The Buddenbrooks

First part of the saga of a wealthy German family in the middle of the 19th century, based on the novel by Thomas Mann. Jean Buddenbrook is the strict, ambitious leader of the family and the head of the family business. He forces daughter Antonie into a marriage with a man she does not love, and when son Christian, an irresponsible playboy and womanizer, falls for the wrong kind of woman, he sends him abroad to England. Son Thomas is the only one who has any interest in the family business, and when Jean dies unexpectedly, he takes over and extends the business, making his brother Christian, now back from England, a partner. Before long the brothers have a falling-out. Antonie's marriage is on the rocks, her husband is in financial trouble, and Thomas refuses to help him.

Thomas Buddenbrook becomes the proud father of a son and heir, and his sister Antonie finds new love after her divorce but soon finds that her new husband is fond of drink and plans to retire now that he has found himself a wealthy wife. Mother Elisabeth does not approve of Christian's love for actress Aline, and only after the mother's death can the two get married. The Buddenbrook business comes under financial strain and threatens to fail. A typhoid epidemic sweeps through town and Thomas' young son falls ill and dies. Christian becomes mentally unstable and Aline commits him to a lunatic asylum. Thomas receives the news that he is going to be made a senator.