Onassis (1988) Reviews

Part One of this four-hour TV movie adaptation of Peter Evans' biography suggested that Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis spent every waking hour commiserating in bed with lovers of all sexes. Part Two of Onassis: The Richest Man in the World hunkers down to the Main Event: The showdown between Onassis' longtime lover Maria Callas (Jane Seymour, who screamed and tantrummed her way to an Emmy) and his future spouse Jackie Kennedy. We then move onward (but not upward) to the tragic death of Onassis' daughter; our tepid journey through the cesspools of the Rich and Famous ends with the public bickering over the tycoon's will after his own 1975 demise. As ill-suited as Raul Julia is for the starring role of Aristotle Onassis, Francesca Annis' portrayal of Jackie Kennedy is even worse. Onassis: The Richest Man in the World was originally foisted upon the TV viewing public on May 1 and 2, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi