"Roots" (1977) TV mini-series 1977-

Directors:

Marvin J. Chomsky
John Erman
(more)

Writer:

M. Charles Cohen

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

23 January 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Family History | America | African American | Slavery | Slave

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 15 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Olivia Cole	...	Mathilda (5 episodes, 1977)
Ben Vereen	...	'Chicken' George Moore (5 episodes, 1977)
LeVar Burton	...	Kunta Kinte / ... (4 episodes, 1977)
John Amos	...	Toby (4 episodes, 1977)
Leslie Uggams	...	Kizzy Reynolds (4 episodes, 1977)
Carolyn Jones	...	Mrs. Moore (4 episodes, 1977)
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Fiddler (4 episodes, 1977)
Vic Morrow	...	Ames (4 episodes, 1977)
Chuck Connors	...	Tom Moore (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)
Madge Sinclair	...	Bell Reynolds (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)
Sandy Duncan	...	Missy Anne Reynolds (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)
Renn Woods	...	Fanta (2 episodes, 1977)
Lorne Greene	...	John Reynolds (2 episodes, 1977)
Thayer David	...	Harlan (2 episodes, 1977)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Noah (2 episodes, 1977)
Roxie Roker	...	Melissa (2 episodes, 1977)
Lillian Randolph	...	Sister Sara (2 episodes, 1977)
Davis Roberts	...	Leonard (2 episodes, 1977)
Maya Angelou	...	Nyo Boto / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard McKenzie	...	Sam Harvey (2 episodes, 1977)
John Quade	...	Sheriff Biggs (2 episodes, 1977)
Doug McClure	...	Jemmy Brent / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
Cicely Tyson	...	Binta (2 episodes, 1977)
Tina Andrews	...	Aurelia (2 episodes, 1977)
Rebecca Bess	...	Girl on Ship (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)

Series Directed by
David Greene		(1 episode, 1977)
Marvin J. Chomsky		(unknown episodes)
John Erman		(unknown episodes)
Gilbert Moses		(unknown episodes)

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

Series Produced by
Malcolm Alper	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1977)
Stan Margulies	....	producer (1 episode, 1977)
Donald A. Ramsey	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1977)
David L. Wolper	....	executive producer (1 episode, 1977)

Series Original Music by
Gerald Fried		(1 episode, 1977)
Quincy Jones		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Cinematography by
Stevan Larner		(1 episode, 1977)
Joseph M. Wilcots		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Neil Travis		(1 episode, 1977)
James T. Heckert		(unknown episodes)
Peter Kirby		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Production Design by
Jan Scott		(1 episode, 1977)

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

Series Set Decoration by
Charles C. Bennett		(1 episode, 1977)
Solomon Brewer		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Jack Martell		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Makeup Department
Bernadine M. Anderson	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1977)
Scott Cunningham	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1977)
Lola 'Skip' McNalley	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1977)
Omar	....	hair stylist: Miss Tyson (1 episode, 1977)
Stan Winston	....	special makeup effects (unknown episodes)
Gene Witham	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Conrad Holzgang	....	executive in charge of production (1 episode, 1977)
George Taylor	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 1977)
Phillips Wylly Sr.	....	manager production operations (1 episode, 1977)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mack Bing	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1977)
Bill Lukather	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1977)

Series Art Department
Terry Ballard	....	property master (1 episode, 1977)
Perry Gray	....	set designer (1 episode, 1977)
Richard Reseigne	....	construction coordinator (1 episode, 1977)

Series Sound Department
Willie D. Burton	....	sound recordist (1 episode, 1977)
Arnold Braun	....	sound mixer (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 Special Effects by
John Frazier	....	special effects supervisor (12 episodes, 1977)

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

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Víctor Pérez	....	lighting technician (12 episodes, 1977)
Joseph W. Calloway	....	key assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Curtis Foster	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)

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

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ed Fincher	....	costumer: men (1 episode, 1977)
Donna Roberts	....	costumer: women (1 episode, 1977)

Series Editorial Department
Fred Kaplan	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1977)

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

Series Transportation Department
Gary Littlefield	....	transportation captain (1 episode, 1977)
Frank Khoury	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Alex Haley	....	consultant (1 episode, 1977)
Vivian Jones	....	script supervisor (1 episode, 1977)
Marie McKellar	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1977)
Jody Richardson	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1977)
George Sims	....	research (1 episode, 1977)
Linda Thornley	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1977)
Ron Von Schimmelmann	....	production administrator (1 episode, 1977)
Wendy Winter	....	assistant to the producer (1 episode, 1977)
Calvin Spencer	....	double: Lloyd Bridges (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:

Runtime:

60 min (10 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

David L. Wolper Productions

Trivia:

LeVar Burton (Kunta Kinte) and Louis Gossett Jr. (Fiddler) would later reprise their roles in Roots: The Gift (1988) (TV).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Toby escapes from Mr. Reynolds and wakes to snow, the "snow" looks to be foam, of some sort and drips off onto the blanket. It also sticks to his hands without melting.

Quotes:

Omoro, Kunta's father:[holding his infant son up to starry sky] Kunta Kinte, behold the only thing greater than yourself!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Death Row (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Oluwa

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.