Roots 

A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.

Stars:

LeVar Burton, Robert Reed, John Amos

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 16 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Robert Reed	...	Dr. William Reynolds 4 episodes, 1977
John Amos	...	Older Kunta Kinte / ... 3 episodes, 1977
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Fiddler 3 episodes, 1977
Lynda Day George	...	Mrs. Reynolds 3 episodes, 1977
Olivia Cole	...	Mathilda / ... 3 episodes, 1977
Madge Sinclair	...	Bell Reynolds 3 episodes, 1977
Ben Vereen	...	'Chicken' George Moore / ... 3 episodes, 1977
Lloyd Bridges	...	Evan Brent 2 episodes, 1977
Georg Stanford Brown	...	Tom Harvey 2 episodes, 1977
Chuck Connors	...	Tom Moore 2 episodes, 1977
Lorne Greene	...	John Reynolds 2 episodes, 1977
Sandy Duncan	...	Missy Anne Reynolds 2 episodes, 1977
Ralph Waite	...	Slater 2 episodes, 1977
Brad Davis	...	Old George 2 episodes, 1977
Edward Asner	...	Capt. Thomas Davies 2 episodes, 1977
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Wrestler 2 episodes, 1977
Hilly Hicks	...	Lewis Harvey 2 episodes, 1977
Vic Morrow	...	Ames 2 episodes, 1977
Lynne Moody	...	Irene Harvey 2 episodes, 1977
Lillian Randolph	...	Sister Sara 2 episodes, 1977
Leslie Uggams	...	Kizzy Reynolds Moore / ... 2 episodes, 1977
Tanya Boyd	...	Genelva 2 episodes, 1977
Richard McKenzie	...	Sam Harvey 2 episodes, 1977
Renn Woods	...	Fanta 2 episodes, 1977
Sally Kemp	...	Lila Harvey 2 episodes, 1977
LeVar Burton	...	Kunta Kinte / ... 2 episodes, 1977
Thayer David	...	Harlan 2 episodes, 1977
Austin Stoker	...	Virgil Harvey 2 episodes, 1977
Lane Binkley	...	Martha Johnson 2 episodes, 1977
Stan Haze	...	Field Singer / ... 2 episodes, 1977
Fred D. Scott	...	Luther 2 episodes, 1977

Storyline

A saga of African-American life, based on Alex Haley's family history. Kunta Kinte is abducted from his African village, sold into slavery, and taken to America. He makes several escape attempts until he is finally caught and maimed. He marries Bell, his plantation's cook, and they have a daughter, Kizzy, who is eventually sold away from them. Kizzy has a son by her new master, and the boy grows up to become Chicken George. He's a legendary cock fighter who leads his family into freedom. Throughout the series, the family observes notable events in U.S. history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings, and emancipation.

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Plot Keywords:

escape attempt | tv mini series | father son relationship | one word series title | freedom | 

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Taglines:

The Saga of an American Family.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

It became the first show to receive at least twenty major nominations in the Emmys. With nominations in Creative Arts categories, the total expands to thirty-seven. Both records still stand for all shows.

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Goofs

Kizzy, a slave who works in the fields, has long, beautifully manicured fingernails.

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Quotes

Kintango: Who can tell me if there was a tribal war, and the men of Mandinka had the enemy surrounded on three sides, what should be the next thing done?
Boy: The men of the Mandinka will enclose the circle and surround the enemy.
Kintango: No, the goal of war is not to kill. The goal of war is to win. By surrounding the enemy, you would force him only to fight more desperately. If you surround him on three sides and leave him an escape route, he will leave your land and there will less blood spilled on both sides. For a...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Several scenes were cut for DVD when the eight episodes were combined into six. Among the deletions: A five minute opening sequence of George Hamilton riding through the countryside on a carriage before he reaches the Moore plantation and several scenes featuring slaves working in the fields as Chicken George returns home from England. The dvd also deletes the opening screen credits for these sequences. The DVD does contain a short sequence at the start of Episode 5, featuring Chicken George and Tom Moore before a cockfight, not seen originally. The DVD also features different closing credits than the original broadcast.

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Connections

Referenced in Survivor: Persona Non Grata (2013)

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Soundtracks

Oluwa
by Quincy Jones

User Reviews

Amazing

I recently viewed all of this Mini series on the Hallmark Channel, and let me say, it was amazing! I was born 3 years after Roots was on television and never had the chance to see it growing up. I knew that Hallmark was showing it, so I made plans to see all 6 parts this week. It made me angry, it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me happy, it made me open my eyes. The range of emotions ran the table this week. Now I know why it got all the acclaim that it rightly deserves.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Roots

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

David L. Wolper Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

588 min (total run time)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1