On this day October 24, 1982, the made for television movie Little Gloria... Happy At Last aired on NBC, dramatizing the true story of Gloria Vanderbilt’s highly publicized 1930s custody battle. Based on the best selling book by Barbara Goldsmith, the film portrayed the intense family conflict and media frenzy that surrounded one of America’s wealthiest and most famous families.
Starring Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, and Lucy Gutteridge, Little Gloria... Happy At Last was praised for its strong performances and lavish period detail. The production captured the glamour and tragedy of a family divided by wealth, influence, and personal ambition. Its success demonstrated the 1980s fascination with historical drama and real life scandals adapted for television audiences.
80s insight: Little Gloria... Happy At Last reflected the 1980s appetite for prestige television, when networks produced high quality dramas based on true events that blended history, emotion, and elegance.
Starring Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, and Lucy Gutteridge, Little Gloria... Happy At Last was praised for its strong performances and lavish period detail. The production captured the glamour and tragedy of a family divided by wealth, influence, and personal ambition. Its success demonstrated the 1980s fascination with historical drama and real life scandals adapted for television audiences.
80s insight: Little Gloria... Happy At Last reflected the 1980s appetite for prestige television, when networks produced high quality dramas based on true events that blended history, emotion, and elegance.
