Il ricco e il povero

This excellent mini-series was actually the first mini-series ever aired and is absolutely flawless from start to finish.

Featuring knockout performances from Nick Nolte as Tom Jordache, Peter Strauss as Rudy Jordache and Susan Blakely as Julie Prescott, this series begins on VE night in 1945 and we follow the three leads over the next three turbulent decades. This is the role that made Nolte a star and he turns in a blockbuster performance in this one. If you get the chance, SEE THIS ONE!

Also features a fine supporting cast with Ed Asner in an Emmy Award Winning performance as Axel Jordache and in one of the best villainous roles I have ever seen, William Smith as Falconetti.

"Rich Man, Poor Man," was the very first mini-series on television.

It was the very first of what they called "the long form." Though almost all the television history books say that "Roots" was the first, that is simply not true. It was "Rich Man, Poor Man," a 12 hour mini-series that everyone stayed home to watch. The t.v. historians should be more accurate. This was great television at it's best, produced from ABC and Universal. It was one of Fred Silverman's finest accomplishments and that of Brandon Stoddard as well. You have to credit producer Harve Bennett and the head of ABC television's new department at that time, Esther Shapiro who brought us many great movies and mini-series. It starred Nick Nolte, Susan Blakely and Peter Strauss. It had a cast that has remained unequaled in television.

Arguably the best mini series ever. I was in high school when ABC was airing RMPM and I definitely didn't miss any of the episodes. I guess most high school kids, well boys anyway, could relate to Tom Jordache. All you want to do is get the heck out of school and move on. As for the series itself the diamonds in the rough were Ed Asner as Axel Jordache and Bill Bixby as Willie Abbott. Asner did a great job getting away from the Lou Grant persona and becoming the brutish Jordache and everybody knew Bill Bixby as the nice guy dad on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father". Bixby did a great job playing the role of the lazy, irresponsible Willie Abbott. For eye candy there was Lynda Day George playing the wife of one of Tommy's boxing rivals. She was really a knockout in that bathing suit. And Susan Blakely wasn't too bad either. Another surprise was William Smith as Falconetti the bad guy. Hey, I was used to seeing him as one of the good guy Texas Rangers on "Laredo" back in the mid 60s. At any rate I wish they'd pull both RMPM parts 1 and 2 out of the archives for another generation.

Not only was this the first mini-series, but one of the most entertaining as well. There are good times, bad times, funny times, and sad times. Nick Nolte and Peter Strauss were excellent. Televised by ABC in 1976, 25 years ago. There are 12 episodes totaling about 9 1/2 hours. I wish ABC would pull the series out of the archives, and replay it for this new generation. It's a timeless classic that I would love to enjoy one more time.

Finally - the best ever TV mini series is available to buy on DVD as a box set - i could'nt wait to get it . I could'nt understand why it was not available - found it as a box set on Amazon.co.uk (it is on region 2 - so you will need a multi region DVD player if you are outside of region 2 ). A very young Nick Nolte and Peter Stauss - with fantastic performances from both of them , launching their careers . I will be spending a lot of time re-watching the DVD - does'nt seem like 28 years since audiences around the world were captivated by the strong acting and storyline - yet there were only 12 episodes , seemed like so much more.