4/5 Every bit as entertaining as you remember -- and you do!
  by Mark Allen (Washington, DC)
If you loved the sudsy world of 1980s prime-time TV, February 1984 will forever stand out in your mind. With "Dallas," "Dynasty," "Falcon Crest" and "Knots Landing" all in the weekly Top 10, for three consecutive weeks viewers were also treated to epic, melodramatic mini-series. First was NBC's "Celebrity," followed by "Master of the Game" on CBS and then ABC's "Lace." Each posted bigger ratings than the previous.

"Master of the Game" was a nine-hour, three-night smash. Based on Sidney Sheldon's compulsively-readable novel, the saga told the 100-year story of the Blackwell family. At the center, Dyan Cannon wore innumerable preposterous gowns (don't get me started on the hats!), and guided her family's business empire to ever more dizzying heights. The plot moves at light speed, the diverse cast (everyone from Jean Marsh and Leslie Caron to Harry Hamlin and David Birney) was typical of the genre, and the sets were sumptuous.

Without providing any spoliers (not that they are needed for fans), this book-turned-mini advances the devilishly-addictive plot at breakneck speed. For newer fans of the book, this dramatization is well worth watching.

The collection would have earned five stars were it not for the *horrible* transfer. Produced at a then jaw-dropping cost of $3-million per hour, the series had a lush, gorgeous look. Unfortunately, the picture is often horribly grainy and the colors are inconsistent. But who cares? It's the story that makes "Master of the Game" the winner that it is.

Sit back and savor the sudsy goodness!

5/5 A Master of 1980s mini-series
  by Darren (Canberra, Australia)
After watching this mini-series for the 20th time last week, I have to say that Master of the Game is a good example of how some great television miniseries were produced in the 1980s.

The production values in this series are excellent, with a great musical score and fantastic scenery shots. The costumes were well designed and suitable to the various eras. Where the script/book demanded that the scenes be set in Africa or Paris, the producers took this series to those locations (although I believe that the South African scenes were shot in Kenya, and the New York mansion is the interior of an English manor home). The script was very well written, and the casting/acting was spot on (where has Liane Langland gone??).

Although some television miniseries produced in the 1980s have dated (eg, Rage Of Angels and If Tomorrow Comes), Master of the Game stands the test of time, and should be mentioned alongside Lonesome Dove, Shaka Zulu and North and South. I have to agree with a previous review of this item that CBS has not done this series the treatment it deserves with the poor transfer to DVD. As an anniversary edition, surely CBS could have given us the entire, unedited series that originally aired in 1984.

5/5 Sidney Sheldon's "Master ( of the Game ) Piece!"
  by PAUL A. RACIOPPIJR (BROOKLYN, NEW YORK United States)
I had first seen "Master Of The Game" upon its February 1984 premiere. As an avid fan of everything Sidney Sheldon has written from "I Dream Of Jeannie" to "Rage Of Angels", "Windmills Of The Gods" and "The Other Side Of Midnight", I had actually taped this on betamax (remember those!) to watch on that Saturday in winter 1984. I was a Sophomore dental school student at the time, which leaves you no time to watch anything during the week. Thank God I had taped this. I slept late ( until the afternoon ) that Saturday, transcribed two different school lectures from my little tape recorder ( didn't those days seem so simple compared to today? ), ran out for some dinner with my best friend from school, and he came over to watch this with me - all nine hours straight through. We had hot coffee and a great night of television. This was Sheldon's masterpiece, sprawling decades and world geography from South Africa and Maine, to New York, Paris and Vermont. I totally agree with the previous reviewer's comments about Dyan Cannon's hats! But that was the time, and money was nothing to these people. Dyan is dynamic as the matriarch inheritor of a diamond empire named Kruger-Brent ( named for two vicious dogs who almost finish her father off in South Africa, as he is about to discover diamonds in the sand on the beach, becoming one of the richest men in the world. Fortunately, the dogs do not win! But Harry Hamlin is worth his weight in gold as Kate Blackwell's ( Dyan Cannon's ) son, who is naturally gifted to become one of the greatest artists in the world, only to upset his mother to the point of trying to control every aspect of his destiny to the max. You'll find out what this could cause him to do to his mother ( I won't ruin it for those who haven't seen it ). One of my favorite scenes, if not my favorite in the miniseries, though, schmaltzy as it may seem ( I am a New York City native ), is the scene where Hamlin is flying to New York to meet the woman he "truly" loves, with the Statue of Liberty's head shown, lit at night, with an absolutely beautiful musical backdrop, as he is arriving in an older taxicab to a Park Avenue apartment building. Sidney Sheldon always knew how to make you feel rich, successful, and in love - even if you weren't! Truth be told, this is my fourth favorite miniseries of all time, with the first three being ( favorite first ): 1) Harold Robbin's 79 Park Avenue, 2) Irwin Shaw's "Rich Man Poor Man", and 3) Colleen McCullough's "The Thorn Birds". Don't get me wrong, "Master Of The Game" is five-star all the way. The other three were simply more favoritive to me. But if you haven't seen "Master" yet, get ready! Plan to spend a rainy day or night at home because you won't want to stop watching it. Trust me on that! And enjoy Sidney Sheldon at his miniseries best! One other add - if you haven't seen "Rage of Angels" and "Rage of Angels: The Story Continues" ( both Sidney Sheldon as well - the first was the novel both were based on ), see them as well. They will definitely warm some cold winter nights ahead. I'm a pathetic romantic, in case you haven't figured that out yet!


Dr. Paul A. Racioppi, Jr. Brooklyn, New York.

5/5 buy this
  by Sharon J. Reynolds (Post Falls Idaho)
Sex, Sin, Riches, Fames, bosoms heaving, etc.

All the things that make life worth living.

And yet, they are still unhappy.

Fun, fun, fun.

4/5 Mini-Series (Sidney Sheldon)
  by Carolyn M. Doswell
I had already seen the made for t.v. movie so I knew what to expect. I enjoyed the story and delivery of the product was wonderful. That is why I deal with Amazon.