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An American Family

An American Family

★ 5.4/10•1973•1h 0m•Documentary
Similars

Originally intended as a chronicle of the daily life of the Louds, a Santa Barbara upper-middle-class family, the groundbreaking program documented the breakup of the family via the separation and subsequent divorce of parents Bill and Pat Loud.

Susan Raymond · Director

Alan Raymond · Director

StatusEnded
Runtime1h 0m
LanguageEN
First Air DateJan 11, 1973

Episodes

Episode 1 - Episode 1E158m

Episode 1

Opens with scenes from the last day of filming, December 31, 1971. Pat Loud and four of her children are having a New Year's Eve party in their Santa Barbara, California, home. Bill and Pat's marriage has ended in separation. Their eldest son, Lance, is still living in New York. The scene changes to the first days of filming when the family gathers for an early breakfast one morning in mid-May, 1971.

Jan 11, 1973

Episode 2 - Episode 2E258m

Episode 2

Pat visits her son Lance in New York City. She takes a room in his hotel, the Chelsea, and spends a week with him meeting his circle of friends.

Jan 18, 1973

Episode 3 - Episode 3E358m

Episode 3

Before returning from New York, Pat stops in Baltimore to check on a shipment that Bill is expecting. Bill meets her plane; they go out to lunch, during which they discuss their children. Later, they attend a dance recital featuring their daughters Delilah and Michele.

Jan 25, 1973

Episode 4 - Episode 4E458m

Episode 4

Pat returns to her Eugene, Oregon birthplace, and visits her mother, who still lives there. They drive around town, stopping at the important places in Pat's early life and the first years of her marriage. After attending her mother's birthday party, Pat ereturns home.

Feb 1, 1973

Episode 5 - Episode 5E558m

Episode 5

The girls are leaving with Pat for a vacation in Taos, New Mexico; Kevin leaves for Australia with Bill's business associate; and Lance calls the family from New York.

Feb 8, 1973

Episode 6 - Episode 6E659m

Episode 6

After Pat and Michele return from Taos, Pat has lunch with Bill and again the topic of discussion is their children. Lance is visiting Paris with a friend. A brush-fire in the hills threatens the Loud home.

Feb 15, 1973

Episode 7 - Episode 7E758m

Episode 7

The growing antagonism between Pat and Bill comes out in the open. Grant is criticized by his parents for not working hard enough, and, shortly afterward, gets into an accident while driving home from work.

Feb 22, 1973

Episode 8 - Episode 8E857m

Episode 8

While Bill is away on business, Pat decides to file for divorce. She spends an evening with her brother and sister-in-law, discussing this decision.

Mar 1, 1973

Episode 9 - Episode 9E958m

Episode 9

Bill returns from his business trip, learns from Pat that she plans to divorce him, and spends the night at a motel. The next day, the Loud children rally around their mother.

Mar 8, 1973

Episode 10 - Episode 10E1058m

Episode 10

Bill looks for an apartment; the children register for their first day of the new school year; and Kevin masterminds a pep rally. Lance is in Copenhagen.

Mar 15, 1973

Episode 11 - Episode 11E1158m

Episode 11

After living in New York City and Europe for seven months, Lance returns to his Santa Barbara home for a visit.

Mar 22, 1973

Episode 12 - Episode 12E1258m

Episode 12

Grant and his rock group audition for Santa Barbara Lounge. Bill meets Delilah in his office and asks her to deliver a pair boots and a dress that he bought for Pat. Over drinks with a friend, Bill talks about the breakup of his marriage and his feelings about Lance and the other children. Pat also talks about the divorce with two of her friends and reveals her tentative plans for the future.

Mar 29, 1973

Actors

Pat Loud

Self

Bill Loud

Self

Lance Loud

Self

Kevin Loud

Self

Grant Loud

Self

Delilah Loud

Self

Michelle Loud

Self

Craig Gilbert

Narrator (voice)

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