BACKSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE (DVD/NBC MINISERIES 1979/4 DISC) DVD

Backstairs at the White House
Based on the best-selling memoirs of Lillian Rogers Parks, the NBC miniseries Backstairs at the White House traces over five decades of American political history as witnessed from the vantage point of the servants' quarters. Played by Tania Johnson as a teenager and by Leslie Uggams as an adult, Lillian Rogers Parks served for 52 years as a maidservant at the White House. Though crippled early on with polio, Lillian diligently and loyally stuck to her duties -- and her own rock-solid set of principles and ideals -- through eight highly different Presidential administrations, often (and occasionally reluctantly) acting as friend and confidante to the First Lady of the moment. The large and stellar cast included a number of top-rank film and TV actors, obviously having the time of their lives impersonating such presidents as William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and their respective wives. Also in the cast were several African-American veterans from the landmark TV miniseries Roots. Earning 11 Emmy Award nominations, the nine-hour Backstairs at the White House was seen in five installments from January 29 to February 19, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Leslie Uggams as Lillian Rogers Parks Olivia Cole as Maggie Rogers Louis Gossett Jr. as Levi Mercer Robert Hooks as John Mays Leslie Nielsen as Ike Hoover Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Jaffray Paul Winfield as Emmett Rogers Sr. Julie Harris as Helen "Nellie" Taft Victor Buono as William Howard Taft Robert Vaughn as Woodrow Wilson Kim Hunter as Ellen Wilson Claire Bloom as Edith Galt Wilson Celeste Holm as Florence Harding George Kennedy as Warren G. Harding Ed Flanders as Calvin Coolidge Lee Grant as Grace Coolidge Larry Gates as Herbert Hoover Jan Sterling as Lou Hoover Eileen Heckart as Eleanor Roosevelt John Anderson as Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry Morgan as Harry S. Truman Estelle Parsons as Bess Truman Barbara Barrie as Mamie Eisenhower Andrew Duggan as Dwight D. Eisenhower Kevin Hooks as Young Emmett Tania Johnson as Young Lillian Hari (Harry) Rhodes as Coates Bill Overton as Jackson Helena Carroll as Annie Gilhooley David Downing as Dixon James A. Watson Jr. as Frazer Dana Wynter as Mrs. Colgate John Randolph as Mr. Johnson Barry Sullivan as Harry Daugherty Ford Rainey as Naval Secretary Diane Shalet as Mrs. Long Kathleen Doyle as Bridget Harrison Page as Wheatley Parks Tom Clancy as Alexander Woollcott Woodrow Parfrey as Louis Howe Richard Roat as Krim Louise Latham as Miss Mesbitt James Crittenden as Roy Clayton Bibi Besch as Miss Lahan Margaret Wakeley as Mrs. Walker Nancy Morgan as Margaret Truman Heather Angel as Miss Wallace Emmaline Henry as Brendan Dillon as Harry Townes as Noble Willingham as Bill Quinn as Matthew "Stymie" Beard as

Crew Richard Y. Haman - Art Director Michael O'Herlihy - Director Paul LaMastra - Editor Roy E. Peterson - Editor Ed Friendly - Executive Producer Morton Stevens - Composer (Music Score) Robert L. Morrison - Cinematographer Michael O'Herlihy - Producer Gwen Bagni - Screenwriter Paul Dubov - Screenwriter Lillian Rogers Parks - Book Author Frances Spatz Leighton - Book Author

Backstairs at the White House
(not reviewed)
 

Golden Globe, Best Television Series - Drama (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo Additional Features: cc Companion guide with producer's notes and historical background Photo gallery Cast filmographies MPAA Rating: DVD Discs Included: 4 DVD Sides: 4 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 444 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Backstairs at the White House, Pt. 1 1. Opening Credits [2:05] 2. Ninth Inauguration [3:37] 3. Papa [7:48] 4. First Day [12:13] 5. Mrs. Taft [9:38] 6. Mr. President [6:03] 7. Making Ends Meet [14:05] 8. Lady First [7:30] 9. Third Party [8:55] 10. Waste Not, Want Not [4:22] 11. Mrs. Wilson's Visit [2:20] 12. Joined Up [7:00] 13. Suffragettes [5:41] 14. War Talk [7:03] 15. Homecoming [8:03] 16. Stroke [9:11] 17. Lincoln's Bed [8:08] 18. Royal Lessons [7:42] 19. The Hardings [9:21] 20. Next Time on Backstairs [3:49] 21. End Credits [2:05] Disc #2 -- Backstairs at the White House, Pt. 2 1. Opening Credits [2:04] 2. The Story So Far... [3:10] 3. Return to Normalcy? [9:44] 4. New Apartment [10:10] 5. Nurse Maggie [9:13] 6. Scandal-Ridden [7:46] 7. Tragedy Strikes [5:42] 8. Annie Retires [4:00] 9. Not So Silent Cal [8:30] 10. Coolidge Boys [6:46] 11. Time of Grief [6:12] 12. Mrs. Jaffray Resigns [8:07] 13. Hoover Elected [3:33] 14. No Favoritism [10:46] 15. Next Time on Backstairs [1:39] 16. End Credits [1:01] Disc #3 -- Backstairs at the White House, Pt. 3 1. Opening Credits [2:04] 2. The Story So Far... [3:40] 3. Hard Times [10:59] 4. Signal System [6:16] 5. Unexpected Guest [8:37] 6. New Rules [9:28] 7. The Roosevelts [10:53] 8. Louie Howe [4:25] 9. Tea With Miss Lehand [4:21] 10. Secret Wedding [5:21] 11. Pay Cut [9:06] 12. Royal Visit [2:52] 13. Thirty Years [5:42] 14. Day of Infamy [5:23] 15. Presidential Order [6:19] 16. Next Time on Backstairs [1:49] 17. End Credits [1:00] Disc #4 -- Backstairs at the White House, Pt. 4 1. Opening Credits [1:58] 2. The Story So Far... [3:50] 3. International Guests [6:50] 4. Maggie Returns [6:53] 5. Collapsed [9:19] 6. The Trumans [13:11] 7. Part of History [4:45] 8. Move to Blair House [7:18] 9. Break From Tradition [4:20] 10. First Lady Rules [7:04] 11. Birthday Surprise [8:25] 12. Old-Timers [7:23] 13. Always There [10:54] 14. Parting Gifts [4:26] 15. End Credits [1:00]