The Bastard is a 1978 American two-part, four-hour made-for-television drama film based on the 1974 historical novel, The Bastard, written by John Jakes. It is the first story in a series known as The Kent Family Chronicles or the American Bicentennial Series. The novel mixes fictional characters with historical events or people, to tell the story of the United States of America in the time period leading up to the American Revolution. The novel was adapted into this four-hour television film in May 1978.The movie was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1979 for Best Motion Picture Made for TV, with two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Special and Outstanding Art Direction for a Dramatic Special.The Bastard was followed by The Rebels, second in the series, and then The Seekers, third in the series.