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Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy
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Wikipedia article
'Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy' is a 1977 American made-for-television biographical film that originally aired on ABC. Based upon the biography by Hank Searls called 'The Lost Prince: Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy', the film chronicles the life of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the older brother of John F. Kennedy who was killed in action in World War II, leaving behind aspirations to become the first Irish-Catholic president. 'Young Joe' stars Peter Strauss in the titular role and was directed by Richard T. Heffron.
Cast
* Peter Strauss ... Joe Kennedy Jr.
* Barbara Parkins ... Vanessa Hunt
* Stephen Elliott ... Joe Kennedy
* Darleen Carr ... Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy
* Simon Oakland ... Delaney
* Asher Brauner ... Mike Krasna
* Lance Kerwin ... Joe Jr. (age 14)
* Peter Fox ... Simpson
* Steve Kanaly ... Ray Pierce
* Robert Englund ... Willy
* Gloria Stroock ... Rose Kennedy
* Tara Talboy ... Elinor
* Ben Fuhrman ... Hank Riggs
* James Sikking ... Commander Devril
* Ken Swofford ... Greenway
* Sam Chew Jr. ... Jack Kennedy
* Patrick Labyorteaux ... Teddy Kennedy
* Shane Kerwin ... Bobby Kennedy
* Margie Zech ... Jean Kennedy
* Kirsten Larkin ... Rosemary Kennedy
* Rosanne Covy ... Eunice Kennedy
* Deirdre Berthrong ... Pat Kennedy
* Lawrence Driscoll ... Anderson
* Michael Irving ... Billy Harrington
* Gardner Hayes ... English Major
* Gary Zahnow... young lieutenant
Production
The production was filmed in Seattle.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1aIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6-0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2005%2C4808375 "Peter Strauss stars in 'Young Joe'"], 'Ottawa Citizen', June 17, 1977. Strauss, then highly popular due to his starring appearances in the television miniseries 'Rich Man, Poor Man', said he had turned down a million-dollar offer to continue with a third year of that miniseries before taking on the role of Joe Kennedy, and that he had researched it heavily.Howard Pearson, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n61YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d38DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7123%2C4881674 "A candid visit with Peter Strauss"], 'Deseret News', June 17, 1977. The production received attention when it was discovered that Bill Foulon, an escaped convict from the Oregon State Penitentiary, had managed to secure work as an extra on the film, and later (while still on the run) called the 'Los Angeles Times' to talk about his experience.John Hurst, "Escaped convict got role in 'Young Joe'", 'Los Angeles Times', [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gy4dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-Z0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6562%2C4719780 reprinted in] 'The Tuscaloosa News', October 17, 1977.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U3lUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YY8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847%2C652616 "Fugitive calls newspaper to discuss life, television role"], United Press International in 'Ellensburg Daily Record', October 11, 1977.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X99NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3643%2C1890297 "Fugitive gets movie part"], 'The Free LanceStar', October 13, 1977.
Reception
Reviews of the film were mixed. 'Pittsburgh Post-Gazette' columnist Win Fanning gave it a strongly positive review, saying that Strauss had "acquitted himself brilliantly" in portraying Kennedy as a "driven young man".Win Fanning, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MUENAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6814%2C2581631 "Peter Strauss scores in 'Young Joe'"], 'Pittsburgh Post-Gazette', September 20, 1977. Kay Gardella of the 'New York Daily News' gave it a moderately positive review, though she commented that Strauss, as Kennedy, had done a better job of "imitating Jack Kennedy" than Sam Chew, the actor who had actually played the future president.Kay Gardella, "Peter Strauss stars in Kennedy drama", 'New York Daily News', [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iSdUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B40DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5758%2C2218157 reprinted in] 'Boca Raton News', September 16, 1977. On the other hand, Chris Stoehr of 'The Milwaukee Sentinel' thought that Strauss had been "trapped" in a bad production with "unforgivably bad lines" and a failure to show the viewer Joe Kennedy's special qualities.Chris Stoehr, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IXJIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9BIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6841%2C3248236 "Peter Strauss Plays You Know Who For Who Knows Why"], 'The Milwaukee Sentinel', September 17, 1977.
Author Lawrence J. Quirk later summarized the film's reception as "respectful but yawning", and noted that it had been a disappointment for Strauss and several other actors who had seen it as a career opportunity when they joined the production.Lawrence J. Quirk, 'The Kennedys in Hollywood' (Taylor Trade Publications, 2004 ed., originally published 1996), , p. 274. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VIqIGBr25p0C&lpg=PA274&dq=%22young%20joe%22%20%22peter%20strauss%22&pg=PA274#v=onepage&q=%22young%20joe%22%20%22peter%20strauss%22&f=false Excerpts available] at Google Books.
Awards
'Young Joe' received three nominations at the 1978 Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Special - Drama or Comedy,Jerry Roberts, 'Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors' (Scarecrow Press, 2009), , p. 244. [https://books.google.com/books?id=kW8j6sHvrewC&lpg=PA244&dq=%22young%20joe%22%20%22peter%20strauss%22&pg=PA244#v=onepage&q&f=false Excerpts available] at Google Books. and won one, for sound mixing.[http://www.emmys.com/shows/young-joe-forgotten-kennedy "Young Joe, The Forgotten Kennedy"], Emmys.com (accessed 2015-04-30).
See also
* List of television films produced for American Broadcasting Company
* Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy
References
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