mini-series, late 1980s, story situated in South Africa early 1900s ?

It's one of those romance/drama/plot-twist potboilers that were very popular at the time.
This one also deals with the trials and tribulations of a wealthy family clan, except that the family is only made up of sisters (parents had died) and the oldest sister "Clara" rules the roost, causing unnecessary suffering for several characters.

There's also the theme of racism (again, mostly coming from the snobbish sister) but then later it turns out that she's had an affair with an native African, resulting in a son of mixed heritage.
And I *think* that the youngest sister falls in love with him and nobody except for Clara knows that he's their nephew. More drama.
They all live on a beautiful ranch of sorts, as rich families do.
English language, but it has nothing to do with Wilbur Smith's The Courtney Saga.

You'd think this information would specific enough for search engines but I still haven't found the title.

You can check on letterboxd. They have a list of every TV movie (or mini series also) shown on American TV 1954-2022. I'm going through that list now just into the 90s on page 35 of the list. I'm pretty sure I ran across that plot on there so you could check on there. Sorry I've gone too far into the list to turn back now.

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You can't raise your voice when the lion gets here man.

Could it be: The Flame Trees of Thika (1981) though there's no one named Clara in it.

I checked it out but I couldn't find the list.

@Citizen Rules wrote:
Could it be: The Flame Trees of Thika (1981) though there's no one named Clara in it.
I know the Flame Trees, that's not it.

(incidentally, why can't I quote several posts in one reply?)

If you find out the name of the series, post here I'd be interested in watching it.


Multi-quoting is sometimes buggy, keep trying different things.

Have you watched many of the classic TV mini-series? And what are your favourites?

I wonder if Frankenstein - The True Story (1973) was the first unofficial mini-series.

I've watched a lot of the classic TV mini series because I'm old enough to have watched them when they were first run...and I've watched them on DVD much later too.

Frankenstein - The True Story (1973)Oh yeah, seen that a couple of times. Love that version even though it's not close to the book. Shocked me when Jane Seymour has a run in with the creature.

I just got The Thorn Birds (1983) to rewatch, that's top notch. A Town Like Alice (1981) is also one of my favorites. Pride & Prejudice (1995), Lonesome Dove (1989), Anne of Green Gables (1985), Shogun (1981)...so many great ones!

http://letterboxd.com/infinityinc/li...an-television/

Above is the link for letterboxd. They also have some other great list on there too. I just finished the USA up all night list and they have a list for every Japanese movie made, pretty cool. I'm sure someone on here will find it but just in case there's the list.

The Thorn Birds and Lonesome Dove are terrific.
My all-time favourites are East Of Eden and Centennial.
Wild Palms (1993) is a great mini-series for the fans of the surreal.

Oh my god, what a list! Thank you very much for the link, I feel like I'm going to be there forever!

https://letterboxd.com/film/the-immigrants/
Never heard of this one, but it looks like the kind of novels I used to devour (John Jakes, Fred Mustard Stewart). Awesome!
I have no idea if the mini-series I'm looking for was shown on US television, I don't recall any famous actors being in it and it's possible that it was one of those funny UK/German/African collaborations.
But even if I don't find it then I still have a great list to explore.

What comes to my mind is Master of the Game (1984 miniseries), adapted from the Sidney Sheldon novel. I liked both.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086755/

Doesn't match your description other than South Africa years ago, though.

The 1981 series?

I guess that will be a good starting point

Yes, it covers the whole story, unlike the film version from 1955.

Cool, that looks good and I never seen it. Added to my watch list.

Glad you mentioned it. If I seen it it was so long ago I don't remember it. Sounds good so also added that to my mini series to watch list.

Jane Seymour is absolutely brilliant as the heartless villainess and overall it captures the tragic mood of the novel much better than the James Dean film (which kinda looks as if it was meant to be nothing more than a James Dean film, but still very good of course).
That's not the one, I already have the DVD. Definitely my favourite film version of a Sidney Sheldon novel.

Could be:
Bonne espérance (1989). It is mini-series, but it isn't popular in IMDB :-)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166902/?ref_=sr_t_166

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I'm looking for prison movie:
https://www.movieforums.com/communit...ad.php?t=63305

I didn't remember that it was about three generations and that is was French language (I'm still not convinced it was).
But I'm pretty sure this is the one I was looking for. Thanks a million, @wositelec

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