the audience applauded

Fantastic!

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

After seeing BBC's wonderful "Rhodes" I thought it to be another decent series about South Africa and diamonds but it turned out to be just another soap opera - and to be frank, quite awful. The worst thing is, the first episode was great and contained everything a movie about diamonds and Africa should contain. We have solid British actors, good scenario that mixes thriller and adventure genres, and a wonderful south African scenery. I was completely thrilled and really enjoyed McGregor's path to power and reeneactment of the lawless colonial frontier. Then next episodes came and demolished what first episode established. Suddenly action moved completely to the US and storyline changed into another soap opera with unbelievable plots. American actors deepened the impression, as they clearly don't come close to their British counterparts (not that American actors are bad in general, only that in this series they are clearly of third-rate stock). Somehow producers achieved an amazing feat of making six episodes, of series about a south African diamond dynasty, with cutting out South Africa and diamonds. Instead we get a terrible mash of truly awful plot twists in a worst "guilty pleasure" manner (check storyline synopsis on wikipedia, it will give you good idea). The problem of movies like this one, is that they try to imitate life, while life beats them with own stories much more compelling - life of Africa's first diamond potentate Cecil Rhodes was more fascinating than any soap opera dummies. Thus, if you want to learn about south African diamond magnates I recommend watching opulent and well acted „Rhodes" or „Mountain of Diamonds" based on Wilbur Smith (very similar in storyline), instead of this catastrophe. Apparently only British can make a good TV mini-series these days...

I couldn't get through the first hour of this miniseries when it originally aired. Now 25 years later I'm watching it via netflix, and OMG! After Ian Charleson dies the thing goes quickly downhill, FAST! Dyan Cannon was 46 at that time, tring to play a young schoolgirl, OH PUH-LEASE. And the first episode with her in it skips at a very fast pace. This miniseries started off well, but got really bad, really fast. No wonder I switched channels back then. And it differed from the book. That never helps. This must have been a ratings disaster back then. BEWARE, STAY AWAY FROM THIS TURKEY! I hope they try to make it again, and do it right! This was so awful, so miscast.

Saw this movie when it first aired on television and then a second time when it aired again. Excellent piece of movie-making, despite the fact it was "made-for-tv!"I'd recommend it to anyone who has an opportunity to experience it. Terrific performances by Dyan Cannon and Harry Hamlin as mother & son.I would really LOVE to own a copy of this movie, but know it is not available on VHS let alone DVD.

I was captivated by this book made into a tv mini series. It is interesting not only because of the amazing story but the scenery in South Africa was so beautiful. There were so many interesting characters and their lives took many different paths, it was all very believable. I would love to own this movie if it ever became available.