The Kent Chronicles

American History Mixed With Pulpy Melodrama: Some Of TV's Most Familiar Faces Bring The First Three Kent Novels To Life
Between 1974 and 1979, author John Jakes introduced America to the Kent family in eight wildly popular novels. Originally conceived to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the books follow different members of the Kent clan around the time of the American Revolution. They start with the immigration of the original patriarch, Phillipe Charboneau (he changes his name to Phillip Kent) and proceed through history many generations later. The timing of the series couldn't have been more perfect for a television interpretation. Network TV was just discovering the possibility of EVENT programming with offerings like "Roots" in 1977 and "Centennial" in 1978. So in 1978 and 1979, the first three novels in the Kent Family Chronicles were aired for a public looking for the next big thing.

Two things need to be mentioned about any television production of this time. First, they are very much a product of their era. They will...

Hugely Enjoyable '70s Historical Soapers Finally on DVD
Weren't the `70s a great time to be alive? What other decade could've given us THE KENT CHRONICLES, a trio of TV mini-series produced by Universal and syndicated to local channels shortly after America's Bicentennial celebration.

Based on John Jakes' bestsellers (the same author of "North & South," whose books would be more memorably brought to TV several years later), each mini-series (roughly three hours in length) follows the journey of Frenchman Philippe Carboneau - aka Philip Kent - and his descendants, from the original Kent's (Andrew Stevens) trip to the New World and run-ins with Paul Revere (William Shatner!), George Washington (Peter Graves!) and Ben Franklin (Tom Bosley!) among others - and by others, I mean a who's who of famous and bit-part actors from Patricia Neal to a young Kim Cattrall, Buddy Ebsen, Harry Morgan, Donald Pleasance and Olivia Hussey. The story was continued in "The Rebels" - with Kent engaging in the American Revolution - and the less...

Iconic late-1970s historic drama triple miniseries
US history drama. A who's who of 1970s-1980s TV. The first NYTimes triple best-sellers adapted (but not closely) to television and now it's debatable which is best, books or miniseries? John Jakes authored the novels. A stellar cast in each of the 3 adaptations, so huge it's impossible to list all. It is `70s TV filming with SUBTITLES added. The music is good, sets and locations quite believable. It's a walk through America beginning in 1771 up to and past 1814. A lot of history, pioneer life, war, political change, and more in America's beginning steps leading to world prominence. The story is all seen through the eyes and lives of the fictional Kent family.

Over 3 hours for each episode. Action, adventure, history, romance, violence, & sexual situations make it for mature youth and older. So nostalgic to see all the stars, for those who lived in the 1970s.

The BASTARDS: 1771-1772
Philip Kent started as the illegitimate son of a Duke. Troubles led him to...

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