fionnuala Flanagan, composer Alex North and director, David Greene.

Don't miss this one!