User reviews

Finally a series about the Kennedy women that had a new perspective. "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot" was enjoyable, well cast and nice photographed series. Like most Americans I am also fascinated by the Kennedys. Every time one of them dies I mourn. I like fashion, and have always wondered about this Marilyn Monroe story. Although it is still only rumors, the series showed that "Jackie" Jill Hennessy ( Molly, Law & Order) was very aware of the situation. We all know the facts around Camelot, but how their wives kept all having babies, how the family was back them, and how the women acted towards each other was added by the women was well covered by the series. I specially liked Jill Hennessy's portrait of Jackie. I liked Jackie a lot and when she died it took me weeks to recover. Even though I never met her!!!!!!! Lauren Holly (Beautiful Girls) as Ethel was also good. I hardly recognized Lauren as "Ethel Kennedy." In the series Ethel was the sanguine type, that kept speaking her mind every time and went around apologizing. " Joan Bennett Kennedy" played by Leslie Stefanson (As Good As It Gets) is someone that I hardly knew anything about, except that she and the Senator were divorced. I enjoyed the series, and if you have the chance to watch you might enjoy it also. I am looking forward to a mini-series on the children's of Camelot.

I was flipping through my telly and I stopped upon seeing Jill Hennessy in dated attire on the Hallmark Channel. After a few minutes I realized she was playing Jackie Kennedy and I kept watching... Lauron Holly popped up on screen soon after and I took a liking to the characters at once. The next day I watched the second/last part of the miniseries. I thought it was well acted and it gave depth to the Kennedy women (I haven't read the book) that I had not previously seen (except Jackie). I loved Jill Hennessy in it, we see a Jackie post-JFK. I cried my eyes out when JFK was shot.. Hennessy's best part of the series.

The guy actors all seemed the same to me... they had that kind of "every-man" face... I guess that was the point. If you like seeing shows about strong women, you'll like this, but I didn't follow the historical accuracy of it, and I didn't get such a sense of 60-ies in it (prob coz the series spans over 30 years) except for the change of clothes. If you watch it with an open mind, ready to enjoy yourself, you'll like it, if you take it too seriously you might not.

There have been a few Jackie centered TV movies so it's interesting to see something about Joan and Ethel. The subject matter is of course fascinating and the scenes are interesting to watch. Especially how they all react to personal tragedies.

The casting of the three famous sisters in law is interesting. Firstly Jill Hennessy as Jackie. Her face actually bears some resemblance to Jackie so when she is made up she does look like her. But her voice is a bit too low and forceful for Jackie who had a "Babykins" voice. Lauren Holly as Ethel gives a forceful crass personality to Ethel. She is way too pretty and svelte. Leslie Stefanson is a good fit for Joan. Joan has a more regular face than the other 2 so she was an easier actress to match physically.

Not bad.

One of the wonders of the past century in this country has been the adoration of the Kennedys which has been the equivalent of the fuss some nations display over their royals. Personally I do not think most people realize how inept J.F.K. really was. He claimed to have written "Why England Slept" which was actually written by old Joe's friend at the New York Times, Arthur Krock. He also accepted the Pulitzer for "Profiles in Courage" which was written for him by his "good soldier", Ted Sorensen. Khruschev has so little respect for him that he took a chance and placed nukes in Cuba. J.F.K. finally got them removed but the public did not know we had to take our nukes out of Turkey to complete this deal. This movie does show some part of the alleged "Camelot" and the lives of the Kennedy women. Jackie is shown with her love of money and Ehtel is portrayed as being a bit more stern than most of us had always believed. The real victim in this is Joan who comes out as being overwhelmed by the entire scene in Washington and Cape Cod. There have finally been some great books printed on this era and maybe we are blessed as a nation to have survived the Kennedys.

This film is not as bad as the previous review states. It is very interesting. Jill H. does a great job of letting the audience in on the fact that Jackie O's voice changed from breathy to normal depending on her surroundings. She was shy and egar to please so it showed up in her voice. The other actors did very well in showing the complexity of the real life people they were playing.

It is like a soap opera but so was the lives of the Kennedy's. They have endured assassinations, sexual scandals, failed marriages, loss of children and loved ones, and power, wealth, success. That sounds like a soap to me. Like anything though, if you want to get a real perspective on what it was like among the Kennedy women read the book this movie is based on. I read it before I saw the film and it was a little annoying to see how they tweaked some of the incidents. For example the beginning where Ethel pretends to not want to kiss Jackie on the cheek after Jack wins the election. In the book she is very cold to Jackie. Its a very awkward moment in front of the entire family.

