Rich Man, Poor Man is a 1976 American television miniseries based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Irwin Shaw that aired on ABC in one or two-hour episodes mostly on Monday nights over seven weeks, beginning February 1. It was produced by Universal Television and was the second time programming of this nature had been attempted. The first TV miniseries, QB VII, had aired — also on ABC — in 1974. These projects proved to be a critical and ratings success and were the forerunner for similar projects based on literary works, such as Roots and Shōgun. The miniseries stars Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte and Susan Blakely.
The nine-part miniseries won four Primetime Emmy Awards of the 23 for which it was nominated, and won four of its six Golden Globe Award nominations.
It spawned the sequel Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, which aired from September 1976 through March 1977. The network repeated the original series Tuesday nights at 9:00pm from May to June 1977.
Plot Based on the best-selling 1969 novel by Irwin Shaw, it spans the period 1945 through the late 1960s and follows the divergent career courses of the impoverished German American Jordache brothers. Rudy (Peter Strauss) is the titular rich man, a well-educated and very ambitious entrepreneur who triumphs over his background and constructs a corporate and political empire. Poor man Tom (Nick Nolte) is a rebel who eventually turns to boxing to support himself. Axel and Mary are their parents, and Julie Prescott is Rudy's lifelong sweetheart who eventually marries him.
Later, another important character appears: the dangerous and eccentric Falconetti, lifelong nemesis of the Jordache Brothers, who is intent on killing them.
The first series spans a twenty-year period between 1945 and 1965; the second series begins in 1968. The series became a huge success in the countries that aired it.
Cast
Main cast Peter Strauss as Rudy Jordache Nick Nolte as Tom Jordache Susan Blakely as Julie Prescott
Guest stars Steve Allen as Bayard Nichols Edward Asner as Axel Jordache Bill Bixby as Willie Abbott Dick Butkus as Al Fanducci Kim Darby as Virginia Calderwood Andrew Duggan as Col. Deiner Mike Evans as Arnold Simms Norman Fell as Smitty Fionnula Flanagan as Clothilde Lynda Day George as Linda Quayles Gloria Grahame as Sue Prescott Murray Hamilton as Sid Gossett Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Roy Dwyer Van Johnson as Marsh Goodwin Kay Lenz as Kate Jordache George Maharis as Joey Quayles Dorothy Malone as Irene Goodwin Dorothy McGuire as Mary Jordache Tim McIntire as Brad Knight Ray Milland as Duncan Calderwood Lawrence Pressman as Bill Denton Robert Reed as Teddy Boylan Dick Sargent as Eddie Heath Talia Shire as Teresa Santoro William Smith as Anthony Falconetti Craig Stevens as Asher Berg
Episode list
Production notes Dean Riesner wrote all twelve episodes, and direction was shared by David Greene and Boris Sagal. The musical score was composed by Alex North.
Awards and nominations Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Drama Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama Nick Nolte Peter Strauss Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama Susan Blakely Best Supporting Actor – Television Ed Asner Best Supporting Actress – Television Josette Banzet Grammy Awards Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special Rich Man, Poor Man – Alex North Online Film & Television Association Awards Hall of Fame – Television Programs Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited Series Harve Bennett and Jon Epstein Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series Nick Nolte Peter Strauss Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series Susan Blakely Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Ray Milland Robert Reed Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Dorothy McGuire Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series Ed Asner Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Series Bill Bixby Norman Fell Van Johnson Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Comedy or Drama Series Kim Darby Fionnula Flanagan Kay Lenz Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series David Greene Boris Sagal Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Dean Riesner Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design – Single Episode of a Comedy, Drama or Limited Series William Hiney and Joseph Stone Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming for a Series Howard Schwartz Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama or Comedy Series Charles Waldo Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series – For a Single Episode of a Drama or Limited Series Richard Bracken Douglas Stewart Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series Alex North TP de Oro Best Foreign Series Best Foreign Actor Peter Strauss Most Popular Personage William Smith TV Land Awards Miniseries You Didn't Miss a Moment Of
Home media A&E Home Video released an edited version of Rich Man, Poor Man: The Complete Collection on Region 1 DVD in the United States on September 28, 2010.
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