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Rich Man Poor Man - Book 1 [1976]

Directors: Bill Bixby, Boris Sagal, David Greene
Actors: Nick Nolte, Gloria Grahame, Peter Strauss, Susan Blakely, Edward Asner
Studio: Playback
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~Ł35.99~~
Buy New: Ł14.95
You Save: Ł21.04 (58%)

New (11) Used (2) from Ł14.69

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

6 reviews
Sales Rank: 3841

Format: Box Set, Pal, Subtitled
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 516
Discs: 3
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 5.5 x 0.9

EAN: 3259190239890
ASIN: B000063BJ3

Theatrical Release Date: February 1, 1976
Release Date: July 15, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Sealed. ** Family Run Business ** International Shippers ** UK Dispatch - 2 BUSINESS DAYS ** Sent First Class.

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Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...

1 out of 5 stars

From the States: Bad Region 2 discs July 10, 2008
Here in the U.S. this American mini series was watched by millions when first originally aired in 1976. Unfortunately, for us Americans this much loved TV series has yet to be released on DVD here. So, I ordered this release from Amazon.com UK which much anticipation.

I own two region-free DVD players and I have many DVDs from around the world that I would otherwise not be able to watch if it weren't for my player. However, for some reason -- I don't know what -- my region-free DVD players will not play these discs. In fact, one of my region-free DVD players is a new player and will play any disc I put in there but not "Rich Man, Poor Man Book I."

I did get Discs 1 and 3 to play but only momentarily. I was able to see the prints (which are excellent) but as this is 9 hours in length I can't be hassled with repeated effors to get the disc to play after I watch an hour or so and then go back to it. My region-free DVD players simply reject these pressings.

This, of course, is a great disappointment to me as this is such a wonderful story with Nick Nolte, Peter Strauss and Edward Asner. It would cost too much for me to return the discs to Amazon UK so I wanted to write this review to warn my fellow Americans that if you decide to purchase the set you may end up with the same problem I have.

The box set is beautiful but it really does me no good if I can't watch the DVDs.

1 out of 5 stars

Rich man poor show! February 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I purchased this and the cover said Chapters1-11. OK what that means in effect is that one Chapter is completely missed out ie the penultimate one! This makes a complete hash of the whole box set. I have however given it one star as included is the great fight between Toomy Jordache (Nick Nolte) and Falconetti (William Smith). I wathched that back in '76 and you just knew Tommy would give Falconetti what he deserved- in this case the loss of an eye! Nice one Tommy!

5 out of 5 stars

Gripping and thoughtful January 15, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

No-one who has ever thought, even idly, of writing a novel should allow themselves to skip this story. There has not quite been anything like it since. It's astonishing; Irwin Shaw, by the time he wrote this, must surely had lived an enviable and pretty awesome life, back in those complicated and hazardous years around the wars.

I remember that I was by no means the only one who discovered the power of this series when I was 16 or so. The story had a powerful resonance with boys of my generation. Odd in a way; that long ago era should not have held such significance for us back then in the mid seventies. But Shaw doesn't worry too much about those kind of specifics, except when they suit his acute observational powers. The story could be set in any time interval at all.

Well then; two boys grow up, second generation immigrants on their father's side. And what different boys they are; Tom, rough, rude, fights anyone who gets in the way, and quite a few that don't - he just fancies giving someone a bruise, and his brother Rudy, who is the apple of his mother's eye.

Just giving you that information might give you an idea of fate and the trajectory of the story for a few episodes; Tom gets into enough trouble to have to leave home when he is still really not nearly ready; and his life afterwards is very troubled.

But after a short while, Shaw, genius that he is, allows us to peel back the superficial gloss of the storyboard you think is his main canvas and see what lays beneath; and what a surprise and astonishment this turns out to be. In fact, this slow revelation of the true character of both boys is what made this so utterly compulsive throughout. None of us, way back then, missed a single episode.

I think that a lot of the boys I knew identified with both of the boys to greater or lesser degrees; for most of my friends, and myself, it was Tom; there was never any doubt about that. Rudy, of course, seems to have chosen a much more obviously better life, and we sort of knew that we ought to have been more like him, and on the side of the angels.

