DYNASTY (JAMES MICHENER’S DYNASTY)

US, 1976, 100 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Miles, Stacy Keach, Harris Yulin, Harrison Ford, Amy Irving, Granville Van Dusen, Gerrit Graham.
Directed by Lee Philips.

This film is based on a novel by James Michener (Tales from the South Pacific). It is a 19th century American pioneering story, two brothers (Harris Yulin and Stacy Keach) going to Ohio. There is wife and baby, building a cabin, rescuing a slave – followed by various marital complications.

The film perhaps is too rapid for all the material within one hundred minutes. However, given the strong cast, it has its entertaining moments.

1. The quality of this telemovie? James A. Michener's background and status, the stars?

2. The T.V. techniques: commercial breaks, the scope of the film, the television cinematic techniques, profiles and faces? The treatment of the themes for household viewers?

3. The importance of the structure and audience involvement and interest: episodic, specific places and dates, omission of years? The nature of this kind of development by episode? The ending and its openness?

4. Dynasty as an idea, a motivation for family, origins and development of families, changes, the ethos of a dynasty? What motivates a dynasty? What is necessary for a successful dynasty? How much ruthlessness in required?

5. The presentation of the 19th century as a basis for 20th century dynasties and American development? The humble origins of families and business and their growth? The implications for pride and humility?

6. The good and the bad in the origins of dynasties - the leading to more evil, less good? Ruthlessness, unscrupulosity, mutual hurt, murder? Questionable foundations for dynasties? An examination of conscience?

7. The opening of the film and the portrayal of hopeful origins, naivety, simple zest for life, the three simple characters and their earnest hopes? The building of barns, the raining of family, the honour of work?

8. The portrait of John and his family, his bonds with Jennifer and love for her? Their migration, the buying of land, clearing it, sober work? John as a sombre and humourless personality? A family man, a man of the land tricked into giving his money for the business, forced to be in business rather than be the farmer he wanted to be?

9. The contrast with Matt, unmarried. money, business, the vision of wagons and the enterprise and the increase of wealth? A man of success, the visualizing of his wagons? The bonds with Jennifer and her children? The clash, his reputation? The bonds with Jennifer and people's talk? His taking her away? The length of time he was away and the sinister nature of his return? His attempts at persuading his brother to give him money? The refusal to be tricked and John's wreaking vengeance? Matt's vengeance by killing his brother? How credible a character?

10. Jennifer as the focus of the film: a strong woman, the bond between herself and John, the family? The bond with Matt? Her power over John, deceiving him an regards the money. building up the industry? Her devotion to causes, the rescue of Sam the slave and her confrontation of Vaucluse? Her role in the town, education and the importance of the sequence of the clash with the minister in church and at home? The poetry readings? Her bonds with Matt, people's suspicions? Her hurt at the accusations by John and her failure to persuade him of the truth? The impulsiveness of her going, the impulsiveness of her return? Her explanation of the years and desertion by Matt? Building on the broken marriage? The years passing by and John's suspicion of her youngest son? The transition to middle and old age and her retaining of her power? Her attitude towards her daughter at the wedding? Her relationship with her sons? John and his growing old, Matt's return and her not allowing herself to be tricked? The giving of the Dynasty to Matt? The confrontation with her son and proving that he lacked the ruthlessness? The quality of Sarah Miles's performance?

11. The various crises in the early 19th century: work, money, the building of industry, the slave situation, education and religion? Jennifer and her capacity for straight talk? John and his suspicions and his hurt?

12. The build-up to Jennifer's return: the sequence of John with his children? His further suspicions and the transition to the photo sequence?

13. The treatment of the race themes with Sam, his escape, the confrontation with Vaucluse and buying Sam? Jennifer's later ability to get a wife for Sam, young Sam and the important sequence of his discussing his marriage and the future with his father? The background of the black way of life, slavery in the South, freedom and servitude being better than slavery? The racism of John's sons?

14. The disappointment in the next generation: the wilful girl and her wedding. her running away with Vaucluse? The sons and racist attitudes? The good son and his human kindness? The murdering and suspicious youngest son?

15. The abrupt confrontation of Jennifer with her son and the challenge to him to continue the dynasty?

16. How interesting a portrait of America, American themes of service respectability and questionable origins?