READ THE BOOK

'Twas truly a marvelous experience to take in all the familial dynamics of the leading ladies of one of the US's great dynasties. Ethel's character being so brassy & foot-in-mouth outspoken was a personality I hadn't imagined. Jackie being so fond of Grandfather Joe was a surprise. Rose is exactly as I imagined her. Joan is more talented, and according to this show, has been under-credited for the successes of Senator Edward (Teddy) Kennedy.

This docudrama is a lengthy one that I could have watched for many more hours. There is so much public knowledge of the Kennedy men so there were few surprises with the exception that I had forgotten two things: Senator Teddy Kennedy had been in a near fatal plane crash and broke his back in numerous places during a campaign; Senator Bobby Kennedy was already deceased at the time of Teddy's Presidential career damaging car accident that took the life of Mary Jo. (In hindsight, since the Kennedy brothers who ran for the US Presidency were both assassinated, I now view that tragic car accident as the blessing that kept Senator Edward Kennedy alive to this day and a senior member of the US Senate).

The tensions that were brought forth between the women reveal that Jackie, the in-law, was oft times the glue that held them together and kept them close. It's time to know more about the rest of the Clan Kennedy women--the younger ones. I am left with wanting more. To me, that's the sign of a very well done docudrama.

This film probably should have been called the gossip and affairs of the kennedy men, and how the wives stood by them. Lots of actual historic milestones here and there, but much more time spent on the seedy underbelly of the times. Marilyn monroe, the assassinations of two kennedys in the 1960s. Ted's chappaquiddick "incident". Amusing to hear jack kennedy talking about "cuber"... referencing the bay of pigs fiasco. A few actual, but more awful, fake new england accents come and go. I grew up in massachusetts, so I had known about every one of these stories, good and bad. But I guess the newer generations, as well as people from other parts of the united states may not have known some of these details. The kennedy family certainly had more than its share of success, early deaths, and tragedies over the years. Directed by larry shaw, probably best known for desperate housewives.

"Jackie, Ethel, Joan" was one of the greatest mini-series I have ever seen. I especially loved the actresses picked to play the parts of Jackie, Ethel and Joan. Lauren Holly showed what a truly versatile actress she is, as did Jill Hennessy. They were amazing! I've never seen Lauren Holly in a role like this she was so funny and the real voice of the family. Jill Hennessy was great as Jackie she resembeled her so much and her acting was phenomenal, she really got everyone into the character and the pain Jackie went though. This was the first time i saw Leslie Stefanson in a movie and she was great! I never knew much about Joan Kennedy and she just showed a lot of feeling, she showed that Joan cared too much and that probably led to her and Ted divorcing. The men in this movie were great too, especially Bobby, he was so strong and it showed me a lot insite to a time when i was not born and i really enjoyed it. This movie was so amazing that hopefully they will sell it on video, because i would watch it over and over.

I can't recall having ever given any film, mini-series or TV series a '1' out of 10 before... and sadly I can't here. There is just barely enough good here to warrant a '4'. However, if ever any production deserved it, this one probably does. The casting is, for the most part, abominable. The acting is generally stiff and unsure. The attempts at accents are atrocious and laughable. The portrayal of Marilyn Monroe is bizarrely comic at best and insulting to both Monroe and the audience at worst.

Jill Hennessy does have a few solid moments as Jackie, but not nearly enough to carry this painfully disjointed soap opera. Lauren Holly's Ethel would be more believable in a trailer park than Washington and Hyannisport. Leslie Stefanson's Joan is interesting and is easily the best of the three women's portrayals.

The portrayal's of the Kennedy men are all weak and unconvincing. The only plus with the Kennedy men is that they are not on screen very often.

Historically, it runs wild with rumor, innuendo, supposition and ignores many facts as they have been recorded by serious and knowledgeable historians. Sadly what could have been a tastefully done classic instead just reeks of the two-bit paperback hacks who wrote this tripe.

I will say that the 2nd half of this mini-series is distinctly better than the first half. Unfortunately, by the time the 2nd half rolls around, it's way too late to save it overall.

Another issue it has that seriously detracts from it coming across as a quality production is a very strong sense of being constantly 'rushed'. It literally speeds from one tragedy to another with no opportunity for the viewer to take in any real sense of sorrow. Oddly enough, despite my feeling that this isn't a very good production as it is, I think it would have probably benefit from an additional 90 minutes. This would have allowed the viewer a real chance to get to know and empathize with the characters.

