It was originally produced as a two - part TV movie running a total of 200 minutes on November 28 and 29 , 1982 .
Mailer originally asked Lanford Wilson to adapt the story , but Wilson politely declined .
Mailer was originally produced as a two - part TV movie running a total of 200 minutes on November 28 and 29 , 1982 .
Mailer originally asked Lanford Wilson to adapt the story , but Wilson politely declined .