The 1980s were the heyday of American mini-series. Whether historical events or, as here, scandalous navel-gazing - every topic could become a complete series with three to six episodes. Filmed with great effort and featuring an all-star cast, these mini-series were marketed worldwide.
"Hollywood Wives" (the original title) is based on the novel of the same name by Jackie Collins (sister of Joan Collins, who was world famous in those years as Alexis from DYNASTY), which was published in 1983. It's about several women who have to do with the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and are of course involved in unsavory affairs and intrigues. So the full life! How one can be unhappy even in eternal spring!
Directed by Robert Day, the film stars Candice Bergen, Mary Crosby, Angie Dickinson, Steve Forrest, Roddy McDowall, Robert Stack and ACADEMY AWARD winner Rod Steiger. We see the wonderful Stefanie Powers as screenwriter Montana Gray as a particularly unhappy Hollywood wife. Her British director husband, who is of course not very particular about marital fidelity, is played by the later ACADEMY AWARD winner Anthony Hopkins.
Oh yes, and Andrew Stevens, who was still very young at the time, plays a hunky call boy for all the frustrated ladies from Hollywood's upper class.
The three-part series that aired on ABC in February 1985 wasn't really convincing. Too little heart, the viewer didn't care much about the characters. But the equipment was right, produced by successful producer Aaron Spelling (DYNASTY).
