I think the other reviewers are a little hard on the first part of what later turned out to be a three part mini-series. Part II, "The Rebels" was not as good as the first, and the third part "The Seekers" is kind of a throw away movie.
If you've ever wanted to see Howard Cunningham as founding father, scholar and inventor Benjamin Franklin, if you've ever wanted to hear Jerry the Dentist from the "Bob Newhart Show" lecture on Rousseau in a lousy French accent, if you've ever wanted to watch Patricia Neal die midway through a monologue . .
The Bastard is three stories in one: the England enlightenment, the passage to America and America verging on Revolution. The tale opens in France under the ancien regime where Philippe Charboneau, illegitimate son of the actress Marie Charboneau (Patricia Neal) prepares to venture to England to claim his inheritance.
Although this is a hokey mini-series, there is no denying the enormous power of this television show. It's like what Gangs of New York would be like if Scorsese was still talented and it starred Tom (Happy Days) Bosley and William Shatner instead of Daniel Day-Lewis.
Made for tv production typical for the time, The Bastard cast then hot-babe Andrew Stevens in the title role. With a cast of too many name Hollywood actors, this 18th century costume drama is based on The Kent Chronicles.
