Evergreen (miniseries)

Not to be confused with Evergreen (TV series).

Evergreen is an American television miniseries that aired on NBC from February 24–26, 1985, starring Lesley Ann Warren as a Polish immigrant to America, and based on the novel by Belva Plain.

Evergreen
Genre	Historical novel-based Drama
Written by	Jerome Kass
Directed by	Fielder Cook
Starring	Lesley Ann Warren Armand Assante Ian McShane Betty Buckley Brian Dennehy Robert Vaughn Katherine Borowitz Joan Allen Boyd Gaines Barbara Montgomery Jan Tříska
Composer	Laurence Rosenthal
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	3
Production
Producer	Philip Barry
Cinematography	Woody Omens
Editors	Gene Fowler Jr. Marjorie Fowler Bud S. Isaacs Andrew Cohen
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Edgar J. Scherick Associates
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	February 24 (1985-02-24) – February 26, 1985 (1985-02-26)

Plot summary

Anna, a Jewish girl, arrives in America from Poland in 1909. She rises from penniless maid to wealthy matriarch, torn by her love for two men, her husband and an aristocrat. The six-hour romantic saga spans three generations over more than 50 years.^[1][2]

Cast

• Lesley Ann Warren as Anna Friedman
• Armand Assante as Joseph Friedman
• Ian McShane as Paul Lerner
• Betty Buckley as Mrs. Bradford
• Brian Dennehy as Matthew Malone
• Robert Vaughn as John Bradford
• Katherine Borowitz as Ruth
• Joan Allen as Iris Friedman
• Boyd Gaines as Chris Bradford
• Barbara Montgomery as Celeste
• Jan Tříska as Dr. Theo Stoller
• Jackie Burroughs as Dorothy
• Patricia Barry as Mrs. Lerner
• Kate Burton as Agatha Bradford
• Ron Rifkin as Solly

Reception

The Los Angeles Times review complained that the story was "simple, straightforward and entirely predictable. So few twists and turns does Jerome Kass' script take that the family's one dark secret remains just that, with only the audience the wiser. There is no dramatic payoff."^[1]

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Award

• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie (won) - Jan Scott, Charles C. Bennett, David Davis, Robert Drumheller, Jacques M. Bradette
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie - Woody Omens (nominated)
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special - Julie Weiss (nominated)