Ike: The War Years (1979– )
"Ike" (original title)

Made-for-TV biography of General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Stars:

Robert Duvall, Lee Remick, Lloyd Alan

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert Duvall	...	Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Lee Remick	...	Kay Summersby
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lloyd Alan	...	3rd Sergeant
Terence Alexander	...	Gen. Arthur Tedder
Dana Andrews	...	Gen. George C. Marshall
Jonathan Banks	...	1st Sergeant
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Mamie Eisenhower
Whit Bissell	...	Admiral
William Boyett	...	Gen. Ward Hoffenberg
K Callan	...	Mrs. Westerfield
J.D. Cannon	...	Gen. Walter Bedell Smith
Anne Clements	...	Cockney Mum
Patrick Culliton	...	Young Lieutenant
David de Keyser	...	Field Marshall Sir Alan Brooke
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Gen. Charles DeGaulle

Storyline

Miniseries detailing the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who commanded American forces during World War II, romanced his driver Kay Summersby and later became President of the United States.

---

Plot Keywords:

general | tv mini series | world war two | based on book | character name in title

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ike: The War Years

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

291 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Ike tells Kay that Roosevelt will let her into the US Army and still owe allegiance to a foreign flag, and says she's the first person in history to be allowed to do that. During the Civil War citizens from several countries came to the US to fight for both sides while still remaining citizens of their home countries.

---

Connections

Edited into Ike: The War Years (1980)

User Reviews

Remarkable recount of WW II intricacies.

Robert Duvall does Stalin, he does Adolf Eichmann, and here he does Dwight D Eisenhower, and does him brilliantly.

This early docudrama chronicles (at 4 hours) Ike's rise from the Pentagon, to Commander of European Operations, and the end of the war. It additionally gives an honest focus on a wartime relationship Ike shared with his female British driver, Kate Summersby (Lee Remick).

The film's inclusion of this aspect of Ike's command not only humanizes what might other wise be quite a hard edged movie, but also is effective counterpoint to war.

Remick is great as Ms. Sommersby, a no-nonsense, level headed English-woman put in the most difficult of wartime circumstances, in love with a man with whom there is no long-term. The ugly contradiction being that, as long as the war continues, so will they.

Duvall gives Ike many dimensions: strength, smart but far from infallible, diligence. I have no doubt that these may well be Ike's own persona, but in Mr. Duvall's portrayal, it is ingratiating, and believable.

Good work guys.