It's been three decades since I saw this mini series, but recall how much I loved it at the time. The story is set back in the 1930's Depression Era and revolves around a poor New York tenement girl named Marja, accused of murdering her drunken step father who had in fact raped her. Through circumstance, she is forced into teenage prostitution and eventually becomes a famous, high priced Park Avenue madam, now know as Marianne. She is also a mob mistress, involved with a gangster named Ross, a Las Vegas high roller.
Lesley Ann Warren is absolutely wonderful, both as the lovely young, abused Marja and later the gorgeous, elegant, sophisticated high class madam, Marianne. I note that she, quite deservedly, won a Golden Globe Award for her role. However, my favorite character and the one that has remained with me through these many years is Mike, the idealistic man of integrity and the cop who loves her. I fell a little in love with him myself back then! Mike is compellingly portrayed here by actor David Dukes. I don't recall much about Ross's role, I was so besotted with Mike, though seem to remember him as a fairly sympathetic character.
It's been a long time, and I never read Harold Robbins' book, so have forgotten most of the details but I highly recommend this mini series about enduring love in the New York underworld of vice and prostitution. Personally, I would dearly love to see it again myself.
