Rich Man, Poor Man is a novel written by Irwin Shaw. In 1976 it was adapted into a highly-rated 1976 television miniseries spawning a trend on American TV that lasted for the next fifteen years.

Originally published as a short story in Playboy Magazine, it became an international bestseller when published as a novel. The central theme of the novel is the relationship between two brothers, Tom and Rudy Jordache. Tom Jordache is constantly in trouble, quitting high school, getting into fights, being in trouble with the law, and leading a very blue-collar life. In contrast, Rudy Jordache is the perfect son, the perfect student, and the perfect businessman. He reaches the pinnacle of success in everything he does. The plot spans twenty years from the end of World War II through the mid-1960s.

Central theme is about two children's lives and the different paths they take in life. Rudy was the perfect son but at what cost to his true self. Tom was a so-called misfit but develops true understanding of life through a tough road. Each child represents the differences each person can interpret with the same upbringing. Both parents are to blame for their immediate branding of each child and the outcome of their lives.

The title of the novel, as well as that of its sequel, is taken from a popular children's jump rope game: :What my fortune's going to be :Doc-tor, Law-yer, In-di-an Chief :Cow-boy, Sail-or

In Italy, this mini series was broadcast with three different titles on three different channels in subsequent years: "Il sogno americano dei Jordache" (The Jordaches' American Dream) in 1977, "Il sogno americano" (The American Dream) in 1982 and "Il ricco e il povero" (literal translation) in 1984.

The film that Tommy Jordache and Claude Tinker watched at the Port Phillip cinema on VE Night was Wake Island (1942)

Although he had been a working actor for years prior to this production, Nick Nolte became a star after appearing in this very popular mini-series. In fact, the network wanted his character to appear in the sequel they were planning and Nolte refused to alter the story to make that possible. Peter Strauss (I) also became an in-demand actor after this project.

Nick Nolte said that when he played a young man in the early scenes of the project, he weighed about 160 pounds. When he played a middle aged man in the later scenes, he weighed over 180 pounds.