The Fortunate Pilgrim on AllMovie

Before striking gold with The Godfather, Mario Puzo published a pageant-like novel titled The Fortunate Pilgrim. Puzo's book was adapted into a two-part TV movie in 1988, with Sophia Loren as star. Ms. Loren plays a young Italian wife and mother, who emigrates to the US in 1915 in search of a better life for herself and her family. Widowed on the day she becomes a naturalized citizen, Sophia is faced with the task of raising her three children alone; she marries again, this time to Edward James Olmos, whose obvious affection for Sophia's children is tempered by his erratic behavior. Filmed in Yugoslavia, Part One of The Fortunate Pilgrim was first shown on April 3, 1988 (see also Part Two).