Ellis Island (miniseries) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ellis Island
VHS cover
Written by	Fred M. Stewart Christopher Newman
Directed by	Jerry London
Starring	Peter Riegert Gregory Paul Martin Alice Krige Judi Bowker Faye Dunaway Richard Burton Kate Burton Ann Jillian Milo O'Shea Ben Vereen Melba Moore Emma Samms Stubby Kaye Cherie Lunghi Michael Byrne Liam Neeson
Theme music composer	John Addison
Country of origin	USA
No. of episodes	3
Production
Producer(s)	Nick Gillott
Editor(s)	John J. Dumas Bernard Gribble
Running time	420 minutes
Production company(s)	Vista Films Ltd. Telepictures Productions
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	November 11 (1984-11-11) – November 14, 1984 (1984-11-14)

Ellis Island is a TV miniseries that first aired in 1984 on the CBS network. It was shown in three parts. The story is based on a 1983 novel by Fred Mustard Stewart, who also helped write the TV show.

The series follows the exciting journeys of four people who come to America. They are played by Peter Riegert (a Russian Jew), Gregory Paul Martin (an Italian worker), and Alice Krige and Judi Bowker (two Irish sisters). Their adventure begins in 1907 as they leave Europe. They travel by boat to Ellis Island, hoping for a better life. The show then tells about their challenges, dreams, and successes until the end of 1916. They all try to achieve the famous American Dream. Ellis Island also includes many real historical events from Europe and the U.S. Some characters are even based on real people, like the famous musician Irving Berlin.

This miniseries was the last time Richard Burton appeared on screen. The show was dedicated to him after he passed away. His daughter, Kate Burton, also acts in the series as his character's daughter. Faye Dunaway won a Golden Globe award for her role. Ben Vereen was also nominated for his acting.

The show was first seven hours long and shown over three nights in November 1984. It was later made shorter to six hours. This shorter version was shown again in the summer of 1986 to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty. The miniseries features six songs that sound like they were written by Irving Berlin. These songs were composed by John Addison.

Meet the Characters

The Story Begins: Part 1

In 1907, a young Jewish man named Jacob Rubinstein lives in Russia. His village is attacked, and his father is killed. Jacob is shot in the leg but manages to escape.

Meanwhile, in Italy, Marco Santorelli works as a gardener for Maud Charteris, a famous American actress. She helps him learn English. Marco decides to move to America for a new start.

Jacob tries to leave Europe from the Hamburg docks. He doesn't have enough money for the boat ticket to New York. He meets Roscoe Haines, a black American pianist, who helps him earn the money. Roscoe tells Jacob to look for Abe Shulman's music company in New York.

In Ireland, Bridget O'Donnell is a maid. She is involved with a young English Earl. Her friend, Kevin Murray, who is an Irish nationalist, kidnaps the Earl. Bridget and her sister Georgiana are sent to America to avoid trouble.

Marco and Jacob meet on the ship to New York and become good friends. They also meet Bridget and Georgiana. Marco dances with Georgiana.

Arriving at Ellis Island

When they arrive at Ellis Island, immigrants go through checks. Georgiana is told she has an eye disease called trachoma and might have to return to Ireland. Bridget argues with the doctor. While Georgiana is held, Bridget gets her American uncle, Casey O'Donnell, to help. He pays someone to fix the problem. Bridget then learns that the Irish nationalists have killed the Earl of Wexford.

Marco and Jacob move into a small apartment with other immigrants. Jacob tries to get a job at Abe Shulman's music company. He plays the piano well, and Shulman sends him to a cousin who owns a music hall. Jacob gets a job there as a waiter.

The O'Donnell sisters move in with their uncle Casey. Georgiana is told that her eyesight cannot be saved.

By 1909, Marco is unhappy working in construction. He borrows money to buy a delivery van. But he crashes the van, and it burns. He is in trouble with the person he borrowed money from. Marco visits Maud, the actress, who is in town. They start a relationship, and Maud gives him money. Marco and Jacob move to a better apartment, and Marco starts his delivery business again.

Jacob changes his name to Jake Rubin. He meets Al Jolson, a famous singer, who helps him get a job as a song plugger for Abe Shulman. Jake tries to get Nellie Byfield, a singer, to perform his songs.

Bridget meets Dr. Travers, the doctor from Ellis Island, again. He offers her a job as his assistant. Bridget's hard work and care for immigrants lead to them falling in love, and they get married.

Senator Phipps Ogden, who has been seeing Maud, visits her. He suspects she has another lover, but Maud manages to hide it.

Roscoe returns to New York and performs in a saloon. Shulman won't publish Jake's songs. So, Roscoe asks his friend Flora Mitchum to sing one of Jake's songs in her nightclub act.

Georgiana, who is now blind, hears Marco's voice during one of his deliveries. He takes her to a movie and tells her what is happening on screen.

