Superb drama about the fact that wealth can't buy happiness and that a hard life, when filled with compassion can bring satisfying results.Nick Nolte and Peter Strauss were absolutely superb in their roles as the Jordache brothers. Under the thumb, of a violent, German immigrant father, played with tremendous force by Ed Asner, both sons chose different paths of lives to follow, and with it success and constant trouble dominate only to show that in the end we may have to vary our very definition of success.As the mother, Dorothy McGuire had the best role she ever had since her 1947 Oscar nominated film "Gentleman's Agreement." Her part what that of a tormented woman who felt she had married beneath her. (Axel Jordache-Asner) Furthermore, she never let him forget his missed opportunities for economic success.This series proves that success may be achieved by hard work, but that work will take its toll as it very well defines a person.Many social issues are discussed in the film, wealth versus poverty, blacklisting, The Rosenberg Case, anti-black attitudes, etc. We see a changing society in a very good mini-series.

Older people than me have been saying for years; Television ain't what it used to be. These old geesers were usually referring to the grand ol' soaps like "Dallas", "MASH" or even "The Rockford Files". Many referred to "Rich Man, Poor Man" as the best series they ever saw. Once when asked about my favorite villains my extensive knowledge was severely questioned when I failed to name Falconetti. I only knew of Falconetti through "Beautiful Girls", as he was mentioned by Matt Dillon as a nasty guy in TV history. I recently checked out "Rich Man, Poor Man" and it didn't disappoint.A sprawling epic, spanning over twenty years (1945-1966). This mini-series follows the lives of two brothers, Rudy and Tom Jordache (Strauss and Nolte). Rudy is the rich man of the title and Tom the poor.You really can't beat these mid-70's TV series. "Rich Man, Poor Man" was a highly ambitious project, adapting a 600 plus page novel chronicling two eventful lives amidst great social changes in America. As with all great American TV, there's much drama here, action and politics.The cast here is great; Peter Strauss is his usually subdued self as Rudy, the somber but extremely ambitious business man who slowly builds himself an empire. Nick Nolte is perfect as the hot-blooded Tom, whose temper in the end proves very fateful. Along for the ride are some stellar guest stars such as Bill Bixby, Susan Blakely, Murray Hamilton, Edward Asner, Kay Lenz and of course William Smith as Falconetti.So, I'd like to concur with these old geesers who state; TV just ain't what it used to be.

Every time I go in a video store or look up videos to rent or purchase online, I always put Rich Man Poor Man in the search engine. Always to come up empty though. This was TV at its best. Nothing topped this back in the 70's but maybe Luke and Laura on General Hospital. I remember always getting pumped up cause a new episode was coming on. If my memory is correct, I am pretty sure it was tuesday night, I know the opening episode was a 2 hr long Sunday night treat.I really wish I could watch this again and see if it still holds up to this day. I really don't think it could lose much of the magic, since it was told in an earlier year sequence anyways. I guess the only thing different now would be the actors are a lot older these days. I will never forget the Tom Jordache and Falconetti last episode. That will always stay in my memory forever. Ed Asner was also excellent.

A huge favorite with college students and adults. People quickly formed parties around the series. It was an amazing part of television history. People talked about the show all week long waiting for the next installment. The use of established stars and new faces created a great deal of believability in the story line. Shows like Dallas, Dynasty, and other miniseries like Roots owe their success to Rich Man, Poor Man. America was glued to the miniseries format. The use of real historic events created the feeling that the author was relating true events to you through the characters. Successful television shows and movies, such as Wonder Years and Forrest Gump, have applied this format.