The comparison of the fictional Armaughs to the Kennedy clan can't be escaped. Still, this is a magnificent entertainment piece about an Irish immigrant who claws to the top of power and money (remindful of Joe Kennedy Sr.?)with the crown jewel being son Rory's bid to become the nation's first Irish Catholic president. "Captains and the Kings" is riveting from its beginning when a young Joseph Armaugh is left by his mother's death to care for two younger siblings and through the end where the elderly Joseph is left alone questioning the cost of his power and wealth. The late Richard Jordan is brilliant in presenting his Joseph as the scrapping improverished immigrant turned industrialist power broker but who, in the end, pays a horrible price. The mini-series also introduced us to Blair Brown as the daughter of Joseph's role model, and she manages to grab our empathy despite her being a mistress in Joseph's extra-marital pilferings. But, in a role that landed her a second Emmy, Patty Duke (Astin)is devastating as Joseph's wife in an arranged marriage who gradually is pushed by the price of power (and alcoholism) to insanity. There is a lesson in "Captains and the Kings," especially to those who hunger for more. As with all things, costs come, and the question is at what cost do we feed our hunger and our willingness to pay it.
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cmacneil16 September 2002
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ldeangelis-7570831 July 2022This TV miniseries was based on the Taylor Caldwell novel, which was clearly inspired by the Kennedy family, though it takes place in an earlier time; (Irish immigrants, the patriarch's first name was Joseph, he wants his son to be the first Irish Catholic President, need I say more?)
I read the novel and it was fascinating reading, but I liked the series better, as it made the characters more compassionate. This was especially true of Joseph Armagh, who in the book is colder and more autocratic, as well as unforgiving. In the series, he comes across as more human and with a heart.
Patty Duke was excellent as Joseph's wife, Bernadette, whom he married to fulfill a deathbed promise to her mother, Katherine, his first love. Ironically, he later falls in love with the woman who unwittingly helped bring about her death, by revealing the child she had with Katherine's husband. This will later have disastrous results for Joseph and Bernadette's daughter.
Their eldest child, Rory, represents all Joseph's hopes and ambitions, but his love for a Protestant heiress threatens to topple all Joseph's plans.
Yes, it's a bit of a soap opera, but there's also history, drama and plenty of entertainment, not to mention great acting. One of the best miniseries ever. -
coop-165 May 2001Taylor Caldwells typically over blown and over written epic essentially offered history ala' John Birch.You see, America is secretly ruled by the Council On Foreign Relations, who together with the international bankers and the munitions makers, RULE THE WORLD. Yep, you got that right, they rule the world, and they had Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley rubbed out. Despite this mildly lunatic view of history, the Captains and the Kings is a superbly acted, written and filmed melodrama, one of the MOST gripping things ever put on TV. The always brilliant Richard Jordan was superb.
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Without question,by far the greatest thing I've ever seen on film. The acting,writing,scenery,music,costumes,just incredible!All of it-just incredible!The cast members complimented one another beautifully. The music conducted by Leonard Bernstein was so great! I have to wonder why they can't put together a series or mini-series like it now.I purchased it on tape and can honestly say that if i were forced to destroy every tape I own but one Captains and Kings would be the one I keep without a moments hesitation.Richard Jordans' performance was fantastic. In the beginning he's this youngster protecting his brother and sister and at the end of the movie he's an older man. Charles Durnings' role,what can i say? The man was terrific! Barbara Parkins,soooooooo good. Harvey Jason and Vic Morrow,both great!I seriously apologize for leaving out some cast members due to my bad memory when it comes to names-PLEASE know that ALL of you were GREAT!
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trob22624 November 2008Finally! Powerful and spectacular miniseries. Marvelous actors, led by the always brilliant Richard Jordan (may he rest in peace) who makes us adore Joseph Armagh before he takes him to a ruthless, power-hungry SOB we still somehow care about. Bit by bit he destroys his life while he thinks he's building it. Harvey Jason is terrific as the only friend who always believes in him. Other supporting actors are the likes of Henry Fonda (brief but absolutely mesmerizing), Vic Morrow, Ray Bolger, Patty Duke Astin, Jane Seymour and a score of others at the top of their craft. Our terrible loss is that so many of them are gone now, but boy, what they left behind. Having so many of them in one work is a genuine treat.
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tbob0222 September 2001Captains and the Kings is such a rich mini-series. From the first episode to the last you can't help being drawn to the characters. I just got the VHS set and I can tell you that the story holds up as well now as it did in 1976. If you get the chance to see Captains and the Kings, don't pass it up. I guarantee it: you'll be hooked!!