One exceptional line does rise above all others in this otherwise dismal program and it is delivered by Charmion King (as Rose Kennedy): "Great men have great flaws. It takes great women to accept them." This is as close as this film ever comes to being anything close to great.

For those who want a strong, clear sense of some of this subject matter with first rate acting, writing and true 'Camelot' style, watch 'Kennedy', the 1983 production with Martin Sheen and Blair Brown. Sheen is very strong as Kennedy and Blair Brown is nothing short of brilliant as Jackie. The supporting cast is exceptional. The only serious weakness of that production is Vincent Gardenia's over the top portrayal of J Edgar Hoover. This is now available on DVD.

In closing, all I can say is that with this much incredible material how could those involved have made... this?

what a bad casting director can produce. Daniel Hugh Kelley as JFK ranks up there in the worst 5 imitations of JFK, attempting a Boston accent, attempting charm, attempting charisma, and achieving none of the above.

In fairness, this is TV, and Jill Hennessey more than balances out his poor performance as Jackie Kennedy; she looks and acts very much the part; if you are a fan of hers you may still be able to enjoy her in this film.

Lauren Holly plays Ethel Kennedy as a brash, crude, ugly American. I can honestly say I don't know if she really was like this, but it almost seems like defamation of character. Calling President Johnson a "crude redneck" after learning her husband will not accompany him as Vice President in the White House- please- The script seems almost subversive.

Harve Presnell is believable as elder Joseph Kennedy, and there are some interesting scenes between him and Ms. Hennessey, the only redeeming performances in this TV movie. Leslie Stefanson is also touching as Joan Kennedy, and Matt Letscher looks the part of Ted Kennedy as a young man.

The worst casting (besides JFK), was of Marilyn Monroe. Sarah Lafleur is a bloated blow-up doll, and portrayed as a brainless alcoholic. She looks nothing like her, and cannot act. Also the character portraying Ari Onassis is a pale example of what the Greek shipping-magnate must have been like.

This is a four hour TV movie, and if you like Hennessey, tune in toward the middle. The rest is not worth watching.

I now own this video along with JFK and A woman named Jackie. I find these stories very interesting and this one was just as exceptional. I do agree with another viewer that the actress portraying Marilyn Monroe could have done a better job (the one in A Woman Named Jackie was great) the rest of the performances were Fantastic!

Television mini-series are usually poor quality, and this is no exception. The acting is below average and therefore unconvincing. The domestic dramas are played out like 'Young and the Restless' without any understanding of the complexities of such events. Worst of all, the pacing is so frantic that it's difficult to feel involved in the potentially riveting story.

Perhaps part of the problem is in the very nature of the set-up - the Kennedy women simply aren't as interesting as their husbands as they were only bit players in the most interesting events in history. The Cuban missile crisis, for example, must have been a fascinating and horrifying event to live through. Yet seen through Jackie's eyes, it barely sustains interest and is over in five minutes because she barely had anything to do with it.

'The Women of Camelot' is only tolerable because the Kennedys were such an interesting family who played such a significant role in American history in the sixties. No doubt there is a better film to be made of their experiences, one that doesn't turn the story into a cheap and dull soap opera.

I tried to watch this last night as I had read the book.

I don't care for Jill Hennessy but decided to give it a chance.

She just doesn't have the looks or class of a Jackie Kennedy.

I would rather have seen Jennifer Love Hewitt in the part.

The actress that played Marilyn Monroe was unattractive and was nothing like Marilyn and was insulting to her fans.

I couldn't finish the film and I don't like to do that...but it was really bad.

The scene where they showed JFK in hospital on the slab was long and drawn out and not needed.

It was one of the worst book to film adaptions I have ever seen.

I found this on the Roku Channel and Jill Hennessy is spot-on as Jackie Kennedy. Much MUCH better than Katie Holmes in the Reelz channel's The Kennedys miniseries. Hennessy exuded the style, class, grace and elegance of Jackie Kennedy. Lauren Holly as Ethel Kennedy was over-the-top, but from what I've read, Ethel was wild, brash and fun-loving. The actress who played Joan was good as well. Everyone in the main roles were excellent. However, the weakest link was the actress who played Marilyn Monroe. She portrayed Monroe like a caricature, and that was annoying. But this is the best miniseries about the Kennedys I've seen so far.