Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue

Over the top dated soap. Sex as currency, sex sells. The usual cheap story seen in a lot of TV productions of that era.

I watched 79 Park Avenue years and years ago and absolutely loved it! Lesley Ann Warren is so talented and I think she was so believable in this role as a high class prostitute/madam. If I remember correctly, Lesley won an award for her role in this mini series, didn't she? Does anybody out there have any idea on how to get a copy of this movie, either in VHS or DVD? I sure wish they would show this movie again or at least make it available to purchase. It's unbelievable that there are so many reruns of every other TV sitcom and movie (sometimes showing the same movie over and over again in the same week) that it makes one wonder why they don't bring back some of those fantastic mini series on one of the cable channels.

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.

I loved this mini-series and in my opinion it ranks right up there with the Thornbirds. I think it would be a hit if it came out on DVD. Lesley Ann Warren was superb as Marja. With her beauty and high class demeanor she adds another dimension to the character. Marc Singer was also great casting as Ross. He brought a sense of vulnerability and passion to the role of the gangster. And what better choice for Mike than David Dukes who conveyed the qualities of integrity and idealism. The characters played off one another beautifully and created an nostalgic atmosphere of real romance and heartfelt love. In this era of graphic sexuality I find it ironic that I would find a movie about a prostitute to be such a sensational love story but I do.

I first watched the mini-series back in 1977/1978 and bought the book to read straight after. Needless to say I couldn't put it down even though I should have been revising for my school exams! The T.V. adaptation was absolutely brilliant.The choice of the three major characters was outstanding.Lesley Ann Warren has a " je ne sais quoi" you don't find in many actresses today, t.v.or movie. David Dukes and Marc Singer were just superb. The translation of a story about vice and prostitution into a story of long lasting love and devotion was just breathtaking, for want of a better word. I would also be VERY interested in a DVD version, if there is one out there?