"Kennedy" (1983) TV mini-series

Director:

Jim Goddard

Writer:

Reg Gadney (writer)

Release Date:

20 November 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Biography of the 1961-1963 presidency of John F. Kennedy.

Plot Keywords:

John F Kennedy | Assassination | U.S. Senator | Lyndon Johnson | Patriarch

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Martin Sheen	...	John F. Kennedy
John Shea	...	Robert F. Kennedy
E.G. Marshall	...	Joseph P. Kennedy
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Rose Kennedy
Vincent Gardenia	...	J. Edgar Hoover
Blair Brown	...	Jacqueline Kennedy
Kevin Conroy	...	Ted Kennedy
Charles Brown	...	Martin Luther King Jr.
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Lyndon B. Johnson
Peter Boyden	...	Pierre Salinger
Kent Broadhurst	...	Richard Paul Pavlick
James Burge	...	Peter Lawford
William Cain	...	Gen. Lyman Lemnitzer
Joanne Camp	...	Eunice Shriver
Veronica Castang	...	Evelyn Lincoln

Runtime:

282 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Alan Landsburg Productions

Trivia:

First aired on NBC on Sunday, November 20, 1983 at the same time that ABC was airing ‘The Day After’ (1983).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene between Jackie and her assistant Bess in the car following their pre inauguration visit, there are several indications that this movie was filmed in the early 80s. First, if you look over Blair Brown's right shoulder as the car moves down the street, you'll notice a current version of a "Do Not Enter" street sign. It's the kind with the big red circle with a white line going through it. Those type of street signs didn't appear across America until the 1970s. As the car continues to move down the street, immediately behind it are a few other automobiles from that time period. However, again over Blair Brown's shoulder, you'll notice the car passes several 80s era vehicles which are parked.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Goonies (1985)

Generally, quite riveting

Whenever I read books about the Kennedys and their Washington contemporaries I sometimes visualize each one as they were portrayed in this excellent mini series.

The casting was ideal. Martin Sheen, in particular, as JFK ... the voice, the look, the mannerisms ... there were times when the archival footage of the man himself and Sheen the actor almost became one.

The story never ceased to be anything other than utterly compelling.

Strong support from the likes of Vincent Gardenia and E.G Marshall ensured success.

Period detail was occasionally allowed to lapse (for example, cars from a much later period could be clearly seen on the roads in several exterior scenes). But generally quite riveting.