North and South (miniseries)

This article is about the American miniseries. For the originating novels, see North and South (trilogy). For the unrelated British television serial, see North & South (TV serial). For other uses, see North and South.
North and South
Complete Collection DVD cover
GenreHistorical fiction
Created byDavid L. Wolper
Based onNorth and South (trilogy)
by John Jakes
Story byJohn Jakes
Starring
Theme music composerBill Conti
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes
  • Book I: 6
  • Book II: 6
  • Book III: 3
Production
ProducerPaul Freeman
CinematographyStevan Larner, ASC
Running time90 minutes/episode
1,342 mins. total
Production companiesDavid L. Wolper Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseNovember 3, 1985 (1985-11-03) –
March 2, 1994 (1994-03-02)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

North and South is the title of three American television miniseries broadcast on the ABC network in 1985, 1986, and 1994. Set before, during, and immediately after the American Civil War, they are based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes.[1] The 1985 first installment, North and South, remains the seventh-highest rated miniseries in TV history.[2][3][4] North and South: Book II (1986) was met with similar success, while 1994's Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III was poorly received by both critics and audiences.[5][6]

The saga tells the story of the enduring friendship between Orry Main of South Carolina (Patrick Swayze) and George Hazard of Pennsylvania (James Read), who become best friends while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point but later find themselves and their families on opposite sides of the war.[1] The slave-owning Mains are rural planters from outside Charleston, South Carolina, while the Hazards, who reside in a small Pennsylvania mill town, profit from ownership of iron manufacturing and industry capital, their differences reflecting the divisions between North and South that eventually led to the Civil War.[7]

  1. ^ a b "Review: North and South by John Jakes Release Date: February 12, 1981". Kirkus Reviews. February 1, 1981. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  2. ^ Bennett, Mark (August 11, 2007). "John Jakes' journey to New York Times bestseller list included boyhood years in Terre Haute". Tribune-Star. Terre Haute, Ind. Archived from the original on 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  3. ^ "John Jakes '53 Discusses Writing and His Upcoming Book". DePauw University. March 18, 2002. Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  4. ^ Jones, Mary Ellen (November 30, 1996). "The People's Author: The Life of John Jakes". John Jakes: A Critical Companion. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-3132-9530-0. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  5. ^ "DVD Review: North and South: Book III - Heaven and Hell". Review Graveyard. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  6. ^ "DVD Verdict Review - North And South: The Complete Collection". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  7. ^ O'Connor, John J. (November 1, 1985). "TV Weekend; North and South, A Mini-series". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2010.