The Temptations (TV miniseries)
| The Temptations | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Miniseries |
| Screenplay by | Robert Johnson Kevin Arkadie |
| Directed by | Allan Arkush |
| Starring |
Charles Malik Whitfield D.B. Woodside Terron Brooks Christian Payton Leon Tina Lifford Jenifer Lewis Gina Ravera Obba Babatundé J. August Richards Vanessa Bell Calloway Christopher Reid Mel Jackson Smokey Robinson Alan Rosenberg |
| Narrated by | Charles Malik Whitfield |
| Theme music composer | Smokey Robinson |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Jay Benson Otis Williams Shelly Berger |
| Cinematography | Jamie Anderson |
| Editor(s) | John Duffy Neil Mandelberg |
| Running time | approx. 88 min. per episode |
| Production company(s) |
de Passe Entertainment Hallmark Entertainment Babelsberg International Film Produktion |
| Distributor |
Hallmark Entertainment Lions Gate (2001 home video) Vivendi Entertainment (2001 home video) |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | November 1 – November 2, 1998 |
The Temptations is a four-hour television miniseries broadcast in two-hour halves on NBC, based upon the history of one of Motown's longest-lived acts, The Temptations. Executive produced by former Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, produced by Otis Williams and Temptations manager Shelley Berger, and based upon Williams’ Temptations autobiography, the miniseries was originally broadcast on November 1 and November 2, 1998. It was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, PA in the spring of 1998. Allan Arkush was the miniseries’ director.
The miniseries was based upon Otis Williams' book; as such, it came from his perspective: the focus of the story tended to be on Williams and Melvin Franklin, with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks seen as antagonists for much of the second half (although Kendricks was still given a more sympathetic portrayal than Ruffin). Dennis Edwards was not heavily focused upon, nor was much said of the problems he later had with Otis Williams. Nevertheless, the miniseries gave a general overview of both the history of the group and that of Motown, and, thanks to de Passe's connection, the film was able to use authentic props and locations.
A number of liberties were taken with factual events for dramatization purposes:
As a result, Otis Williams and the producers would be sued by several people portrayed in the film and their families, notably Melvin Franklin's mother and the children and estate of David Ruffin.
Although the movie is set mostly in Detroit and Los Angeles, the producers chose to shoot the film in Pittsburgh, presumably to take advantage of the many different architectural and geographical looks that Pittsburgh offers. de Passe Entertainment had, some six years earlier, shot The Jacksons: An American Dream in Pittsburgh as well.
The story begins in 1958 when Otis Williams, a black teenager living in Detroit, Michigan, is running to meet his friend Elbridge "Al" Bryant at a musical performance by The Cadillacs, where Otis and the singer lock eyes, which he credits as the moment he devoted his life to music. Otis' stepfather Edgar is less than pleased with Otis' plans to become a singer instead of an assembly line worker, but his mother Haze is supportive.
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