Friendly Persuasion is a made-for-TV movie. The film is based on the novels The Friendly Persuasion and Except for Me and Thee by Jessamyn West; the former novel had previously been adapted in 1956. It originally aired on ABC on May 18, 1975.
This version is different from the 1956 version, because it focuses mainly on West's sequel novel, Except for Me and Thee. There was an idea to make a TV series, with this being the pilot; but Friendly Persuasion did not gain as large an audience as ABC had hoped. The film is not available on VHS or LaserDisc, and there are no plans for a DVD release.
Contents
Plot summary
In Civil War–era America, a Quaker family, Jess and Eliza Birdwell, helps slaves who have run away, knowing that they could die.
Cast
Source: Hollywood.com; BFI
Richard Kiley as Jess Birdwell
Shirley Knight as Eliza Birdwell
Clifton James as Sam Jordan
Michael O'Keefe as Josh Birdwell
Kevin O'Keefe as Labe Birdwell
Tracie Savage as Mattie Birdwell
Sparky Marcus as Little Jess Birdwell
Paul Benjamin as Swan Stebeney
Erik Holland as Enoch
Maria Grimm as Lily Truscott
Bob Minor as Burk