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Kim-683 December 2000I have just seen Captains And The Kings on video and I thought that was the best mini-series that I have ever seen. Richard Jordan was outstanding as Joseph Armagh. This was probably the best performance of his film career. He put his whole heart and soul into this role. And he certainly deserved the Golden Globe award that he won for this. He had me hooked from his first scene to the end, so much so that I just kept watching it until it was finished. I also thought that Perry King was also excellent as Rory Armagh and I think he should have received something for his performance. Patty Duke was terrific as Bernadette and I am glad that she did win the Emmy for her role, she certainly deserved it. I also thought that Blair Brown, Charles Durning and Jane Seymour were also excellent in this. So I highly recommend this mini-series to anybody that appreciates great talent and a great story and this was a classic with outstanding acting.
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Skragg10 April 2006I really can't say enough about it here, because I've been hugely attached to it since it came out. There are several reasons to watch it - along with the "historical romance" reasons, there are the political ideas (which are that much bigger in the novel, but a very big part of this TV version). Whether it's borderline "conspiracy" thinking (with "those men" who influence everything) or not, those ideas have influenced plenty of my political thinking. (Partly because of this story, I always think the phrase "opportune little war" when I hear about ANY given war- and quite some time BEFORE the past three years.) Richard Jordan was just great as Joseph, an Irish character who hardly fits any of the images of Irishmen (even the positive ones), who's almost completely "cool", and whose emotions don't come out (in a big way) except in certain dramatic scenes, like the scenes with Catherine or Tom (for opposite reasons). There isn't enough room to mention all the best actors and characters, or scenes, but there's Perry King as Rory Armagh, Patty Duke Astin as Bernadette (I think someone here mentioned how great she was as a tragic character, and she won an Emmy for it, very deservedly), Jane Seymour as Margery, Cliff DeYoung as Brian Armagh, the aviator-film-maker etc., with his star Pearl Gray (Pearl White), Vic Morrow, who was extremely good as Tom Hennesey (and whom you really feel sorry for in that last scene with him, in spite of everything he's done), Beverly D'Angelo as Miss Emmy, Charles Durning as Big Ed Healy (I don't know if he's ever played a more entertaining character), and Harvey Jason as Harry Zeff. As far as I know, he's mainly a supporting actor in comedies, and you see that in his "sidekick" kind of relationship with Joseph, but of course with other levels to it - the scene where Joseph accuses Harry of being disloyal to him, which is the one kind of talk Harry can't stand to hear from him, and the scene where Joseph turns his back on blackmailing the senator, and Harry is glad for all three of them (not knowing what's coming next). And of course, the big guest stars, like John Houseman as Mr. Chisholm and Henry Fonda as Senator Bassett (two of the best scenes). Again, I could go on and on, but it's simply a very underrated story, as far as I know (in spite of the Emmy). Though to me, underrated is putting it pretty mildly.
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dadio0725 January 2007This is one of the best 'movies' I have ever seen. The depth and the detail of Taylor Caldwell's masterwork is likewise, masterfully translated to the screen, (small screen, in this case). But I still remember it as though I had seen it in a theater. A rich and detailed 'period piece', that never faltered or struck a false note in it's production. Ms. Caldwell's story is a primer for all who seek to find the truth behind the "Movers and Shakers" of our societies, (The Captains and the Kings). A nicely but thinly veiled tale of mankind's lusty greed for money, and hence, power. Or power and hence, money. Maybe it was me, but it never failed to hold my interest from the very first to the ending credits. I have seen it only once and that was its original airing back in 1976 as a TV mini-series, but it still holds a huge interest for me. (I just went on-line to find out about it!) I remember the actors and the acting being superb, with the casting flawless. I would love to see it again, but it seems to have disappeared from the marketplace! Could this be the work of some powerful family or group??
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rockk48020 September 2008In 1976 I was given a copy of the book by Taylor Caldwell by a dear friend who suggested I read it. I was not too keen initially in reading it , but did find it quickly becoming a book that was difficult to put down. While I usually prefer to watch a movie than read a book, the book added more to the story than the movie. The only problem I have with the movie (my vote as the best mini series ever)is that a list of non-fiction books she listed at the back of the book she used to form her novel are regrettably missing at the end of the movie. Joseph Armagh's recognition of a powerful group of individuals determining national politics so intrigued me that I have spent the last thirty years investigating the concept, beginning with the books she recommends at the end of the book. My world view has been unalterably formed by this historical novel and the subsequent investigations over the ensuing years. While I highly recommend this movie, I would also recommend reading the book and beginning your own search for political insight.
