"Holocaust" (1978) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

16 April 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Plot:

The saga of a Jewish family's struggle to survive the horror of Nazi Germany's systematic marginalization and extermination of their community.

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Germany | Doctor | Lawyer | Anti Semitism

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 14 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Tom Bell	...	Adolf Eichmann (2 episodes, 1978)
Joseph Bottoms	...	Rudi Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Helena Slomova (2 episodes, 1978)
Rosemary Harris	...	Berta Palitz Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
Tony Haygarth	...	Heinz Muller (2 episodes, 1978)
Michael Moriarty	...	Erik Dorf (2 episodes, 1978)
Deborah Norton	...	Marta Dorf (2 episodes, 1978)
George Rose	...	Lowy (2 episodes, 1978)
Robert Stephens	...	Uncle Kurt Dorf (2 episodes, 1978)
Meryl Streep	...	Inga Helms Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
Sam Wanamaker	...	Moses Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
David Warner	...	Heydrich (2 episodes, 1978)
Fritz Weaver	...	Dr. Josef Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
James Woods	...	Karl Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
John Bailey	...	Hans Frank (2 episodes, 1978)
Blanche Baker	...	Anna Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
Michael Beck	...	Hans Helms (2 episodes, 1978)
Käte Jaenicke	...	Frau Lowy (2 episodes, 1978)
Charles Korvin	...	Dr. Kohn (2 episodes, 1978)
Stanley Lebor	...	Zalman (2 episodes, 1978)
Cyril Shaps	...	Weinberg (2 episodes, 1978)

Also Known As:

Holocaust: The Story of the Family Weiss (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

475 min | USA:420 min (DVD) (2008) | Finland:448 min (DVD) (2008)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-18 (self applied) (2008) (DVD)

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company:

Titus Productions

Trivia:

When this was aired on German television, police station switchboards were flooded with confessional calls during the "Krystallnacht" scene, where people were smashing the windows of synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses. People who had participated in the actual event were calling to confess their participation, but the Statute of Limitation had taken effect, and no actions could be taken, despite their confessions.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the Einsatzgruppen executions in Russia, Arthur Nebe is shown as an SS-Colonel. When these executions took place (fall 1941), the real Nebe would already have been an SS-Major General.

Quotes:

Reinhard Heydrich: No party affiliation.
Erik Dorf: Well, not until this moment.
Reinhard Heydrich: Why the sudden interest?
Erik Dorf: I need a job.
Reinhard Heydrich: Now that is refreshing. You don't know how many braggarts I have to listen to. Sycophants and connivers full of love for the party, the Fuhrer, the Reich. Such a relief to talk to a man who just wants a job.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers (#3.18)" (1978)

Outstanding Mini Series

Despite its length this still manages to hold attention throughout. The performances are excellent throughout, especially Meryll Streep as the 'good' German. The character of Eric Dorf very cleverly portrays the aridity of the Nazi mind and the fact that many of these monsters were terrifyingly 'ordinary' individuals who issued edicts condemning millions to their death as easily as they would order a change in traffic regulations. It has been many years since I first saw this on BBC TV and never forgot it. It is now available on DVD, though only it seems in France where a 4 disc set is available with a choice of English or French soundtrack. Highly recommended.