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.
Contents
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
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.
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.