"North and South, Book II" (1986) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

4 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War | Western

Plot:

The story of two friends and their families on opposite sides of the American Civil War.

Plot Keywords:

Civil War | Friendship | American Civil War | Historical | Southern

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Kirstie Alley	...	Virgilia Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
David Carradine	...	Justin LaMotte (6 episodes, 1986)
Philip Casnoff	...	Elkanah Bent (6 episodes, 1986)
Mary Crosby	...	Isabel Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Madeline LaMotte Main (6 episodes, 1986)
Jonathan Frakes	...	Stanley Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Genie Francis	...	Brett Main Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Terri Garber	...	Ashton Main Huntoon (6 episodes, 1986)
Wendy Kilbourne	...	Constance Flynn Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Kate McNeil	...	Augusta Barclay (6 episodes, 1986)
Jim Metzler	...	James Huntoon (6 episodes, 1986)
James Read	...	George Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Lewis Smith	...	Charles Main (6 episodes, 1986)
Parker Stevenson	...	Billy Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Patrick Swayze	...	Orry Main (6 episodes, 1986)
Lloyd Bridges	...	Jefferson Davis (6 episodes, 1986)
Olivia de Havilland	...	Mrs. Neal (6 episodes, 1986)
Linda Evans	...	Rose Sinclair (6 episodes, 1986)
Morgan Fairchild	...	Burdetta Halloran (6 episodes, 1986)
Hal Holbrook	...	Abraham Lincoln (6 episodes, 1986)
Lee Horsley	...	Rafe Beaudeen (6 episodes, 1986)
Nancy Marchand	...	Dorothea Dix (6 episodes, 1986)
Wayne Newton	...	Capt. Thomas Turner (6 episodes, 1986)
Jean Simmons	...	Clarissa Main (6 episodes, 1986)
James Stewart	...	Miles Colbert (6 episodes, 1986)
David Ogden Stiers	...	Congressman Sam Greene (6 episodes, 1986)
Inga Swenson	...	Maude Hazard (6 episodes, 1986)
Anthony Zerbe	...	Gen. Ulysses S. Grant (6 episodes, 1986)
Bonnie Bartlett	...	General's Wife (6 episodes, 1986)
Michael Dudikoff	...	Lt. Rudy Bodford (6 episodes, 1986)
Burton Gilliam	...	Cpl. Strock (6 episodes, 1986)
Erica Gimpel	...	Semiramis (6 episodes, 1986)
Clu Gulager	...	Gen. Philip Henry Sheridan (6 episodes, 1986)
Whip Hubley	...	Lt. Stephen Kent (6 episodes, 1986)
William Schallert	...	Gen. Robert E. Lee (6 episodes, 1986)
Forest Whitaker	...	Cuffey (6 episodes, 1986)
Beau Billingslea	...	Ezra (5 episodes, 1986)
John Nixon	...	Washington (5 episodes, 1986)
James Houghton	...	Lt. Ambrose Pell (4 episodes, 1986)
Russell Rarick	...	Tom (4 episodes, 1986)
Tony Frank	...	Salem Jones (3 episodes, 1986)
Kurtwood Smith	...	Col. Hram Berdan (3 episodes, 1986)
Michael Burgess	...	Jim (3 episodes, 1986)
Jeff Williams	...	Boz (3 episodes, 1986)
Michael Champion	...	Detective Haller (2 episodes, 1986)
Bumper Robinson	...	Michael (2 episodes, 1986)
Jack Thibeau	...	Mr. Morgan (2 episodes, 1986)
Lloyd Alan	...	Lt. Roberts (2 episodes, 1986)
Lee Anthony	...	General Scott (2 episodes, 1986)
Jerry Potter	...	Proprietor (2 episodes, 1986)
Dixie K. Wade	...	Mrs. Shoup (2 episodes, 1986)

Also Known As:

Love and War (USA) (subtitle)

Runtime:

USA:570 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Boone Hall Plantation - 1235 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

Company:

David L. Wolper Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Orry is fighting Justin, the scar on Justin's face changes from the left side to the right side in different shots.

Quotes:

Madeline LaMotte Main: You mean you'll take me back? You still want me?
Orry Main: I never wanted you to go. I love you Madeline. I always have.
Madeline LaMotte Main: I love you, too. Please, believe me. I love you, too.
Orry Main: I do.
Madeline LaMotte Main: But I have to tell you, there's another man in my life now.
[They walk over to the cradle where their son is laying. She picks up their son and hands him over to Orry]
Madeline LaMotte Main: Orry Nicholas Maine, your son.
Orry Main: [He takes their son from Madeline and then looks Madeline in the eye] I love you.
[They then share a kiss]

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III" (1994)

Excellent in every way shape or form.

Nothing I say here will be new, save for a few words on Lewis Smith I'll get to momentarily. I loved everything about Book I and Book II of the North and South saga. (As far as I'm concerned, Book III doesn't exist.) And although the series strays from the book in many ways, that shouldn't and doesn't matter when speaking of the series as a seperate and totally independent entity. It stands on its own and tells the story it wants to tell regardless of Cooper Main or any other plot lines ommitted. To include every single detail of John Jakes's novels would be utterly pointless and drag down the flow of a story in a medium that demands action and visual stimulation to keep its audience interested. Too much exposition is never good for a movie or a series. I for one, who DID enjoy the books just as much, applaud the directors and screenplay writers for NOT trying to parallel the text word for word.

As everyone has said, the acting in both parts was superb. James Read and Patrick Swayze yes, but also Leslie Anne Down, Wendy Kilbourne-Read (she and James really did get married in real life, isn't that cool?) Parker Stevenson (a drastic improvement from John Stockwell) Phillip Casnoff and David Carridine (whom we all love to hate) Terri Garber and Genie Francis. But I have to say I'm disappointed that more people here have not commented on Lewis Smith's portrayal of Charles Main in both books, who perhaps goes through just as much development of character as Orry, and Smith does it flawlessly. A great actor and a highly overlooked and underrated performance, Lewis Smith is simply awesome as Charles Main.

The story is about passion, love, romance, desire-yes. But more than that, it is about friendship. No other series, movie or tv show has ever displayed such a complex love story, love not only between lovers, but between friends, and no one should ever try. Rating North and South on a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a smashing 95!