"Backstairs at the White House" (1979) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

29 January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

Behind the scenes at the White House during eight administrations, as told by the people who work there.

Plot Keywords:

White House | Maid | William Howard Taft | John F Kennedy | Usher

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Houseman Levi Mercer (4 episodes, 1979)
Robert Hooks	...	Doorman and Presidential Barber Mays / ... (4 episodes, 1979)
Ed Flanders	...	President Calvin Coolidge (4 episodes, 1979)
Lee Grant	...	Grace Coolidge / ... (4 episodes, 1979)
Larry Gates	...	President Herbert Hoover (4 episodes, 1979)
Eileen Heckart	...	Eleanor Roosevelt / ... (4 episodes, 1979)
John Anderson	...	President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (4 episodes, 1979)
Harry Morgan	...	President Harry S. Truman (4 episodes, 1979)
Jan Sterling	...	Mrs. Lou Hoover (4 episodes, 1979)
Estelle Parsons	...	Bess Truman / ... (4 episodes, 1979)
Barbara Barrie	...	Mamie Eisenhower / ... (4 episodes, 1979)
Andrew Duggan	...	President Dwight D. Eisenhower (4 episodes, 1979)
Olivia Cole	...	Maggie Rogers (3 episodes, 1979)
Leslie Uggams	...	Lillian Rogers Parks (3 episodes, 1979)
Leslie Nielsen	...	Ike Hoover / ... (3 episodes, 1979)
Bill Overton	...	Doorman Jackson (3 episodes, 1979)
Hari Rhodes	...	Butler Coates (3 episodes, 1979)
David Downing	...	Butler Dixon (3 episodes, 1979)
Kim Hunter	...	Ellen Wilson / ... (3 episodes, 1979)
Claire Bloom	...	Edith Bolling Galt Wilson / ... (3 episodes, 1979)
Celeste Holm	...	Florence Harding / ... (3 episodes, 1979)
George Kennedy	...	President Warren G. Harding (3 episodes, 1979)
Kevin Hooks	...	Emmett Rogers Jr. / ... (3 episodes, 1979)
Kathleen Doyle	...	Moira (3 episodes, 1979)
Tom Scott	...	Roach (3 episodes, 1979)
Cloris Leachman	...	Mrs. Jaffray (2 episodes, 1979)
Helena Carroll	...	First Maid Annie / ... (2 episodes, 1979)
Richard Roat	...	Chief Usher Crim (2 episodes, 1979)
James A. Watson Jr.	...	Houseman Fraser (2 episodes, 1979)
Julie Harris	...	Helen 'Nellie' Taft / ... (2 episodes, 1979)
Victor Buono	...	President William Howard Taft (2 episodes, 1979)
Louise Latham	...	Miss Nesbitt (2 episodes, 1979)
Diane Shalet	...	Housekeeper Long / ... (2 episodes, 1979)
Lee Kessler	...	Presidential Secretary / ... (2 episodes, 1979)
Gerry Black	...	Prettyman (2 episodes, 1979)
Bebe Drake	...	Sevilla (2 episodes, 1979)
John Randolph	...	Sen. Fall (2 episodes, 1979)

Runtime:

540 min (4 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Ed Friendly Productions

Trivia:

Olivia Cole, who played the role of Maggie Rogers, is less than a year older than Leslie Uggams, who played the role of her adult daughter, Lillian Rogers Parks. In 'Roots' (1976), Leslie Uggams played Oliva Cole's mother-in-law.

This Series Takes No Back Stairs to Anything

Outstanding. Superlative. Out of this world. No other words seem adequate regarding this magnificent series.

I am a retired social studies teacher. This series would have been so perfect for my grade 8 history students. It was so rich in history and personal emotions.

As far as the Emmy awards go,Backstairs should have tied with Roots for the best mini-series of the season.

The acting was outstanding. Robert Vaughn brought the perfect touch to Woodrow Wilson. Whoever thought that the character of Florence Harding, who died in 1924, under mysterious conditions was so interesting? Celeste Holm was simply memorable as Mrs. Harding. Eileen Heckart was memorable as Eleanor Roosevelt. Lee Grant brought the perfect touch to Grace Coolidge. Julie Harris set the tone as Nellie Taft.

Actresses Olivia Cole and Leslie Uggams, in a totally non-singing role, were just fabulous as the mother and daughter who worked for so many years at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

This is another Best Years Of Our Lives.

We all realize the sacrifices that were made during the extremely informative period of history. We are also shown that the White House was a scene of constant tragedy mixed with a total triumph of the human spirit.

We need more series of this quality.