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Roots

  • TV Mini Series
  • 19771977
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 9h 48m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,635
11
Roots (1977)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer1:28
2 Videos
26 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,635
11
  • Stars
    • LeVar Burton
    • Robert Reed
    • John Amos
Top credits
  • Stars
    • LeVar Burton
    • Robert Reed
    • John Amos
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 71User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 9 Primetime Emmys
      • 17 wins & 35 nominations total

    Episodes8

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1977

    Videos2

    Roots: 30th Anniversary Special Edition
    Trailer 1:28
    Roots: 30th Anniversary Special Edition
    Roots: 30th Anniversary Special Edition
    Trailer 1:28
    Roots: 30th Anniversary Special Edition

    Photos26

    Richard Roundtree and Leslie Uggams in Roots (1977)
    Roots (1977)
    Ji-Tu Cumbuka in Roots (1977)
    Cicely Tyson in Roots (1977)
    Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou in Roots (1977)
    LeVar Burton in Roots (1977)
    John Amos and Madge Sinclair in Roots (1977)
    Leslie Uggams in Roots (1977)
    Sandy Duncan and Madge Sinclair in Roots (1977)
    Georg Stanford Brown in Roots (1977)
    Roots (1977)
    Roots (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    LeVar Burton
    LeVar Burton
    • Kunta Kinteas Kunta Kinte…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Robert Reed
    Robert Reed
    • Dr. William Reynoldsas Dr. William Reynolds
    4 episodes4 eps • 1977
    John Amos
    John Amos
    • Older Kunta Kinteas Older Kunta Kinte…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1977
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Fiddleras Fiddler
    3 episodes3 eps • 1977
    Lynda Day George
    Lynda Day George
    • Mrs. Reynoldsas Mrs. Reynolds
    3 episodes3 eps • 1977
    Olivia Cole
    Olivia Cole
    • Mathildaas Mathilda…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1977
    Madge Sinclair
    Madge Sinclair
    • Bell Reynoldsas Bell Reynolds
    3 episodes3 eps • 1977
    Ben Vereen
    Ben Vereen
    • Chicken George Mooreas Chicken George Moore
    3 episodes3 eps • 1977
    Lloyd Bridges
    Lloyd Bridges
    • Evan Brentas Evan Brent
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Chuck Connors
    Chuck Connors
    • Tom Mooreas Tom Moore
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Georg Stanford Brown
    Georg Stanford Brown
    • Tom Harveyas Tom Harvey
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Lorne Greene
    Lorne Greene
    • John Reynoldsas John Reynolds
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Ralph Waite
    Ralph Waite
    • Slateras Slater
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Sandy Duncan
    Sandy Duncan
    • Missy Anne Reynoldsas Missy Anne Reynolds
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Brad Davis
    Brad Davis
    • Old Georgeas Old George
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Edward Asner
    Edward Asner
    • Capt. Thomas Daviesas Capt. Thomas Davies
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Ji-Tu Cumbuka
    Ji-Tu Cumbuka
    • Wrestleras Wrestler
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    Hilly Hicks
    Hilly Hicks
    • Lewis Harveyas Lewis Harvey
    2 episodes2 eps • 1977
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Author Harold Courlander successfully sued author Alex Haley for plagiarizing works which led to the book that served as the basis for this miniseries. Haley paid $650,000 in an out-of-court settlement.
    • Goofs
      Kizzy, a slave who works in the fields, has long, beautifully manicured fingernails.
    • Quotes

      Omoro, Kunta's father: [holding his infant son up to starry sky] Kunta Kinte, behold the only thing greater than yourself!

    • Alternate versions
      The original version of Roots on ABC featured slightly different opening titles. The Roots Mural was the same, but when the title Roots was shown on-screen it was over a dark blue background. The cover of the novel rises up from a horizontal to a vertical position. The screen says "AN ABC NOVEL FOR TELEVISION ALEX HALEY'S ROOTS THE SAGA OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY." Current VHS, dvd, and re-broadcasts simply have "Roots" on a black background, without the other information. Also, the end credits have been changed considerably. In the original, there were eight sets of end credits (one for each episode.) When the show was re-edited to six episodes, names were combined for different hours and some of the end credit sequences (with a still from that episode) are missing, including one featuring Kizzy and Missy Anne having a picnic.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Oluwa
      by Quincy Jones

    User reviews71

    Review
    Top review
    I understand it now that I'm older
    In 1977 I was 10 years old, and all I remember is the majority of the city where I live was watching Roots each day for a week. I recently bought the video and watched it with my now 10 year old son, who is Black and I show him the importance of getting an education because our ancestors weren't allowed such luxuries. At his age everything is rosy just like it was when I was 10, but hopefully he can reflect back on this movie to motivate him in the future.

    Great cast of characters-even though I didn't realize that O.J. Simpson was in it! John Amos was the best and the funniest especially when he kept losing his character's African accent and sounding more like "James" on Good Times! Overall the movie is very touching and will have you experiencing mixed emotions if you're of the Black race, and have compassion if you're of other races that haven't experienced such things. I highly recommend this film and a book called the Miseducation of the Negro as Black family heirlooms-or for anyone who wants to be enlightened concerning a portion of Black history.
    helpful•34
    15
    • sbrnnxn
    • Sep 5, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Raíces
    • Filming locations
      • St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • David L. Wolper Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      9 hours 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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