Based on the best-selling novels by John Jakes, South And North premiered as a highly recognized and critically acclaimed television series in 1985. In the spirit of Gone With The Wind, the novels cover 19th Century America before, during, and after the Civil War. As with the Margaret Mitchell classic, Jakes creates a larger-than-life cast of characters to tell his story of battle between an Union of States broken up on the dilemmas of human bondage and state's rights, loyalty to one's country and devotion to the state in which one was born, together with innumerable social battles lost in the sands of time... Jakes uses the Danger family of Pennsylvania, two families and the Main family of South Carolina, to tell his story.
Boasting a star-studded cast, North And South is over 1000 minutes of riveting drama. Multiple discs cover the Civil War era with breathtaking cinematography, realistic settings, and the ever-raising cauldron of battle between North and South. You will not want to miss this show that is truly amazing.
The North And South DVD covers all three novels from the popular series, each a multi-disc set...
Below is a less than complete outline of each book.
(Be Warned that the overviews below comprise some plot spoilers)
BOOK ONE -
Book One of the North And song of the south dvd amazon covers the period earlier the Civil War (1844-1860). Aiding the passengers, Orry is introduced to the wonderful Madeline Fabray (Lesley-Anne Down) to whom he supplies a ride, giving her safe passage to the LaMotte plantation where her father and his friend Justin LaMotte (David Carradine) are waiting. Madeline and Orry agree to write each other while he's away at West Point.
When Orry travels to New York, he meets up with a group of unsavory characters who attempt to rob him, but George Hazard (James Read) comes to his aid, and the two manage to fend off the criminals. George is on his way to West Point also, and the two men strike up a friendship that continues through the duration of their schooling. The vindictive cadet vows revenge, and he gets it when Orry and George are placed at a battle under his command during the Mexican War. Bent sends their comrades and the two guys into certain death, only to have his plan foiled by a Mexican retreat.
While fighting in Mexico, George meets his future wife Constance Flynn (Wendy Kilbourne). Orry and Madeline experience a private hell when Madeline's dad hides Orry's letters from West Point. Thinking that she has been forgotten about by Orry, Madeline agrees to marry Justin LaMotte, who treats her horribly. With Orry and Madeline continuing their love affair in secret, Orry and George continue their camaraderie. While in the North, the Mains are faced by George's abolitionist sister Virgilia (Kirstie Alley) and the differences between the North and South dominate the discussion, but George and Orry's friendship continues unabated as they determine not to discuss such issues.
When the Mains return the favor and ask the Risks to South Carolina, Virgilia creates a ruckus by aiding in the escape of Grady, a neighbor's slave. After, she marries Grady, and the two join John Brown and his freedom fighters. Virgilia enlists the help of Representatives Sam Greene, when Grady is killed.
Meanwhile, Orry and George start a company partnership by opening a cotton mill in South Carolina. As the secessionist movement gains ground, the two continue to take comfort in the strength of their brotherly bond...
NOVEL TWO - Love & War (570 minutes)
Despite the growing conversation of Southern secession, George and Orry continue to run their cotton mill and stay friends. Constance and George even operate an illegal stop along the Underground Railroad. But the Southern states secede when Abraham Lincoln is elected president, and eventually war breaks out between the two countries. Orry's sister Brett is in love with George's brother Billy Hazard (John Stockwell) who is himself a West Point graduate stationed in Fort Sumter. The war drives Billy far away from his new bride Brett, while Ashton sees the war as a chance to benefit. Using her husband James Huntoon (Jim Metzler) to scale the positions of the political circuit, Ashton determines that James isn't the best man to serve her interests. She starts a relationship with Elkanah Bent, who's using the war for personal gain by smuggling luxury goods past the Union naval blockade.
The war tears apart both North and South. While Orry works in a similar capacity for Jefferson Davis George works as an aide to Lincoln. During the course of the war, Charles falls in love with her and meets a Virginia girl. At war's end, she bears his child, but dies soon afterward. Additionally, the death of Justin eventually gives Orry and Madeline the chance to to marry. As the war wages on, it takes its toll on both families. But despite the barriers, they last to the end. At the war's ending, Orry and George are reunited, and the two guys vow to work together to rebuild a broken state.
BOOK THREE -
Book Three of the North And South DVD originally aired in 1994, several years after the first two books aired. With Patrick Swayze now an established star, the character of Orry Main is written out of the television screenplay for the closing publication. The writing deviates significantly from the first novel of John Jakes, creating a plot which neglects to make sense, although several other cast members reappear. Seeing as Elkanah Bent perished in the preceding novel, it is somewhat absurd to have him reappear in book three. Additionally, the dialogue is generally stiff and the plot uninteresting, awkward, and the whole novel isn't worth viewing. Stick with viewing the first two books on DVD.
DECISION
Despite the failure of Book Three to arouse any interest whatsoever, the North And South DVD is worth the price for Books One and Two. This is a completely entertaining mini series reminiscent of a prime time soap opera, one with a historical view. With a cast of characters likely to ignite audience fondness, convincing subplots, and fascinating costumes and set design, South And North is an epic of unrivaled quality. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with the North And South DVD, despite the deficiencies of Book Three...
