"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

Joseph Bottoms	...	Rudi Weiss (4 episodes, 1978)
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Helena Slomova (4 episodes, 1978)
Tony Haygarth	...	Heinz Muller (4 episodes, 1978)
Michael Moriarty	...	Erik Dorf (4 episodes, 1978)
Deborah Norton	...	Marta Dorf (4 episodes, 1978)
George Rose	...	Franz Lowy / ... (4 episodes, 1978)
Robert Stephens	...	Uncle Kurt Dorf (4 episodes, 1978)
Sam Wanamaker	...	Moses Weiss (4 episodes, 1978)
Fritz Weaver	...	Dr. Josef Weiss (4 episodes, 1978)
Charles Korvin	...	Dr. Kohn (4 episodes, 1978)
Stanley Lebor	...	Zalman (4 episodes, 1978)
Käte Jaenicke	...	Frau Lowy (4 episodes, 1978)
Tom Bell	...	Adolf Eichmann (3 episodes, 1978)
Irene Prador	...	Maria Kalova (3 episodes, 1978)
Rosemary Harris	...	Berta Palitz Weiss (3 episodes, 1978)
Lee Montague	...	Uncle Sasha (3 episodes, 1978)
Isolde Barth	...	Eva (3 episodes, 1978)
Peter Garell	...	Yuri (3 episodes, 1978)
Jeremy Levy	...	Aaron Feldman / ... (3 episodes, 1978)
T.P. McKenna	...	Blobel (3 episodes, 1978)
Murray Salem	...	Analavitz (3 episodes, 1978)
Gabor Vernon	...	Rabbi Samuel (3 episodes, 1978)
John Bailey	...	Hans Frank (3 episodes, 1978)
Michael Beck	...	Hans Helms (3 episodes, 1978)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Karp (3 episodes, 1978)
Cyril Shaps	...	Weinberg (3 episodes, 1978)
Meryl Streep	...	Inga Helms Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
David Warner	...	Heydrich (2 episodes, 1978)
James Woods	...	Karl Weiss (2 episodes, 1978)
John Rees	...	Colonel Arthur Nebe (2 episodes, 1978)
Peter Vogel	...	Emil Frey (2 episodes, 1978)
Rudolf Melichar	...	Anton (2 episodes, 1978)
Elvira Neustaedtl	...	Auschwitz Kapo (2 episodes, 1978)
Martin Brandt	...	Rabbi Karsh (2 episodes, 1978)
Vera Borek	...	Nadya (2 episodes, 1978)
David Daker	...	Rudolf Hoess (2 episodes, 1978)
Werner Kreindl	...	Herr Helms (2 episodes, 1978)
Wolfgang Leisowsky	...	Engleman (2 episodes, 1978)
Götz von Langheim	...	Berlin Doctor (2 episodes, 1978)
Miriam Mahler	...	Woman with Infant (2 episodes, 1978)
Jan Odle	...	Aaron's Classmate (2 episodes, 1978)
Nina Sandt	...	Frau Helms (2 episodes, 1978)
Walter Scheuer	...	Prague Policeman (2 episodes, 1978)
Toby Salaman	...	Kovel (2 episodes, 1978)
Joe Trummer	...	Czech Jew (2 episodes, 1978)
Peter Weihs	...	Sacristan (2 episodes, 1978)
Blanche Baker	...	Anna Weiss (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:

Trevor Howard was offered the Marius Goring part.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Erik Dorf leaves his home to go to Heydrich's office on Crystal Night, he is wearing the insignia of an SS 2nd Lieutenant. When he shows up at the office, the insignia has changed to that of an SS 1st Lieutenant.

Quotes:

Erik Dorf: Doctor, things won't get easier for you.
Dr. Josef Weiss: How much worse can they get? We're no longer citizens. We have no legal rights. Our property can be confiscated. I can't belong to a hospital. I can't get any drugs. In the name of *humanity*, what else can you do to us?
Erik Dorf: You mustn't come to me for help.
Dr. Josef Weiss: No appeal on the basis of past associations?
Erik Dorf: No appeal. I bear you no personal malice.
[pauses]
Erik Dorf: Leave.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Cicely Tyson/Talking Heads (#4.11)" (1979)

Holocaust **** Never to Forget

One of the most outstanding television mini-series that was ever made. Obviously, this won the Emmy for best mini-series and was truly well deserved.

The story deals with the Weiss Family of Germany. They thought that they were true Germans never believing that they would be caught up in the madness of Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Despite the warnings of Dr. Weiss's patient,Dorf, who quickly rises in the Nazi hierarchy, the Weiss Family remains in Germany as Hitler seized power and the nightmare for the Jewish people begins.

This series made stars of Michael Moriarty.(Dorf) He plays the character drawn into the Nazi party with a chilling unfeeling for humanity rarely seen in movies. Dorf would be the typical character who would have said that he was forced into doing what he did since he was caught up in this period of frenzy. His ambitious, evil wife also helped push him into this way of life. Meryl Streep and James Woods also became well known as a result of this masterpiece production.

Nothing was hidden in making this grand production. You see the kosher butcher stores fall victim to Kristallnacht-the night of breaking glass. You see victims being marched off to the gas chambers.

This was certainly movie making at its best. Even the mini-series of todays are lacking in contact, interest and boldness of production.