Ike: The War Years 

During World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower serves as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. On a personal level, he has an extramarital affair with his driver Kay Summersby.

Stars:

Robert Duvall, Lee Remick, Dana Andrews

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Robert Duvall	...	Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower 3 episodes, 1979
Lee Remick	...	Kay Summersby 3 episodes, 1979
Dana Andrews	...	Gen. George C. Marshall 3 episodes, 1979
J.D. Cannon	...	Gen. Walter Bedell Smith 3 episodes, 1979
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Gen. Charles DeGaulle 3 episodes, 1979
Paul Gleason	...	Capt. Ernest 'Tex' Lee 3 episodes, 1979
Richard Herd	...	Gen. Omar Bradley 3 episodes, 1979
Darren McGavin	...	Gen. George S. Patton 3 episodes, 1979
Wensley Pithey	...	Winston Churchill 3 episodes, 1979
Ian Richardson	...	Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery 3 episodes, 1979
Stephen Roberts	...	President Franklin Delano Roosevelt 3 episodes, 1979
William Schallert	...	Gen. Mark Clark 3 episodes, 1979
Lowell Thomas	...	Himself - Narrator 3 episodes, 1979
Lloyd Alan	...	3rd Sergeant 2 episodes, 1979
Terence Alexander	...	Gen. Arthur Tedder 2 episodes, 1979
Jonathan Banks	...	1st Sergeant 2 episodes, 1979
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Mamie Eisenhower 2 episodes, 1979
Whit Bissell	...	Admiral 2 episodes, 1979
William Boyett	...	Gen. Ward Hoffenberg 2 episodes, 1979
K Callan	...	Mrs. Westerfield 2 episodes, 1979
Anne Clements	...	Cockney Mum 2 episodes, 1979
Patrick Culliton	...	Young Lieutenant 2 episodes, 1979
David de Keyser	...	Field Marshall Sir Alan Brooke 2 episodes, 1979
Clifford Earl	...	Mountbatten 2 episodes, 1979
Don Fellows	...	Gen. Carl Spaatz 2 episodes, 1979
Redmond Gleeson	...	Riley 2 episodes, 1979
Charles Gray	...	Gen. 'Freddie' DeGuingand 2 episodes, 1979
Charles H. Gray	...	Gen. Lucian Truscott 2 episodes, 1979
Mitchell Group	...	2nd Sergeant 2 episodes, 1979
Lise Hilboldt	...	Jean Dixon 2 episodes, 1979
Peter Hobbs	...	Admiral 2 episodes, 1979
Robert James	...	Capt. Burns 2 episodes, 1979
Clifton Jones	...	Sgt. Hunt 2 episodes, 1979
James Keane	...	Corporal 2 episodes, 1979
Ronald Leigh-Hunt	...	Gen. Pagel 2 episodes, 1979
Laurence Luckinbill	...	Maj. Rchard Arnold 2 episodes, 1979
Julia MacKenzie	...	Sybil Bryan 2 episodes, 1979
Michael Malnick	...	Gen. Strong 2 episodes, 1979
Maurice Marsac	...	Gen. Henri Giraud 2 episodes, 1979
Vincent Marzello	...	Mickey McKeogh 2 episodes, 1979
Francis Matthews	...	Noel Coward 2 episodes, 1979
Richard McKenzie	...	Col. Offenheim 2 episodes, 1979
Patricia Michael	...	Gertrude Lawrence 2 episodes, 1979
Wolfgang Preiss	...	Field Marshal Alfred Jodl 2 episodes, 1979
Joe Unger	...	Private 2 episodes, 1979
Major Wiley	...	Sgt. Mooney 2 episodes, 1979

Storyline

Miniseries detailing the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who commanded American forces during World War II, romanced his driver Kay Summersby and later became President of the United States.

---

Plot Keywords:

character name as series title | nickname as series title | dwight d. eisenhower character | george s. patton character | charles de gaulle character | 

---

Taglines:

Mightiest Invasion Force in History Fights Its Way to Victory. Led by the Greatest American Hero of the 20th Century. The Man Everyone Called...Ike

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ike: The War Years

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Circle Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Immediately following the scene where Ike (Robert Duvall), traveling with General George S. Patton (portrayed by Darren McGavin), in Patton's command car, steps out of the car, and is seen physically taking a step across the German border, after saying "It's been a long, long time since an Eisenhower returned to Germany," an on screen caption states "Ohrdruf, Germany April 13, 1944." Ohrdruf is a small town in south central Germany, the infamous site of the Ohrdruf forced labor and concentration camp, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, and famously was the first concentration camp liberated by U.S. troops, specifically the 4th Armored Division of Patton's Third Army, and was visited in person by Eisenhower, Patton, and Omar Bradley April 12-13, 1945. This was ten months and six days after D-Day (June 6, 1944). The on-screen caption is correct as to the location, but incorrect as to the date, since it could not have happened on April 13, 1944, which would have been almost two months before D-Day.

---

Connections

Edited into Ike: The War Years (1980)

User Reviews

Strong performances and writing unexpectedly impress

Strong performances by Duvall as Eisenhower and Remick as his love interest. Duvall's Eisenhower demonstrates grit, determination, fallibility, growth, a sharp and quick wit, and the burden of sending thousands of men to their deaths in a desperate battle against a cunning enemy. Ike's interactions with Chruchill, Roosevelt, Montgomery and others are wonderfully acted, as are the touching scenes with Remick as Kay.

Generally very sharp writing nicely contrasts stratified British culture and largely no-nonsense American character epitomized by Ike. Yet they all pull together under Ike's ever improving leadership and command of the large and small elements of war. The story also expresses a lot of humanity under very extraordinary and trying circumstances, but in a very calm and measured way. These are portraits of truly great men and women, portrayed by great actors.