But there is a swift and savage deconstruction that takes place that demolishes this and, I suspect, any other casual thesis. Without giving too much away, by the time the story winds around to it's end, the whole stage, as it were, is in turmoil. Rudy, when it comes to the crunch, is cruel, an empty vessel; in his relationship with his mother, this failure is complete and devastating.

In contrast, Tom is only slowly revealed in his true colours; it is a journey of some complexity that we take one step at a time with him. It appears that, bar some bad temper, it is Tom, in fact, who has the warmth and tenderness; Tom who is there for his mother; Tom, again, who has the better morality; and finally, Tom, who makes the great and terrible sacrifices necessary to try to put things back to calm and equilibrium.

There is a lot of talk about fate with regard to this story; but what really seems to me to be the thing on which all of it hinges is the triumph of good character. Tom is helpless to avoid consequence, but the great bulk of this beyond a certain point is entirely out of his hands. Events transpiring in the end are not originated by him, and in the end, we all know beyond doubt that it is not his fault. What happens to him then, I would argue, is NOT tragedy, but misfortune. Tom... in the end... succeeds.

We are left then with Rudy. What a terrible spectacle he is; his fate, in many ways is far worse than Tom's and indeed, in the second series, we see this with terrible clarity.

One example; he holds off at a distance in his youth the girl that he loves, and in fact, puts everything in front of love for some years. His success in doing so results in his damnation; he has become a cold, calculating, reptilian opportunist. When he finally accepts romance and beds his girl, the effect in the audience is not so much relief as anxiety - by this time we are afraid FOR that girl, who has waited so long. At this late point, this is evidently bad news; and it certainly turns out that way for her. Rudy IS bad news.

It gets worse. Manipulative business deals; politics; blackmail; finally, no feelings are left, even for his mother, who realizes too late that she always neglected Tom, who by this time has been greatly softened, and, for all his fighting ability, is a profoundly gentle person.

So it goes, and if you have any sense, watch this.

The title music is, in itself quite something; a superficially simple theme, with one of the strangest and most unexpected moments I have ever heard; just for an instant the music becomes larger than it was, greater in some undefinable sense and profoundly sad; but only for a heartbeat.

Very, VERY recommended.

5 out of 5 stars

23 Emmy Nominations - a winner of Four. September 28, 2006
50 out of 52 found this review helpful

The original classic Television Mini-Series based on the Novel by the late Irwin Shaw is a wonderful tale which evolves around the contrasting lifestyles and personalities of Rudy & Tom Jordache.

First screened in the UK on three consecutive Wednesdays & Fridays throughout July of 1976, "Rich Man, Poor Man" was a sure-fire winner and set the standard of the new genre of novels for television. The series made international stars of it's three unknown leads, especially Nick Nolte. There are also some great supporting performances in the form of Edward Asner, Dorothy McGuire, Bill Bixby and Ray Milland.

The series takes you on a rollercoaster ride of life from a small surburb of New York at the end of World War II through to the Mediterranean Coast of the mid-60's. You will rejoice, cry, and be totally overcome by the encapsulating story as events are sprinkled with a sudden twist of fate throughout the years.

"Rich Man, Poor Man" was nominated for 23 Emmy Awards and was the winner of Four including a Best Supporting Actor award for Edward Asner who played the brothers' Father, Axel Jordache. The series also received a number of Golden Globe awards and nominations.

It's wonderful to finally own this classic on a DVD set, even though it could really do with a prestigious remastered special edition because it truly deserves it. Finally, just as a word of warning - please make sure you purchase the DVD set that states it is Chapters 1-12 Book One on the cover and not Chapters 1-11!

The weekly serial "Rich Man, Poor Man - Book 2", the sequel, should be released on a DVD Box Set by Universal-Playback in early 2007!

5 out of 5 stars

Where's Book 2 (DVD) September 4, 2006
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This was a fantastic miniseries and set a benchmark for all to follow. The tale of two brothers Tom and Rudy, one with thriving ambition to succeed and one who wanted to just get by. The plot although simple kept everyone who watched it over several episodes completely hooked. The story had it all, love, lost love, drama, revenge and a few poignant moments which just made you want to cry! However there was a sequel, when is it going to be released for us all to enjoy?????? Come on shake a leg!!!