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Therby29 October 2005Robert Jordan is great in the lead role. From the end of slavery to the forming of the unions (as I remember) this story peaked my interest. A great demonstration of what can to a person who pursues riches and power their entire life. Just how far would a person go is acted out in a rich environment of clashing personalities in a time period of some the greatest opportunities in history. I have been checking off and on for a couple of years now hoping to find this great program on DVD. This is one of the best mini series ever made. I haven't seen it since it was on Television but will purchase it as soon as it is released on DVD.
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No words can describe the quality and importance of this masterpiece. Pacey and gripping throughout every minute of this six hour series, Captains and The Kings captures the essence of our political reality both in the past and today.
"Chew on this and get it down: The world runs on money. Call it commerce, call it government, call it the will of the people but what it really is, what we really have all over this world is Government of the Money, by the Money and for the Money."
There has never been a truer line given to any character in any drama and, at the pivotal moment when it is delivered, everything falls comprehensively into place.
The plot tells the story of Joe Armagh, a 14 year old Irish immigrant arriving in America in 1857 to find himself orphaned and responsible for the care of his two younger siblings. He finds work and connections and gradually builds up a fortune only to discover that wealth and power have both privileges and costs. He is recruited to the super rich set who are able to control politics and even world events. And he persuades them to groom his son to be a President motivated to serve them. Of course there is a heavy price to pay and the curse of a Senator driven to suicide through his dealings with Joe plays out its inevitable path.
The similarity of the plot to the fate of the Kennedy family 50 years later is neither an accident to the author nor the director. Indeed it can be argued that the whole drama is a brilliant analysis of the Kennedy assassinations of 1963 and 1968 indicating the powers that orchestrated them and the reasoning behind them.
Joe is clearly paralleled with the patriarch of the Kennedy clan. One of his sons is killed in wartime action, a daughter is mentally handicapped, another son is clever at business whilst the son chosen to be President is plainly modeled on the philandering but noble thinking JFK with a death scene that copies almost entirely the shooting of Robert Kennedy in 1968. Even the camera angle of the dying man are almost a carbon copy of the stricken Senator in a Los Angeles hotel. The curse of the Kennedy's which has seen tragedy strike at the family over four generations is mirrored on the Armagh family.
But the key element to the whole production is that the Super Elite is shown as manipulators of the US-Spanish War of 1898, the assassination of Mckinley in 1901, the Great War against Germany in 1914 and ultimately the assassination of both Kennedy brothers 50 years later. And the descendants of the group are still in power today. -
osiris19971 August 2007I remember seeing this on television when it first aired. I did not know it had been released on VHS. I hope it is on DVD. This is without a doubt the best mini-series (besides Roots in my opinion) ever. I remember always making sure I was at home to see each episode. They just don't do TV like this anymore. I especially remember Mr. Jordan's lead role and that he was outstanding. The same for Perry King and everyone else. It is perplexing to me, however, that we don't have quality television like this anymore. There is so much junk on and reality non-sense that programs designed to make you think are non existent. Was this ever repeated. I think it would be a good idea to rerun this program.
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caroledelm25 November 2009I read the book first & am looking forward to the last disc in the series, which is coming to me from NetFlix. I think that the adaptation to the screen is excellent, even though some things have been changed. The changes & additions of characters have enhanced the story, in my opinion. Barbara Parkins's portrayal of Martinique woke me up to what a fine actress she is. The acting overall was remarkable. I could see the "change" in Harry (Harvey Jason)when it happened on screen. What a fine actor. The sets & costumes were beautiful & elaborate. So many good actors in the series! By the way, Blair Brown's interview was most enjoyable. What a classy series. I don't know how I missed it the first time around.
