Based on the best-selling 1970 novelby Irwin Shaw, it spanned the period from 1945 through the late 1960s and followed the divergent career courses of the impoverished German immigrantJordache brothers. Rudy was the rich man of the title, a well-educated and very ambitious entrepreneurwho triumphed over his background and constructed a corporate and political empire. Poor man Tom was a rebel who eventually turned to boxingto support himself. Axel and Mary were their parents, and Julie Prescott was Rudy's lifelong sweetheart who eventually married him.

Dean Riesnerwrote all twelve episodes, and direction was shared by Bill Bixby, David Greene, and Boris Sagal. The musical score was composed by Alex North, who was nominated for the Grammy Awardfor Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special."