The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992) (TV)

Director:

Karen Arthur

Writer (WGA):

Joyce Eliason (written by)

Release Date:

15 November 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

There's fame...there's fortune...and then there's family. Sometimes it's hard to choose.

Plot:

The Jacksons are your average working-class family in Gary, Indiana; but when their father discovers...

Plot Keywords:

Motown | Teenage Boy | Star Spangled Banner | Marriage | Extramarital Affair

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Joseph Jackson
Angela Bassett	...	Katherine Jackson
Holly Robinson Peete	...	Diana Ross (as Holly Robinson)
Margaret Avery	...	Martha Scruse
Alex Burrall	...	Michael Jackson (aged 6-8)
Jermaine Jackson II	...	Jermaine Jackson (aged 13-17)
Bumper Robinson	...	Jackie Jackson - age 12-16
Floyd Roger Myers Jr.	...	Marlon Jackson - age 7-9
Monica Calhoun	...	Rebbie Jackson
Jason Weaver	...	Michael Jackson (aged 9-14)
Ángel Vargas	...	Tito Jackson
Terrence Howard	...	Jackie Jackson (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Lanei Chapman
Elizabeth Narvaez	...	Dee Dee
Billy Dee Williams	...	Berry Gordy

Also Known As:

The Jackson Five (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

240 min | 60 min (4 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

De Passe Entertainment

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Joe invites Katherine into his room for the first time, he plays guitar for her. He is first shown from the back playing it left-handed, but the shot then immediately changes to show him playing from the front and you can see he's playing it right-handed.

Quotes:

Jermaine Jackson: They ripped off my medallion!
Jackie: Hey, I kind of like the whole thing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Plump Fiction (1997)

A decent story .

There was a whole generation that grew up with the Jackson 5, and most of their life was an open book,the movie tries to capture the Jackson family inside saga but the flaw is trying to capture the extensive material worth for a Mini-series in a span of few hours.. Joseph Jackson portrayed by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs though a good actor, comes across like a maniac than a strict diciplinarian. Part of the reason is his Hair-do and the character not aging as much as the other characters. For a fine actress like Angela Basett the part of Catherine is a cheese cake. Wylie Draper is an amazing display of talent with the "Moon walk" which is to the Entetainement as the "Moon Landing" was to Space exploration. The movie tries hard to cram lot of things hence suffers from a clear focus but yet there were some poignant moments like interactions between Berry Gordy (Billy Dee Williams) and the young Michael Jackson and the best, when Catherine finds Joseph cheating when she taps his phone instead of fetching Pecan ice cream!!. And of course the best eye candy of all Vanessa Williams.