Christopher Columbus

• Director: Alberto Lattuada
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Adventure
• Movie Type: Adventure Drama, Biopic
• Main Cast: Gabriel Byrne, Faye Dunaway, Max von Sydow
• Release Year: 1985
• Country: FR/US/IT/WG
• Run Time: 128 minutes

Plot

Leading man Gabriel Byrne adds a "Harlequin Romance" dash to the two-part, six-hour TV movie Christopher Columbus. Seeking out a swifter route to the lucrative Indies, Genoa-born Columbus begs King John of Portugal (Max Von Sydow) to finance a westbound expedition. Failing this, he turns to Spain's Queen Isabella (Faye Dunaway), who is entranced by Columbus' near-religious fervor. After the famous 1492 expedition, Columbus is bankrolled for future forays into the New World, which win him both adulation and vilification. Originally telecast May 19 and 20, 1985, Christopher Columbus was filmed on location in Spain, Malta and the Dominican Republic, making full use of a $15 million budget. It isn't an earth-shattering cinematic experience, but is lots more worthwhile (and less ponderous) than the brace of Columbus biopics inflicted upon movie audiences in 1992. Those concerned with political correctness should be satisfied with the film's second half, which explores the more sinister elements of chauvinistic colonization. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Michel Auclair - Luis DeSantangel; Patrick Bauchau - Don Rodrigo; William Berger - Francisco DeBobadilla; Gabriel Byrne - Christopher Columbus; Elpidia Carrillo - Coana; Scott Coffey - Vallejo; Faye Dunaway - Isabella of Spain; Virna Lisi - Dona Moniz Perestrello; Murray Melvin - Father Linares; Oliver Reed - Martin Pinzon; Greg Snegoff - Francisco Pinzon; Max von Sydow - John of Portugal; Raf Vallone - Jose Vizinho; Eli Wallach - Hernando DeTalavera; Nicol Williamson - King Ferdinand; Rossano Brazzi - Diego Ortiz DeVilhegas; José Ferrer

Credit

Maria de Matteis - Costume Designer, Alberto Lattuada - Director, Russell Lloyd - Editor, Malcolm Stuart - Executive Producer, Ervin Zavada - Executive Producer, Riz Ortolani - Composer (Music Score), Mario Chiari - Production Designer, Franco di Giacomo - Cinematographer, Fabrizio Castellani - Producer, Anna Maria Clementelli - Producer, Silvio Clementelli - Producer, Adriano Bolzoni - