QB VII 

A physician (Sir Anthony Hopkins) sues a novelist (Ben Gazzara) for publishing statements implicating the doctor in Nazi war crimes.

Stars:

Ben Gazzara, Anthony Hopkins, Leslie Caron

Won 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 11 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ben Gazzara	...	Abe Cady 2 episodes, 1974
Anthony Hopkins	...	Adam Kelno 2 episodes, 1974
Leslie Caron	...	Angela Kelno 2 episodes, 1974
Dan O'Herlihy	...	David Shawcross 2 episodes, 1974
Robert Stephens	...	Robert Highsmith 2 episodes, 1974
Anthony Quayle	...	Tom Banniester 2 episodes, 1974
Milo O'Shea	...	Dr. Stanislaus Lotaki 2 episodes, 1974
Kristoffer Tabori	...	Ben Cady 2 episodes, 1974
Lee Remick	...	Lady Margaret 2 episodes, 1974
Julian Glover	...	Zaminski 2 episodes, 1974
Vladek Sheybal	...	Sobotnik 2 episodes, 1974
Anthony Andrews	...	Stephen Kelno 2 episodes, 1974
Alan Napier	...	Semple 2 episodes, 1974

Storyline

Adam Kelno (Sir Anthony Hopkins) has made it to England in the days following World War II. Having escaped from a death camp in Nazi Europe, he finds that his identification with anti-Communists in Poland has made him a target of the Soviet Government, which brings up war crime charges against him in England. When the witness is unable to identify him as one of the doctors who castrated him, he is released. Kelno takes his wife and young son to Saudi Arabia, where he labors for years upgrading public health standards. Upon his return to England, he is Knighted. Twenty years have passed and he has just begun to enjoy his life of renown when a book is published that names him as a willing participant to Nazi medical experiments on Jews in the camps. He sues for defamation and finds that not only can he not escape his past, but that the plaintiff in a defamation case has his own reputation on trial. "QB VII" refers to the courtroom in which the trial is held, Queen's Bench, Room 7.

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Plot Keywords:

nazi | war crime | doctor | courtroom | roman numeral in title | 

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Taglines:

Three Years in the Making! An Electrifying World Premiere! Over Six Hours of Gripping Drama! Filmed All Over the World!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

QB VII

Company Credits

Production Co:

Douglas S. Cramer Company, Screen Gems

Technical Specs

Runtime:

390 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first ABC "novel for television" that launched the mini-series form on network television.

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Quotes

Samantha Cady: I don't know what the word for 'male slut' is - but that's what you are.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Joan Rivers/Truman Capote/Bob Speca (1975)

User Reviews

courtroom drama as only the Brits can do

A saintly doctor, Kelno (Anthony Hopkins) is accused of being a collobroator with the nazis by a Jewish writer, Cady (Ben Gazzara), and the two 'duel' in a courtroom, Queens Bench VII (hence the title). Kelno stoutly defends his character but the past catches up to him. I wish the movie could have explored how Dr Kelno--clearly a morally admirable doctor, helping the poor and defying the powerful--changed; or was he always a saint...except when dealing with the Jews? The opposing counsels, played by John Gielgud and Anthony Quayle, are the show. Frankly, I fast forwarded through the first half to watch the courtroom part, which is superb, very British, elegant and fascinating, especially as the Anthony Quayle barrister finally pins down the frantic Kelno, while Kelno's lawyer watches helplessly ("My Lord...!") Highly recommended. A terrific slap at communists early ('You spoke well of Dr --.' 'That was before he defected. Now I say he is guilty'. 'Guilty of what?' 'Of whatever you are charging him with.')