SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

jmfjbf WONDERFUL MOVIE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. I remember watching this movie on TV, when it originally aired on TV in 1979 when I was a little girl. It had such a great impact on me that I never forgot it years later as a grown woman. I had searched everywhere for this movie. I finally came across it at a public library. Our entire family have enjoyed this movie thoroughly. It is very accurate to history. The actors for the roles were superb. Mr.Gosset and Ms. Uggams and Cole were great. Enjoyed watching all these actors in Roots and enjoyed their performances just as much if not more in this movie. I used this as an educational movie for my children. Kids do not get a lot of US history in schools today like we used to get in the 70's. The only part of the movie that I recall has bad language is in the last disc, which depicts President Truman and as I understand was true to history. However, these few words are mild today compared to other movies with inappropriate language. By the way, did you know that the producer of this movie was also associated with the Little House on the Prairie TV series? Please make more movies like these.

edwagreen Outstanding. Superlative. Out of this world. No other words seem adequate regarding this magnificent series.I am a retired social studies teacher. This series would have been so perfect for my grade 8 history students. It was so rich in history and personal emotions.As far as the Emmy awards go,Backstairs should have tied with Roots for the best mini-series of the season.The acting was outstanding. Robert Vaughn brought the perfect touch to Woodrow Wilson. Whoever thought that the character of Florence Harding, who died in 1924, under mysterious conditions was so interesting? Celeste Holm was simply memorable as Mrs. Harding. Eileen Heckart was memorable as Eleanor Roosevelt. Lee Grant brought the perfect touch to Grace Coolidge. Julie Harris set the tone as Nellie Taft.Actresses Olivia Cole and Leslie Uggams, in a totally non-singing role, were just fabulous as the mother and daughter who worked for so many years at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.This is another Best Years Of Our Lives. We all realize the sacrifices that were made during the extremely informative period of history. We are also shown that the White House was a scene of constant tragedy mixed with a total triumph of the human spirit.We need more series of this quality.

wolfden00 Has Backstairs @ the White House ever been put on video(much less DVD)? I have been trying to get a copy since 1979 when NBC showed it on T.V. It is one of the greatest mini series, since Centennial, (which is an even greater series), that one I have. I have told so many people about Backstairs through the years, but no one seems to have heard of it. I was beginning to think I was crazy until It was A question(Answer) on Jeopardy. Every Presidential election year I keep hoping NBC or someone would show it, but alas! There is another excellent mini series that was on in 1984(prior to LA Olympics). It was called the 1st Olympics, all about the resurgence of the Olympics in 1896. You can see David Caruso, as an eager 19 yr old Irishman, It is so very good & a lot of humor as well as drama & of course its a true story.

Ccforeverusa7854 I was 16 when I watched this mini series with my mom and enjoyed it so much and would like to watch it again with my niece . Please find a way to make it available for younger people to watch also.,Telling them about it just isn't the same as them seeing it.