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.

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.

I remember when I first saw this miniseries. Week after week, I would literally swallow the episode in and then hungrily wait for the next one!The storyline was great, the acting was great, and the settings were great. I laughed, I cried, I clutched my chair in anticipation during the tense scenes. In short, I loved it!This was the first time I had seen Nick Nolte and he was GREAT! That year, Ed Asner won the Emmy and the Golden Globe for Best Leading Actor in a series, but I think Nolte was robbed. Nolte was fantastic!