Master of the Game
Master of the Game
| 19 February 1984 (USA)
SEASON & EPISODES
  • 1
  • Season 1 : 1984 | 9 Episodes

    EP1 Fraud Feb 19, 1984

    Jamie McGregor has a dream: He wants to get rich through diamonds. That's why he travels to South Africa to try his luck in Klipdrift. When he meets the dealer Salomon Van der Merwe and his daughter Margaret there, the man agrees to help the aspiring diamond collector. But Salomon turns out to be a fraud

    EP2 The Discovery Feb 19, 1984

    Jamie and his new friend Banda set out on their own to search for diamonds in the Namib Desert. They can hardly believe their luck when they actually find what they are looking for. Despite their shared success, the friends have to part ways: James, now wealthy, wants to return to Klipdrift alone and take revenge for Salomon's betrayal.

    EP3 Growth Feb 19, 1984

    Margaret gives birth to Jamie's illegitimate child, and they begin a marriage of convenience for the boy's sake. But Margaret actually loves the father of her child. Meanwhile, workers' dissatisfaction is spreading at Jamie's mines.

    EP4 Achievements Feb 19, 1984

    After her mother's death, Kate takes over the company Krüger-Brent, Ltd. She becomes a successful businesswoman and marries David Blackwell, the company's vice president. But after the two have their son Tony, the family is struck by a terrible blow of fate.

    EP5 The artist Feb 19, 1984

    Tony Blackwell, who doesn't want to take over his mother Kate's business, begins studying painting in Paris. Things initially go well for the young man in the metropolis: his works are well received and he gets to know the nude model Dominique. But when he reads a review of his works, everything suddenly changes.

    EP6 A perfect plan Feb 19, 1984

    Kate's goal is to build a dynasty, whereupon her son Tony marries Marianne, a company subsidiary. When she becomes pregnant with twins, the young man is finally supposed to be happy. But a certain woman always seems to have a hand in things.

    EP7 The Twins Feb 19, 1984

    While Kate slowly recovers from her son Tony's attempted murder, he cannot withstand the psychological stress; he goes crazy and is sent to a mental institution. His daughters, the twins Eve and Alexandra, are growing up with Kate. The entrepreneur has earmarked Eve as her heir, but she doesn't show her true colors to her grandmother.

    EP8 The intruder Feb 19, 1984

    Eve meets the Greek George, who quickly turns out to be a fraud. She then decides to send the young man to her twin sister: He should approach Alexandra in order to get her money. But the plan is part of a larger maneuver.

    EP9 The inheritance Feb 19, 1984

    After the successful reconstruction of Eve's face, she continues to pursue the plan to get rid of Alexandra once and for all in order to become the sole heir to "Krüger-Brent, Ltd". She goes to see psychiatrist Dr. Harley pretends to be her twin sister and makes him believe she is depressed. When this plan doesn't work, George is supposed to kill Alexandra. But once again Eve is one step ahead of everyone.
    Reviews
    phd_travel

    From the Golden Age of television miniseries this is one of the exceptional ones. If you haven't seen it yet - watch it! There is a grand historical sweep and a thrilling story with twists and turns, a moving score and theme, and good casting. Harry Hamlin was good. Angarhad Rees as his wife was quite memorable. Even the actress who played the twins Eve and Alexandra was good.Dyan Cannon was quite memorable. The only problem with her role was that she was a bit old to play the earlier years of her character. She should have taken over slightly later.They don't make them like they used to. Wish Hollywood would find some good stories like this to make into miniseries with A list actors and actresses.

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    Corto Danzigese

    After seeing BBC's wonderful "Rhodes" I thought it to be another decent series about South Africa and diamonds but it turned out to be just another soap opera - and to be frank, quite awful. The worst thing is, the first episode was great and contained everything a movie about diamonds and Africa should contain. We have solid British actors, good scenario that mixes thriller and adventure genres, and a wonderful south African scenery. I was completely thrilled and really enjoyed McGregor's path to power and reeneactment of the lawless colonial frontier. Then next episodes came and demolished what first episode established. Suddenly action moved completely to the US and storyline changed into another soap opera with unbelievable plots. American actors deepened the impression, as they clearly don't come close to their British counterparts (not that American actors are bad in general, only that in this series they are clearly of third-rate stock). Somehow producers achieved an amazing feat of making six episodes, of series about a south African diamond dynasty, with cutting out South Africa and diamonds. Instead we get a terrible mash of truly awful plot twists in a worst "guilty pleasure" manner (check storyline synopsis on wikipedia, it will give you good idea). The problem of movies like this one, is that they try to imitate life, while life beats them with own stories much more compelling - life of Africa's first diamond potentate Cecil Rhodes was more fascinating than any soap opera dummies. Thus, if you want to learn about south African diamond magnates I recommend watching opulent and well acted „Rhodes" or „Mountain of Diamonds" based on Wilbur Smith (very similar in storyline), instead of this catastrophe. Apparently only British can make a good TV mini-series these days...

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    BronxLat

    Saw this movie when it first aired on television and then a second time when it aired again. Excellent piece of movie-making, despite the fact it was "made-for-tv!"I'd recommend it to anyone who has an opportunity to experience it. Terrific performances by Dyan Cannon and Harry Hamlin as mother & son.I would really LOVE to own a copy of this movie, but know it is not available on VHS let alone DVD.

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    MrsScott

    From start to finish, this mini-series had me mesmerized. I have read the book, and this was one mini-series that actually stayed true to the book! Great acting by Dyan Canon in a role that followed her life for 80 years!

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