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.

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...

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.

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!