"Christopher Columbus" (1985) TV mini-series

Director:

Alberto Lattuada

Writers:

Adriano Bolzoni (writer)
Laurence Heath (writer)

Release Date:

19 May 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Plot:

The epic mini-series tells the story of the legendary Italian-born explorer Diego de Geona Taino, later known as Christopher Columbus, from his birth in c.1450 Genoa, Italy, to his young adult years as an expert sailor and navigator who, with money funded from the monarchy of Spain, sailed to the unknown West to find Asia in 1492, and instead found a 'New World' of the modern day West Indies to South America, and then follows his later years in his 50's as a tired, ailing man whose dreams of exploration and discovery to which he passed onto his son, and other followers, just before his death in 1506.

Plot Keywords:

Navigator | Explorer | New World | Discovery | Christopher Columbus

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Gabriel Byrne	...	Cristoforo Colombo
Rossano Brazzi	...	Diego Ortiz De Vilhegas
Virna Lisi	...	Dona Moniz Perestrello
Oliver Reed	...	Martin Pinzon
Raf Vallone	...	Jose Vizinho
Max von Sydow	...	King John of Portugal
Eli Wallach	...	Father Hernando De Talavera
Nicol Williamson	...	King Ferdinand
Faye Dunaway	...	Queen Isabella of Spain
Michel Auclair	...	Luis De Santangel
William Berger	...	Francisco De Bobadilla
Keith Buckley	...	De Torres
Mark Buffery	...	Bartholomo Colombo
Anne Canovas	...	Beatriz Enriquez
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Coana

Also Known As:

Cristoforo Colombo (Italy)

Runtime:

USA:360 min (including commercials)

Country:

Italy | USA | France | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Dominican Republic

Company:

Antenne-2

Trivia:

"Cristoforo Colombo" theme song (Riz Ortolani - L. Raggi, Benjamin) performed by Plácido Domingo.

Movie Connections:

Version of 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

By far the best film on Columbus

I saw this in late 1985 on TV and was pleasantly surprised by its very high quality and by the presence of so many recognizable names and faces (Faye Dunaway, Gabriel Byrne, Rosanno Brazzi, Raf Vallone, Eli Wallach, Max von Sydow, Oliver Reed, Virna Lisi, Nicol Williamson, Elpidia Carrillo,etc.) in the supporting cast.

In 1992 there were these two films on Columbus and neither holds a candle to this superb TV miniseries. They are almost a travesty to the great achievement of the Genoese explorer. This TV movie on the other hand properly does him justice.

Gabriel Byrne as Columbus and Faye Dunaway as Queen Isabela of Spain give memorable performances. It was good that this series did not imply that there was a romance or romantic attraction between the two, unlike in the two 1992 films, as that has never been established for sure by historians.

The script is also balanced in that it shows important facets about the story and the period: Colombus' drive and determination against all odds; Spanish religious zeal after the expulsion of the Moors; the vision of the Spanish monarchs in supporting Colombus when the Portuguese King did not; the courage of the seamen who sailed with Colombus, but also, their cruelty to the Indians who were just defending their land; Columbus' skills as a seaman but ineptness as an administrator; the beauty of both Renaissance Europe and pre-Columbian America. It's all here.

This is clearly a high-budget affair, with its expensive sets and costumes. And remember, this was in the days before CG, so the ships you see here are real.

The music is also inspiring and for opera fans, you get the bonus of hearing the great Plácido Domingo sing Italian-language lyrics to the main theme at the end credits.

THIS TV FILM SHOULD BE MORE POPULAR THAN IT IS!