Rags to Riches

Rags to Riches

Year: 1987

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Bruce Seth Green

DramaComedyTV Movie

Feature-length TV movie (titled “Rags and Riches” on the opening card) that launched the short‑lived 1987‑88 series. A wealthy, notoriously cut‑throat businessman decides to soften his public image by adopting children. He quickly ends up with six teenage girls, and soon discovers that managing a bustling household and the emotional needs of his new family presents far more difficulty than he anticipated.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Rags to Riches (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Rags to Riches (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Bel Air mansion, New Jersey

Nick Foley's Bel Air mansion serves as the opulent home around which a new, unconventional family forms. The estate contrasts with the girls' past life in an impoverished orphanage. It becomes the center of the family's evolving dynamics as wealth, image, and affection collide. The mansion stands as a symbol of belonging rather than mere luxury.

🏰 Luxury estate 💼 Wealth backdrop 👨‍👩‍👧 Family life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:23

Main Characters – Rags to Riches (1987)

Meet the key characters of Rags to Riches (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Nick Foley (Joseph Bologna)

Nick Foley is a streetwise New Jersey-born businessman and the owner of Foley Foods. He initially tries to cultivate a family-man image by inviting six orphaned girls to live at his Bel Air mansion to seal a business deal. Although his plan is transactional at first, he grows attached to the girls and eventually adopts five of them. The transformation from self-interest to familial responsibility becomes the emotional core of the story.

💼 Businessman 👨‍👧‍👦 Father figure 💫 Transformation

Rose Foley (Kimiko Gelman)

Rose is the 17-year-old eldest of Nick's adopted daughters. She navigates the upheaval of leaving an orphanage and entering a life of luxury and new family expectations. Her maturity and leadership help guide the younger sisters and shape the family's dynamics. She balances loyalty to her sisters with personal independence as they adjust.

👧 Teen 🧭 Leader 💪 Resilient

Diane Foley (Bridget Michele)

Diane is a 16-year-old who carries a mix of skepticism and determination into the new family. She tests boundaries and helps keep the sisters grounded in difficult moments. Her practical nature and protectiveness of the other girls contribute to the family dynamic. She grows to trust Nick and participates in the shared journey toward belonging.

👧 Teen 🧭 Protector 🌀 Adaptable

Patty Foley (Blanca De Garr)

Patty is the 14-year-old who grows from the orphanage's rough environment to a life of security. She brings spunk and curiosity to the new home, sometimes challenging the boundaries. Her arc involves finding a sense of security and family within the new setting. She bonds with her sisters and Nick as they navigate this unusual family.

👧 Teen 🧭 Loyalty 💫 Growth

Mickey Foley (Heidi Zeigler)

Mickey is the youngest at eight years old, bringing cheer and energy to the household. Her optimism helps ease the transitions for the family and the oldest sisters. She contributes to the group's dynamic with childlike sincerity. Mickey's warmth helps ground the family during tense moments.

👶 Child 🫶 Playful 🌟 Cheerful

Nina Foley (Heather McAdam)

Nina is one of the six orphaned girls featured in the pilot. She appears only in the pilot before being written out of the series. Her departure is explained as a reunion with her birth mother. Her brief presence foreshadows how the family would narrow its focus in the series.

👧 Teen 🧭 Pilot 🚪 Departure

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:23

Major Themes – Rags to Riches (1987)

Explore the central themes of Rags to Riches (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👨‍👧‍👦 Family

Nick's decision to adopt six orphaned girls triggers a new family dynamic. His initial plans to stage a family image clash with his growing empathy for the girls. Each sister brings new needs, histories, and loyalties that challenge and reshape Nick. The evolving relationships form the emotional core of the story, highlighting what family means when bonds are built through care.

✨ Transformation

Nick's persona shifts from a playboy businessman to a devoted father. His presence in the girls' lives exposes vulnerabilities in both Nick and themselves. His willingness to change is tested by the responsibilities of parenting. Redemption is framed through trust, commitment, and the long arc of building a family.

🎶 Music

Music is used as a storytelling device in the series, with songs weaving emotion into the plot. The girls often burst into song to express feelings and move the storyline forward. Episodes feature covers of early 1960s hits with altered lyrics that comment on events. These musical segments reinforce group identity and collective feelings within the family.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:23

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Rags to Riches Summary

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Rags to Riches Summary

Rags to Riches Timeline

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Rags to Riches Timeline

More About Rags to Riches

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