North and South is truly one of the mammoth miniseries, and in fact in my conception surpasses other broad Civil War films such as “Gone With the Wind.” Based on the John Jakes trilogy of novels, this miniseries spans the period from the 1840s and the Mexican War, through the aftermath of the American Civil War. It tells the memoir of two families, the Hazards of Pennsylvania, and the Mains of South Carolina. The Hazards are the owners of a stout steel manufactory. The Mains are the noteworthy owners of a sprawling Southern rice plantation. George Hazard and Orry Main, the scions of their respective families, accomplish a friendship while attending West Point that sees them through the Mexican War and which is tested as each takes his region’s side in the Civil War.

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The miniseries is reasonably faithful to the novels, and where it departs, the changes are generally benign. The anecdote is also quite faithful to history, and both North and South are portrayed with respect, although the record harshly indicts the institution of slavery, and reminds Americans of the wonderful fact that this harmful was a basic fact of our country for a very long time.

Book one of North and South is agreeable. It spans the period from about 1840 through the outbreak of the Civil War. The portrayal of the Mexican War is quite valid, and the yarn of George and Orry graduating West Point and fighting together in the Mexican War makes for a exquisite account. The film does very well at recreating the attitudes of Northerners and Southerners during this period–conflicting attitudes which ultimately could not be reconciled by the normal political institutions of the American republic and which instead culminated in the Civil War. The battle scenes are very capable and surpass what we normally interrogate of a miniseries.

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Book Two takes region immediately following the firing upon Ft. Sumpter. It is again very well done. This is one of the very best straight Civil War films. It is not without flaws. Fair as in the recent, the Elkanah Zigzag sub-plot adds very cramped to this account. This is proper despite the fact that the Curved sub-plot in the Book Two film bears essentially no resembence to the recent. But overall, this is a heavenly narrative. Lloyd Bridges in particular does a aesthetic job in his portrayal of Jefferson Davis. Hal Holbrook is a fabulous Abraham Lincoln. Here again the battle scenes are very generous. My only quibble is that the soldiers’ uniforms are too trim and pristine. Dependable Civil War soldiers were never very well turned out. The combat and conditions were too tough for that, and the supply trains too inefficient.

Book Three takes set after the destroy of the Civil War, and is so awful as to be unwatchable. I’m not fooling. The draw I behold at Book Three is that the DVD makes a beautiful beer coaster while watching the salubrious Books One and Two. Not only is Book Three unwatchable, but it totally departs from the tale as station forth in the fresh. (as far as I could tell-I mean it when I say that Three is unwatchable) . Book Three of Jakes’ novels was far and away the weakest of the three, but it was somewhat readable. Not in the miniseries, however.

North and South is improper, but it is aloof so marvelous as to rate five stars. It really is a immense record of the Civil War era. James Read and Patrick Swayze turn in broad performances as George and Orry. Read was sufficiently grand in this fragment that I am surprised that this role did not lead to greater things for him.

The flaws. First of all, as in all John Jakes stories, the characters, particularly the villains, are one-dimensional at best. Virgilia Hazard, Elkanah Zigzag, Ashton Main–these characters are complete villains and in dependable life no one in their upright mind would want to live on the same continent with such scoundrels. I have always opinion that this caricature-like characterization is the weakest aspect of John Jakes’ writing, and these flaws, unfortunately, are faithfully recreated in this miniseries.

The friendly news is that as far as I can jabber, this DVD collection is uncut or conclude to it. I’ve read the novels, seen the miniseries, and owned the VHS version of the miniseries, and these DVDs seem to be complete. Further, the color and sound on the DVDs is very qualified. Overall this is a tremenous value that many fans of North and South have waited for for a long time.

In the age of tedious reality TV, boundless and unjustifiable mainstream cynicism and squawk ignorance and/or lack of care for history, “North and South” stands as somewhat of an anachronism on the shelves of stores nationwide. How superb and encouraging, then, to look it imperfect as such a vast seller in its first week of release!! I have the (guilty) pleasure to admit I watched my Spanish-version of this series, taped off my TV assist in 1986, about 10 or 15 times, although I haven’t seen it in over decade. I do remember it as one of the two or three greatest mini-series ever (exceeded only by “Roots”, in my plan), and (at the time) the most expensive mini-series ever, at over $25 million, although that could hardly shroud Al Pacino’s salary for “Angels in America” nowadays.

I also read all three books a long time ago, and am currently in the process of reading them again, also more than a decade later. Given my familiarity with both the books and the filmed version, I am of the understanding that this is one of those rare instances (“Lolita” being another example) in which, notwithstanding substancial differences between the filmed and written stories, both are classics in their gain intention. Producers of the mini-series decided, with Jakes’ consent, to accomplish the following changes in the narrative, among many others:

1) Do away with Orry’s brother Cooper and “merge” him with Orry. This was a mistake, I feel, inasmuch as Cooper was a crucial character who represented the more moderate Southerner;

2) Not have Orry lose an arm. This probably owed to Hollywood sensitivities, which would not have borne watching Madeline be intimate with a man who lacked one arm;

3) Not have Orry die, and give the series a “Hollywood Ending”. This is because the producers initially did not determine to film Book 3, “Heaven and Hell”, and thus needed a kindly ending to Book 2. If “Heaven and Hell” and been filmed at the same time as the other two, the tale could have been more faithful to the book;

4) Have Orry meet Madeline BEFORE going to West Point. This actually helped the Orry-Madeline storyline somewhat, since it gave the two lovers more time to plunge in esteem with each other, and thus gave Orry more of a reason to be harm by Madeline’s marriage to Justin;

5) Have Orry end Justin. Another improvement on the book. In the book, Justin’s death is very perfunctory and anti-climactic;

6) Give Orry and Madeline a son, and give George and Constance a daughter by the name of Hope.

The filmed version is generally heavier on the Orry-Madeline storyline than the book. I don’t have distinguished of a pickle with that, since both the actors’ performances are phenomenal and very convincing: Patrick Swayze, normally no Laurence Olivier, gives what I feel is unexcited his best performance, and Lesley-Anne Down is very professional and convincing as a Creole belle who is, in Jakes’ novels, the spiritual center-piece of the yarn. It must also be said that, as played by Down, it is hard for the viewer not to topple head-over-heels over Madeline!! The rest of the core cast is outstanding, specially James Read as George, Kirstie Alley as Virgilia, David Carradine as Justin and Terri Garber as the memorable Ashton. Also, withhold an survey launch for a very young Forrest Whitaker and pre-Star Bound Jonathan Frakes. The series’ massive budget also allowed producers to cast legends such as Jimmy Stewart, Olivia DeHavilland, Robert Mitchum, Hal Holbrook, Lloyd Bridges, Elizabeth Taylor and Johnny Cash (!!!) as (who else? ) John Brown.

Book 3 of the series does not merit powerful discussion, though it does not marr the excellence of Books 1 and 2. It chose, belatedly, to stick to the genuine Book 3, with dire consequences. It really does not belong, narratively or otherwise, to the first two series. Also, only Lesley-Anne Down and James Read signed on to do it and, suitable as their performances are, they were really treading very shallow waters, production-wise.

All in all, notwithstanding the disappointing dearth of bonus materials (the lone making-of documentary is very gripping, albeit frustratingly brief), this moderately-priced DVD plot is an primary addition to my film collection. Given the shaded plot of affairs, I don’t consider any mini-series of this quality or budget are forthcoming.

Highly, highly, highly recommended. For those with longer attention spans, all three books are considerable reading, as well.
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