79 Park Avenue is a skillful if romanticized version of a Prostitute with a Heart of Gold. Leslie Ann Warren was great casting as was the rest of the other actors, in particular a young 18 year old actress Maria Grimm who plays the role of the one who initiates Marja into stripping. My father was an extra in the audience when they taped that sequence and though Leslie Anne had years of Broadway training as a hoofer, it was Miss Grimm's intense, rhythmically mesmerizing yet innocent 'Strip' that took his, and all our breaths away. It's a good thing we never met her as we might have fought over her. She is HOT and SWEET. Miss Grimm, more than anyone in the series, captured the essence of what a 'Woman-Child' should be, someone who could fit in your heart's pocket but send you to the Moon with her sweet Sass. I'd like to see the entire series, not the cut up version currently occasionally seen on T.V. as the Series is timeless, and the story compelling, and the acting wonderful.

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 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?

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.