North and South Mini Series on DVD

Credit: Amazon.ca

North and South Mini Series on DVD

Patrick Swayze James read star in the 1985 mini series North and South

Where to find the 1985 civil war mini series North and South

I found the first part of the three part series North and South in a small second hand shop. Any ideas where I might locate the second and third parts of the video series? G. K.  – via e-mail

North and South was an outstanding TV miniseries from 1985 that told the story of two friends who found themselves on opposing sides during the American Civil War. 

Patrick Swayze was brilliant as Orry Main, and George Hazard (James Read) was the perfect person for a lifelong friendship . . . except that they ended up fighting one another. Of course there is a woman involved (Madeline Fabray, played by Leslie-Ann Warren) whom Orry fell for, plus a brilliant turn by Kirstie Alley (more than a quarter-century before she would dance with the stars) as George’s sister Virgilia. 

The highlight of the six-part series though is Philip Casnov as Elkanah Bent, one of the best villains ever crafted for the small screen. Based on the book by John Jakes, a second miniseries followed in 1986 (North and South, Book II) without Patrick Swayze, but with most of the original cast, and a third installment, Heaven and Hell, came to life in 1994. 

The miniseries is readily available on DVD, but finding parts two and three as individual DVDs is near impossible. Amazon.ca has the North and South box set for less than $40.00 at this writing, which is a good price for an exceptional series.  It is a six-parter, not three, however.