Roots (1977)

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

Stars:

LeVar Burton, Olivia Cole, Robert Reed

Top Rated TV #179 | Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 16 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Olivia Cole	...	Mathilda (6 episodes, 1977)
Robert Reed	...	Dr. William Reynolds (5 episodes, 1977)
John Amos	...	'Toby' / ... (5 episodes, 1977)
Madge Sinclair	...	Bell Reynolds (5 episodes, 1977)
Ben Vereen	...	'Chicken' George Moore (5 episodes, 1977)
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Fiddler (5 episodes, 1977)
Vic Morrow	...	Ames (5 episodes, 1977)
LeVar Burton	...	Kunta Kinte / ... (4 episodes, 1977)
Lynda Day George	...	Mrs. Reynolds (4 episodes, 1977)
Leslie Uggams	...	Kizzy Reynolds (4 episodes, 1977)
Carolyn Jones	...	Mrs. Moore (4 episodes, 1977)
Sandy Duncan	...	Missy Anne Reynolds (4 episodes, 1977)
Chuck Connors	...	Tom Moore (4 episodes, 1977)
Edward Asner	...	Capt. Thomas Davies (3 episodes, 1977)
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Wrestler (3 episodes, 1977)
Ralph Waite	...	Slater (3 episodes, 1977)
Lorne Greene	...	John Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Thayer David	...	Harlan (3 episodes, 1977)
Scatman Crothers	...	Mingo (3 episodes, 1977)
George Hamilton	...	Stephen Bennett (3 episodes, 1977)
Richard Roundtree	...	Sam Bennett (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)
Maya Angelou	...	Nyo Boto / ... (2 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)
Renn Woods	...	Fanta (2 episodes, 1977)
Paul Shenar	...	John Carrington (2 episodes, 1977)
Gary Collins	...	Grill (2 episodes, 1977)
Lee de Broux	...	Trumbull (2 episodes, 1977)
Beverly Todd	...	Fanta (2 episodes, 1977)
Tanya Boyd	...	Genelva (2 episodes, 1977)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Noah (2 episodes, 1977)
Raymond St. Jacques	...	The Drummer (2 episodes, 1977)
Stan Haze	...	Field Singer / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
John Schuck	...	Ordell (2 episodes, 1977)
Roxie Roker	...	Melissa (2 episodes, 1977)
Elma V. Jackson	...	Mama Ada (2 episodes, 1977)
Lillian Randolph	...	Sister Sara (2 episodes, 1977)
Davis Roberts	...	Leonard (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard McKenzie	...	Sam Harvey (2 episodes, 1977)
Cicely Tyson	...	Binta (2 episodes, 1977)
Tina Andrews	...	Aurelia (2 episodes, 1977)
John Quade	...	Sheriff Biggs (2 episodes, 1977)
Ernest Thomas	...	Kailuba (2 episodes, 1977)
Ann Weldon	...	Mary (2 episodes, 1977)
Rebecca Bess	...	Girl on Ship (2 episodes, 1977)
Fred Covington	...	Auctioneer (2 episodes, 1977)
Hank Rolike	...	John (2 episodes, 1977)
Pat Corley	...	Referee (2 episodes, 1977)
Joe Dorsey	...	Calvert (2 episodes, 1977)
John Dennis Johnston	...	Man at Cockfight / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
Brion James	...	Slaver (2 episodes, 1977)
Rachel Longaker	...	Caroline (2 episodes, 1977)
Doug McClure	...	Jemmy Brent / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Slave Catcher (2 episodes, 1977)
Tracey Gold	...	Young Missy Reynolds (2 episodes, 1977)

Storyline

A saga of African-American life, based on Alex Haley's family history. Kunta Kinte is abducted from his African village, sold into slavery, and taken to America. He makes several escape attempts until he is finally caught and maimed. He marries Bell, his plantation's cook, and they have a daughter, Kizzy, who is eventually sold away from them. Kizzy has a son by her new master, and the boy grows up to become Chicken George, a legendary cock fighter who leads his family into freedom. Throughout the series, the family observes notable events in U.S. history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings, and emancipation.

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Plot Keywords:

escape attempt | freedom | civil war | slave | family history | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Racines

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David L. Wolper Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (10 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was the first show to gain every nomination in an acting category in the Emmy's.

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Goofs

When Kunte Kinte (played by John Amos) met the Akan in the woods, they greeted each other with an Arab-Muslim greeting. The origin and highest concentration of Akan people are located in Ghana. Today, Muslims account for the lowest religious minority in Ghana: 16% of the Ghanan population. It is unlikely the average Akan clan member would have been a Muslim during the time of Kunte Kinte.

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Quotes

Kintango: Who can tell me if there was a tribal war, and the men of Mandinka had the enemy surrounded on three sides, what should be the next thing done?
Boy: The men of the Mandinka will enclose the circle and surround the enemy.
Kintango: No, the goal of war is not to kill. The goal of war is to win. By surrounding the enemy, you would force him only to fight more desperately. If you surround him on three sides and leave him an escape route, he will leave your land and there will less blood spilled on both sides. For...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Cleveland Show: Ain't Nothin' But Mutton Bustin' (2011)

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Soundtracks

Oluwa
by Quincy Jones

User Reviews

Amazing

I recently viewed all of this Mini series on the Hallmark Channel, and let me say, it was amazing! I was born 3 years after Roots was on television and never had the chance to see it growing up. I knew that Hallmark was showing it, so I made plans to see all 6 parts this week. It made me angry, it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me happy, it made me open my eyes. The range of emotions ran the table this week. Now I know why it got all the acclaim that it rightly deserves.