An American Family

An American Family

1973
An American Family
An American Family

An American Family

7.4 | en | Documentary

Originally intended as a chronicle of the daily life of the Louds — an upper-middle-class family in Santa Barbara, California — the groundbreaking program documented the break-up of the family via the separation and subsequent divorce of parents Bill and Pat Loud.

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Seasons & Episodes

1
0
EP12  Episode 12
Mar. 29,1973
Episode 12

Grant and his rock group audition for a job at a Santa Barbara Lounge. Bill meets Delilah in his office and asks her to deliver a pair boots and a dress that he bought for Pat. At the Loud home, Pat tries on Bill's gifts and decides that she doesn't like them. Over drinks with a friend, Bill talks about the breakup of his marriage and his feelings about Lance and the other children. Pat also talks about the divorce with two of her friends and reveals her tentative plans for the future. [58 minutes]

EP11  Episode 11
Mar. 22,1973
Episode 11

After living in New York City and Europe for seven months, Lance returns to his Santa Barbara home for a visit. [58 minutes]

EP10  Episode 10
Mar. 15,1973
Episode 10

Bill looks for an apartment; the children register for their first day of the new school year; and Kevin masterminds a pep rally. Lance is in Copenhagen, Denmark. [58 minutes]

EP9  Episode 9
Mar. 08,1973
Episode 9

Bill returns from his business trip, learns from Pat that she plans to divorce him, and spends the night at a motel. The next day, the Loud children rally around their mother. [58 minutes]

EP8  Episode 8
Mar. 01,1973
Episode 8

While Bill is away on a business trip, Pat decides to file for divorce. She spends an evening with her brother and sister-in-law discussing this decision. [57 minutes]

EP7  Episode 7
Feb. 22,1973
Episode 7

The growing antagonism between Pat and Bill comes out in the open. Grant is criticized by his parents for not working hard enough, and, shortly afterward, gets into an accident while driving home from work. [58 minutes]

EP6  Episode 6
Feb. 15,1973
Episode 6

After Pat returns from Taos with Michele, she has lunch with Bill and again the topic of discussion is their children. Lance is visiting Paris with a friend. A brush-fire in the hills threatens the Loud home. [59 minutes]

EP5  Episode 5
Feb. 08,1973
Episode 5

The girls are leaving with Pat for a vacation in Taos, New Mexico; Kevin leaves for Australia with Bill's business associate; and Lance calls the family from New York. [58 minutes]

EP4  Episode 4
Feb. 01,1973
Episode 4

Pat returns to her birthplace in Eugene, Oregon, and visits her mother, who still lives there. They drive around town together, stopping at the important places in Pat's early life and the first years of her marriage. After attending her mother's birthday party, Pat returns home. [58 minutes]

EP3  Episode 3
Jan. 25,1973
Episode 3

Before returning home from her New York trip, Pat stops in Baltimore to check on a shipment of equipment that her husband Bill is expecting for his business. Bill meets her plane when it lands in California; they go out to lunch, during which they discuss their children. Later they attend a dance recital in which their daughters, Delilah and Michele, perform. [58 minutes]

EP2  Episode 2
Jan. 18,1973
Episode 2

Pat Loud visits her son Lance in New York City. She takes a room in his hotel, the Chelsea, and spends a week with him meeting his circle of friends. [58 minutes]

EP1  Episode 1
Jan. 11,1973
Episode 1

Opens with scenes from the last day of filming, December 31, 1971. Pat Loud and four of her children are having a New Year's Eve party in their Santa Barbara, California, home. Bill and Pat's marriage has ended in separation. Their eldest son, Lance, is still living in New York. The scene changes to the first days of filming when the family gathers for an early breakfast one morning in mid-May, 1971 [58 minutes]

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7.4 | en | Documentary | More Info
Released: 1973-01-11 | Released Producted By: , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

Originally intended as a chronicle of the daily life of the Louds — an upper-middle-class family in Santa Barbara, California — the groundbreaking program documented the break-up of the family via the separation and subsequent divorce of parents Bill and Pat Loud.

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Cast

Lance Loud , Craig Gilbert

Director

Susan Raymond

Producted By

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Reviews

Steven Capsuto I videotaped most of the series when it reran on WNET some 20 years ago, and I keep trying to like it. But even to this avid TV viewer who lived through that era and is fascinated by cultural anthropology, the show is largely unwatchable.The problem is that except for a couple of episodes (episode 2 and maybe the one with Lance in Paris), it's dull and slow. What made it shocking in 1973 -- the strangeness of being able to peek into someone else's day-to-day life -- has now been eclipsed by a torrent of tell-all talk shows and contrived "reality shows." Without the show's original voyeuristic shock value, ten of the twelve hours are unadulterated tedium (though I imagine a nifty 100-minute documentary could be culled from the footage).
ivan-22 I saw this documentary, most of it, over a decade ago, and I would like to see it today more than ever, because with the passing of time, the past becomes even more fascinating. In fifty years it will be even more fascinating. It gets better and better, as this slice of life recedes into the past. Of course, the family is also inherently interesting and likable. Not any family would do. There could be countless such shows, yet we seem to prefer fiction to reality. And so, this one remains all the more valuable because of its sheer rarity. Are there boring parts? Probably, but even boredom is interesting if one is interested. No need to be fascinated all the time.
D. Packard God I wish this was available on DVD or video, I remember seeing it years ago on PBS, late at night, just came upon it by accident and was completely hooked. It was truly fascinating. The 70's were so strange and interesting, and this is the real deal, real life. The quintessential portrait of an American Family at an interesting time in history. Series like this should be well preserved and available for future generations, it's a tragedy.
clara-17 The Loud family did not reside in Santa Monica, but Santa Barbara, California. Several mass media books incorrectly site Santa Monica as the central filming location for this ground-breaking documentary. Otherwise, Zog-3's comments are correct. "An American Family" is an exemplary American cinema verite film. For serious fans of the documentary genre, this thirteen part television series is a must see!