''Evergreen'' is an American

television miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. " Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format ...

that aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

from February 24–26,

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...

, starring

Lesley Ann Warren Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer. She made her Broadway debut in 1963, aged 17, in '' 110 in the Shade''. In 1965 she received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical prod ...

as a Polish immigrant to America, and based on the novel by Belva Plain.

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.

Cast

as Anna Friedman *

Armand Assante Armand Anthony Assante Jr. (; born October 4, 1949) is an American actor. He played mobster John Gotti in the 1996 HBO television film '' Gotti'', Odysseus in the 1997 mini-series adaptation of Homer's ''The Odyssey'', Nietzsche in ''When ...

as Joseph Friedman *

Ian McShane Ian David McShane (born 29 September 1942) is an English actor, producer and director. He is known for his television performances, particularly as the title role in the BBC series ''Lovejoy'' (1986–1994), Al Swearengen in '' Deadwood'' (20 ...

as Paul Lerner * Betty Buckley as Mrs. Bradford *

Brian Dennehy Brian Manion Dennehy (; July 9, 1938 – April 15, 2020) was an American actor of stage, television, and film. He won two Tony Awards, an Olivier Award, and a Golden Globe, and received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Dennehy had roles in ...

as Matthew Malone *

Robert Vaughn Robert Francis Vaughn (November 22, 1932 – November 11, 2016) was an American actor noted for his stage, film and television work. His television roles include the spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s series '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.''; th ...

as John Bradford *

Katherine Borowitz John Michael Turturro (; born February 28, 1957) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his contributions to the independent film movement. He has appeared in over sixty feature films and has worked frequently with the Coen brothers ...

as Ruth *

Joan Allen Joan Allen (born August 20, 1956) is an American actress. She began her career with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1977, won the 1984 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for '' And a Nightingale Sang'', and won the 1988 Tony Aw ...

as Iris Friedman * Boyd Gaines as Chris Bradford * Barbara Montgomery as Celeste *

Jan Tříska Jan Tříska (; 4 November 1936 – 25 September 2017) was a Czech actor who played over 160 roles across stage, film, and television. He worked in the United States after emigrating there in the 1970s, but later returned to his native country fo ...

as Dr. Theo Stoller *

Jackie Burroughs Jacqueline "Jackie" Burroughs (2 February 1939 – 22 September 2010) was a British-born Canadian actress. Early life Born in Southport, Lancashire (now Merseyside), England, she emigrated to Canada on 26 August 1948 with her mother Edna, ...

as Dorothy *

Patricia Barry Patricia Barry (born Patricia Allen White, November 16, 1921 – October 11, 2016) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Although Barry has numerous credits performing in stage productions and in films, the majority of her work wa ...

as Mrs. Lerner * Kate Burton as Agatha Bradford *

Ron Rifkin Ron Rifkin (born Saul M. Rifkin; October 31, 1939) is an American actor best known for his roles as Arvin Sloane on the spy drama '' Alias'', Saul Holden on the drama '' Brothers & Sisters'', and District Attorney Ellis Loew in '' L.A. Confiden ...

as Solly

Reception

The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

'' 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."

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Award *

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie is a retired award that was handed out annually at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. In 2014, the category was restructured into Outstanding Production Design for a Narra ...

(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 Julie Weiss is a costume designer who has been nominated for two Academy Awards, Seven Emmys and one BAFTA Award. She has won two Emmys for costumes. She also was nominated for a Tony Award, at the 33rd Tony Awards for ''The Elephant Man''. I ...

(nominated)

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0088514, Evergreen 1985 television films 1985 films American television films NBC original programming 1980s American television miniseries Television series set in the 20th century Films directed by Fielder Cook