In the 1840s, George Hazard (James Read) from Pennsylvania and Orry Main (Patrick Swayze) from South Carolina enroll at West Point and become friends for lifeā¦ but the increasing tension between North and South threatens to tear them and their families apart.Ā One of the most expensive (and popular) miniseries of its time turns the volatile times of pre-Civil War America into a lavishĀ DynastyĀ with rose-colored sex, fistfights and cliffhangers. Every character is either a hero or villain, but this is nevertheless hugely enjoyable and impressively staged. There are genuine stabs at treating historical events earnestly. Bill Contiās grand main title theme is sheer perfection.
1985-U.S. Made for TV. 561 min. Color. Produced byĀ Paul Freeman. Directed byĀ Richard T. Heffron. Teleplay: Douglas Heyes, Patricia Green, Paul F. Edwards, Kathleen A. Shelley. Novel: John Jakes. Music: Bill Conti. Cast: Patrick Swayze (Orry Main), James Read (George Hazard), Lesley-Anne Down (Madeline Fabray), Wendy Kilbourne, Kirstie Alley, Terri Garberā¦ David Carradine, Jean Simmons, Morgan Fairchild, Forest Whitaker, Elizabeth Taylor, Hal Holbrook, Johnny Cash.
Trivia:Ā Originally shown in six episodes. Followed by two additional miniseries, starting withĀ North and South: Book IIĀ (1986).
Last word:Ā “[Swayze] was 31 and I was 30 and it was 1985 so we behaved accordingly. We had enormous fun. It was a huge time of discovery, both of our talent as much as through our party selves. We were a very close-knit group of people and we spent all of our time together for almost a year. We used to go to a club, I think it was called BBT in Charleston, South Carolina. We lived there. He was an amazing dancer, of course. And we all went out dancing, all the time.” (Down, Entertainment Weekly)