It was directed by David Greene and starred Richard Chamberlain as Edmond Dantès, Kate Nelligan as Mercedes, Tony Curtis as Fernand Mondego, Louis Jourdan (who played Edmond Dantès in the 1961 film adaptation of the novel) as De Villefort, Donald Pleasence as Danglars, Trevor Howard as Abbé Faria, and Isabelle de Valvert as Haydee.

Instead he signed a deal with NBC to make it as a TV movie, although the film would be released theatrically in Europe.

[6] Chamberlain called it "a great story" and said he chose not to see the previous movie versions because "I didn't want to copy even unconsciously".

Market research showed the program had good "commercial recall" and reflected well on sponsor Bell, so they wanted more.

Norman Rosemont went on to produce other books adaptations: The Man in the Iron Mask (1977), Captains Courageous (1977) and The Four Feathers (1978).