"Christopher Columbus" (1985) TV mini-series

User Rating:

6.9/10   

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 Alba de América (1951)

Greatest TV movie ever!

I was caught off guard when I found out later on that this was a TV movie!If this is so,then it may be the greatest TV movie I have ever seen.This was very uncompromising and really dealt with as much realism as can be depicted all the while keeping the audience entertained and enthralled.Splendid casting and directing as well.I highly recommend this film to anybody who really wants to learn the circumstances regarding the Columbus journeys and the repercussions it created in Europe and the new world.Done in the uncompromising tradition and style of "Roots".Not for typical Hollywood formula fans.For this reason,mainstream has kept this classic in the closet so to speak.Bravo!