Pearl (miniseries)
| Pearl | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Stirling Silliphant |
| Directed by | Hy Averback Alexander Singer |
| Starring | Angie Dickinson Dennis Weaver Robert Wagner Lesley Ann Warren Tiana Alexandra Gregg Henry Katherine Helmond Adam Arkin Brian Dennehy Max Gail Char Fontane Audra Lindley Richard Anderson Marion Ross |
| Music by | John Addison |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Frank Konigsberg Stirling Silliphant |
| Producer | Sam Manners |
| Cinematography | Gayne Rescher |
| Editor | Donald R. Rode |
| Running time | minutes |
| Production company | Warner Bros. Television |
| Distributor | ABC |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | November 16–19, 1978 |
Pearl is a 1978 American television miniseries about events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, based on Stirling Silliphant's novel of the same title.[1] It starred a large cast, notably Dennis Weaver, Tiana Alexandra, Robert Wagner, Angie Dickinson, Brian Dennehy, Lesley Ann Warren, Gregg Henry, Max Gail, Richard Anderson, Marion Ross, Audra Lindley, Char Fontane, Katherine Helmond and Adam Arkin.
The miniseries aired in three installments on ABC on November 16, 17 and 19, 1978. All three parts were among the top ten most watched prime time shows of the week, with the series watched all or in part by about 80 million people.[2]
Cast[]
- Angie Dickinson as Midge Forrest
- Dennis Weaver as Col. Jason Forrest
- Robert Wagner as Capt. Cal Lankford
- Lesley Ann Warren as Dr. Carol Lang
- Tiana Alexandra as Holly Nagata
- Gregg Henry as Lt. Doug North
- Katherine Helmond as Mrs. Sally Colton
- Adam Arkin as Pvt. Billy Zylowski
- Brian Dennehy as Sgt. Otto Chain
- Max Gail as 1st Sgt. Walder
- Char Fontane as Shirley
- Audra Lindley as Lily (General's Wife)
- Richard Anderson as Cmdr. Michael North
- Marion Ross as Ellie North
- Allan Miller as Harrison
- as Pvt. John Finger
- Mary Crosby as Patricia North
- as Lt. Christopher
Plot summary[]
While the Japanese First Air Fleet sails toward Hawaii personnel at the varied bases as well as civilians go about their lives. Primary protagonists are hard scrabble and bigoted Army MP Colonel Jason Forrest and his clashes with his bitter wife Midge, his well-to-do XO Captain Calvin Lankford, and briefly with local news writer Holly Nagata and punkish MP Sergeant Otto Chain.
On the Navy side are Lieutenant Douglas North and his father (Commander Michael North) and mother and also his reacquaintence with former classmate Holly Nagata, a friendship she successfully makes a romantic relationship (right to seducing Doug in her car; though unstated in the miniseries their lovemaking results in pregnancy).
Everyone’s lives are torn asunder when the Japanese attack strikes the island.
Production[]
To keep production costs manageable, the scenes of the attack were footage originally shot for the film Tora! Tora! Tora!. The miniseries also used newly dubbed footage of So Yamamura to portray Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the Japanese commander of the attack.
References[]
- ^ TV Guide Guide to TV. Running Press. 2004. pp. 490. ISBN 0-7624-3007-9.
- ^ Brown, Les (22 November 1978). 80 Million Saw TV 'Pearl', The New York Times
External links[]
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- American Broadcasting Company original programming
- 1970s American television miniseries
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
- 1978 American television series debuts
- 1978 American television series endings
- Television shows set in Hawaii
- World War II television series
- Pearl Harbor films
- Films directed by Hy Averback
- Films with screenplays by Stirling Silliphant
- Non-fiction television series stubs