Challenges and Changes: Part 2

Jake becomes a successful songwriter and has his first hit song. Nellie wants Jake to write a song for her. At a party, Jake gets into a fight with someone who tries to make fun of him. Jake helps Nellie become a star in the Ziegfeld Follies, a famous show.

Flora and Roscoe move to Paris. They hope to find more opportunities there because of unfair treatment against black performers in the U.S.

Maud marries Senator Phipps Ogden for financial security. She tells Marco to go to school and offers to pay for it.

Marco and Georgiana go on another movie date, and he asks her to marry him. Casey, Georgiana's uncle, finds out about Marco's past with Maud. He falsely accuses Marco of stealing, which leads to Marco being held at Ellis Island for deportation. Marco escapes and hides in Newark.

Georgiana learns that Casey framed Marco. She moves out of Casey's house and lives with Bridget and Dr. Travers. Bridget finds out Marco is likely still alive but doesn't tell Georgiana.

In 1910, Marco comes out of hiding. He asks Maud, who now lives at the Ogden estate, to fund his education. He goes to a boarding school. He promises to stay away from Georgiana until he is educated and successful. Ogden makes sure Casey will no longer bother Marco.

Jake and Nellie get married. Nellie gives birth to a girl. Nellie is very focused on her career and doesn't pay much attention to their child. She tells Jake she married him only for his help with her career.

Georgiana starts writing movie stories, which begin to be made into films by Jesse Lasky.

Marco meets Vanessa, Ogden's daughter. She is quiet and interested in social causes. Marco spends Christmas with the Ogdens. Vanessa becomes pregnant, and Marco feels he must marry her, even though he doesn't love her. Bridget sees the wedding announcement in the newspaper.

While working at Ellis Island, Bridget sees Kevin Murray again. He starts asking her for money and special favors. In 1914, Bridget has a son, and later another child. Her husband leaves Ellis Island to start his own medical practice.

Roscoe and Flora return to America, hoping to open their own club.

New Beginnings: Part 3

In 1916, Marco and Vanessa's son, Mark, is five years old. Marco announces he is running for the New York State Senate. He is running against an Irish candidate supported by Casey O'Donnell's friends. Ogden supports Marco because Casey is also a problem for his own political plans.

Vanessa acts strangely at a big party, which is important for Marco's political career. She is taken to a special hospital for mental health.

Jake becomes close with his daughter's ballet teacher, Violet Weiler. Violet's mother does not approve of Jake. Nellie knows Jake has been seeing Violet, but she refuses to divorce him. Violet tells her ballet teacher, Madame Levitska, that she doesn't want to be a secret lover.

Jake writes a Broadway musical for Flora to star in. But no one wants to pay for a Broadway show with a black lead. So, Jake risks all his own money to produce it. The show is a huge success. When Jesse Lasky wants to invest, Jake offers to sell him half of the show. In return, Lasky must give Nellie a three-film contract when he opens his Hollywood movie company.

Jake and Nellie's daughter dies from the flu. Nellie gets a message that she has a movie contract in Hollywood. She tells Jake she is leaving him and has signed the divorce papers. Jake marries Violet, which makes Mrs. Weiler happy.

Georgiana learns from Bridget about Marco's marriage. She is very angry and feels betrayed. One night, she hears her sister crying and goes downstairs. She kills Kevin Murray. Dr. Travers is very upset that Bridget kept her past activities in Ireland a secret from him. He barely speaks to her after this. Georgiana convinces him to give Bridget another chance.

While in the hospital, Vanessa becomes friends with Una Marbury, an artist. They remain friends after leaving the hospital and live together. Ogden hires a private detective to find Vanessa. He offers Una money to never see his daughter again. When Vanessa finds out Una accepted the money, a tragic event occurs involving both Vanessa and Una.

Casey's men set fire to Marco's campaign office in Manhattan while he is sleeping there. Marco jumps from his window to escape. Georgiana visits him in the hospital, and they make up and plan to get married. Georgiana, Bridget, and Casey's wife confront Casey about the fire. They take important papers from his office and threaten to release them if he tries to harm Marco again.

Ogden asks Marco to stop running for election after Vanessa's death. Georgiana convinces Marco to stay in the race, even if Ogden stops giving him money. Marco and his son move out of the Ogden estate.

Marco wins the election! He becomes the first immigrant from Ellis Island to be elected to the state senate. He celebrates his victory with the crowd, including Jake and Violet. Marco leads everyone in singing "America the Beautiful".

The series ends by sharing some facts. Over 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island before it closed in 1954. In 1984, two out of every five Americans were descendants of an Ellis Island immigrant.

Behind the Scenes

The miniseries was filmed in England and Italy, not in the United States. The indoor scenes were shot at Shepperton Studios near London.

Richard Burton passed away in August 1984, just two weeks after he finished filming his scenes for the show.

Images for kids

• 

  VHS cover