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This is Definately One of the Best Mini-Series ever Made! I Own this Historical Mini-Series! If you ever want to have a Great Film in your Collection as I do, Buy this now! Simply Put--Great Acting by the whole Cast! I Am a Huge Movie Buff & a Film Critic in my own right! The only little flaw in this movie to me was when Richard Jordan is approaching the Beautiful Mansion in Titusville! The set looked to phony! You could tell right off that it was just a Big Painting (I'm talking about the background)! This just lasted a few seconds, so this is really not a big deal at all! This is a Great Great Drama about Irish Immigrants coming to America as they actually did in real life with the hard-ships of just trying to survive. This great Mini-Series starts off in 1847 & spans to about 70 years later- going though the tough times of the Civil War & into the turn of the Century! Richard Jordan is Fantastic in the leading Role! He is very poor-but he has a vision of being very wealthy in the oil Business! Patty Duke's Performance is Excellent! Perry King as Richard Jordan is also Excellent as he is going to run for president against Woodrow Wilson in 1912. The Beautiful Barbara Parkins is very good also! Now we come to the actress Jane Seymore! This Lady in my opinion is the Prettiest Female that has ever ben on the screen! Sure there are very many fine looking females from Hollywood for years, but how can one really say that this is the prettiest lady of all time! You really can't! It's just your preference! I will day this though--I don't see how you can get any beter than Jane Seymore! When she wears the Fancy Beutiful Period Costume Dresses of this old era--She is the Ultimate! Beautiful & Sexy! You name it! I wish I was married to her! Yep--I'm just Dreaming! Ha! Anyway--Buy this mini-seies! It is Great & I mean GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!
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aramis-112-8048809 April 2023Richard Jordan heads a starry cast in "The Captains and the Kings."
After the miniseries format proved popular NBC started a series called "Best Sellers," where impressive casts (mostly TV stars, but this one dug out Henry Fonda) enacted recent popular novels.
Taylor Caldwell's best-selling family-saga novels appeared perfect for this format.
Other best sellers were not so carefully chosen, and the "Best Sellers" series faded away. Occasionally, especially on CBS, classics were adapted for TV. NBC eschewed that stuff and stuck to recent best sellers, but the writers weren't always able to work magic. And few things are more boring than a dull 1970s miniseries. "The Captains and the Kings" is at least capable of sustaining interest; if, in nothing else, the wonder of who would show up next in tiny parts. They were prodigal with talent then. Actors like John Carradine were wasted.
Anyone can look up the impressive (for the 1970s) cast. Of particular interest are rising-star actresses like Blair Brown and, particularly, Jane Seymour. But she doesn't show up until the tail end of the thing.
The story is schmaltzy but that's what made popular novels and miniseries TV back then. Richard Jordan may not be everyone's idea of a great star, but he's the glue holding this remarkable miniseries together. -
Does anyone ever remember anything else that LordActon ever said?
I must agree with one of the other reviewers,who commented on Taylor Caldwells' reactionary,ultra-right wing view of history,and the alleged conspiracies that a clique of powermad millionaires are using to control the fate of the world.I especially enjoyed his describing it as "John Birch",and lunatic.
Caldwell also espoused a medieval,Catholic view of human nature,which interpreted life and all human motivation as being determined by the basest, rawest,and most vicious, mean-spirited factors imaginable.(Lest one think I am a bigot, please be aware that I am a Roman Catholic, and am aware of how our church doctrine has changed over the centuries.) She felt that, if any behavior of an unselfish sort happened, it was invariably caused by the most depraved and malevolent aspirations that could be construed. So, the characters in her novels inevitably act from positions of malice, corruption, and malevolence. Of such vicious cyclesis paranoia born.
Given these assumptions, this series, rather wisely, attempts to tone down the grim, bitter, erspective, and has, indeed, sanitized and homogenized much of what was related in the original story. From a technical point of view, it's well-done. And it's nice tosee jane Seymour in her early career, establishing one of many portrayals as a noble, igh-minded, virtuous,and beautiful and sensous heroines. -
slfisher-228 September 2008but it's very, very different from the book.
the sister an older girl? named Mary, not Moira? blonde, not brunette? they jump overboard? they end up in Winfield from the get-go? he says "that will not be buying any potatoes" without learning it from the Sister? working in a coal mine? Martinique? Friends with Katherine Hennessey? Mrs. Hennessey having a miscarriage? Wanting to adopt the boy first, rather than the girl? Joe almost getting robbed? Joe's actually driving a hot wagon? he returns to Mr. Squibs? and borrows money from him? Joe reveals his name to Ed Healey? A big huge virginity-losing scene? No anti-Irish sentiment by the military guy? Hamlet and not Chopin? the military guy is the one who gets shot? and doesn't get left behind? Healey has a daughter? Miss Emmy has a thing for Harry? Harry doesn't end up being in love with Liza? a big fight with Healey? Harry is in love with Emmy? Elizabeth makes a pass at Joseph? Healey dying after finding out about his nonexistent daughter's child? Bernadette being such a nice person? a big confrontation with Hennessey?