"Roots" (1977) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Directors:

Marvin J. Chomsky
John Erman
(more)

Writers:

William Blinn (adaptation)
William Blinn (screenplay)
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

23 tammikuu 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendents' liberation.

Plot Keywords:

Family History | Slave | African American | Escape Attempt | America

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 14 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Olivia Cole	...	Mathilda (5 episodes, 1977)
LeVar Burton	...	Kunta Kinte / ... (4 episodes, 1977)
Ben Vereen	...	'Chicken' George Moore (4 episodes, 1977)
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Fiddler (4 episodes, 1977)
Vic Morrow	...	Ames (4 episodes, 1977)
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Wrestler (3 episodes, 1977)
Edward Asner	...	Capt. Thomas Davies (3 episodes, 1977)
Ralph Waite	...	Slater (3 episodes, 1977)
Robert Reed	...	Dr. William Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Lynda Day George	...	Mrs. Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
John Amos	...	Toby (3 episodes, 1977)
Madge Sinclair	...	Bell Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Leslie Uggams	...	Kizzy Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Carolyn Jones	...	Mrs. Moore (3 episodes, 1977)
Lloyd Bridges	...	Evan Brent (3 episodes, 1977)
Georg Stanford Brown	...	Tom Harvey (3 episodes, 1977)
Brad Davis	...	Ol' George Johnson (3 episodes, 1977)
Hilly Hicks	...	Lewis (3 episodes, 1977)
Lynne Moody	...	Irene Harvey (3 episodes, 1977)
Lane Binkley	...	Martha Johnson (3 episodes, 1977)
Austin Stoker	...	Virgil (3 episodes, 1977)
Sandy Duncan	...	Missy Anne Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Chuck Connors	...	Tom Moore (3 episodes, 1977)
Tracey Gold	...	Young missy reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Moses Gunn	...	Kintango (2 episodes, 1977)
Thalmus Rasulala	...	Omoro (2 episodes, 1977)
Hari Rhodes	...	Brima Cesay (2 episodes, 1977)
William Watson	...	Gardner (2 episodes, 1977)
Ren Woods	...	Fanta (2 episodes, 1977)
Lorne Greene	...	John Reynolds (2 episodes, 1977)
Thayer David	...	Harlan (2 episodes, 1977)
Scatman Crothers	...	Mingo (2 episodes, 1977)
George Hamilton	...	Stephen Bennett (2 episodes, 1977)
Lillian Randolph	...	Sister Sara (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard Roundtree	...	Sam Bennett (2 episodes, 1977)
Davis Roberts	...	Leonard (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard McKenzie	...	Sam Harvey (2 episodes, 1977)
John Quade	...	Sheriff Biggs (2 episodes, 1977)
Cicely Tyson	...	Binta (2 episodes, 1977)
Tina Andrews	...	Aurelia (2 episodes, 1977)
Henry Butts	...	Sitafa (2 episodes, 1977)
Joe Dorsey	...	Calvert (2 episodes, 1977)
Kermit Echols	...	Vilars (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Slave catcher (2 episodes, 1977)
Ronnie Leggett	...	Kalila (2 episodes, 1977)
Rachel Longaker	...	Caroline (2 episodes, 1977)
Ernest Thomas	...	Kailuba (2 episodes, 1977)

(more)

Series Directed by
Marvin J. Chomsky		(unknown episodes)
John Erman		(unknown episodes)
David Greene		(unknown episodes)
Gilbert Moses		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Alex Haley		(12 episodes, 1977)
James Lee		(7 episodes, 1977)
William Blinn		(unknown episodes)
M. Charles Cohen		(unknown episodes)
Ernest Kinoy		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Stan Margulies	....	producer (unknown episodes)
David L. Wolper	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Gerald Fried		(unknown episodes)
Quincy Jones		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Stevan Larner		(unknown episodes)
Joseph M. Wilcots		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
James T. Heckert		(unknown episodes)
Peter Kirby		(unknown episodes)
Neil Travis		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Joseph R. Jennings		(unknown episodes)
Jan Scott		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles C. Bennett		(unknown episodes)
Solomon Brewer		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Jack Martell		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Bernadine M. Anderson	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Scott Cunningham	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Lola 'Skip' McNalley	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Omar	....	hair stylist: Miss Tyson (unknown episodes)
Stan Winston	....	special makeup effects (unknown episodes)
Gene Witham	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Conrad Holzgang	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mack Bing	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Bill Lukather	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Terry Ballard	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Perry Gray	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Richard Reseigne	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Arnold Braun	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Willie D. Burton	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Larry Carow	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
George Fredrick	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Robert L. Harman	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Nicholas James	....	sound restoration supervisor (unknown episodes)
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Robert J. Litt	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Hoppy Mehterian	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Lawrence E. Neiman	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Eddie Nelson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Leonard Peterson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
David Pettijohn	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
George Porter	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Bruce Richardson	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Bill Varney	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Craig R. Baxley	....	stunts (12 episodes, 1977)
Eddie Smith	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gene Witham	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph W. Calloway	....	key assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Curtis Foster	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Lee Heckler	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Vern Matthews	....	key grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Shirley Fulton Crumley	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ed Fincher	....	costumer: men (unknown episodes)
Donna Roberts	....	costumer: women (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Fred Kaplan	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (12 episodes, 1977)
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Frank Khoury	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Gary Littlefield	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Vivian Jones	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Marie McKellar	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jody Richardson	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Calvin Spencer	....	double: Lloyd Bridges (unknown episodes)
Linda Thornley	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• David L. Wolper Productions
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Super! Drama TV (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• TV One (2007) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Television
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cinemobile System  location facilities
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  sound effects
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Alex Haley's Roots (Australia)

Runtime:

573 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (cut) | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Administration Building, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

David L. Wolper Productions

Trivia:

Originally broadcast on ABC as eight one-hour and two-hour episodes as follows: Episodes 1,2,6, and 8 were two hours; Episodes 3,4,5, and 7 were one hour. Presented on VHS, DVD, and rebroadcast as six two-hour episodes.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning of the capture scene in Episode 1 of Roots, Kunta Kinte can be briefly seen wearing shoes or sandals.

Quotes:

Tom Harvey: Listen to me, Jimmy Brent! Listen to me! And take this message with you to Hell! The last hands to touch you in this Earth... was my BLACK hands!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mr. Hell (2006)

Soundtrack:

Oluwa

I understand it now that I'm older

In 1977 I was 10 years old, and all I remember is the majority of the city where I live was watching Roots each day for a week. I recently bought the video and watched it with my now 10 year old son, who is Black and I show him the importance of getting an education because our ancestors weren't allowed such luxuries. At his age everything is rosy just like it was when I was 10, but hopefully he can reflect back on this movie to motivate him in the future.

Great cast of characters-even though I didn't realize that O.J. Simpson was in it! John Amos was the best and the funniest especially when he kept losing his character's African accent and sounding more like "James" on Good Times! Overall the movie is very touching and will have you experiencing mixed emotions if you're of the Black race, and have compassion if you're of other races that haven't experienced such things. I highly recommend this film and a book called the Miseducation of the Negro as Black family heirlooms-or for anyone who wants to be enlightened concerning a portion of Black history.