Mistral's Daughter

Based on	the novel by Judith Krantz
Screenplay by	Terance Feely Rosemary Anne Sisson
Directed by	Douglas Hickcox Kevin Connor
Starring	Stefanie Powers Stacy Keach Lee Remick Robert Urich Timothy Dalton Joanna Lumley
Theme music composer	Vladimir Cosma
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	3
Production
Producer(s)	Herbert Hirschman Steve Krantz
Editor(s)	John Bloom Barry Peters
Running time	390 minutes
Production company(s)	Steve Krantz Productions
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	September 24 – September 26, 1984

Mistral's Daughter is a 1984 American television miniseries, adapted from Judith Krantz's 1982 novel of the same name.

In 1925, Jewish artist model Maggy Lunel (Stefanie Powers) arrives in Paris and overcomes her shyness by posing nude for struggling artist Julien Mistral (Stacy Keach). She enrages the reigning artist model queen Kiki (Annie Jouzier) by bouncing her off the throne as Montmartre's newest sensation. Her paintings become an overnight success, and Mistral signs a contract with art dealer Adrien Avigdor (Ian Richardson). His businesses are arranged by wealthy American heiress Kate Browning (Lee Remick), who is in love with him. At an art gallery, Mistral sells a portrait of Maggy that he promised to her, prompting Maggy to leave him. Through good friend Paula Deslandes (Stéphane Audran) she is set up with banker Perry Kilkullen (Timothy Dalton). Meanwhile, Mistral realizes he has lost his muse and moves to Provence with Kate, where he finds new inspiration. Mistral and Kate marry.

Kilkullen is pressured by his lawyer to break off his affair with Maggy, because he is still married – though just on paper – to American Mary Jane (Alexandra Stewart). Kilkullen refuses, though, and unsuccessfully attempts to divorce Mary Jane when he finds out that Maggy is pregnant. By 1929, Maggy has given birth to an illegitimate child whom she calls Teddy. Stuck in America trying to get a divorce, Kilkullen invites Maggy and Teddy to live with him in New York City. Upon arrival, Maggy learns that Kilkullen has died in a car accident. Broke, she attempts to sell her jewelry to Harry Klein (Shane Rimmer), who sets her up with dress designer Alberto Bianchi (Victor Spinetti). She climbs her way to the top in New York's fashion industry and befriends several of the city's elite, such as socialite Lally Longbridge (Joanna Lumley) and publisher Jason Darcy (Robert Urich). Meanwhile, Kate loses her entire fortune at the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and relocates to New York in attempt to sell Mistral's work in a new environment. The exposition is a success, though the elite quickly realizes that Maggy has posed nude for Mistral. Mary Jane convinces Bianchi that the scandal could badly influence his company, prompting him to fire Maggy. With the money that she earns from selling her jewelry, she starts her own modeling company.

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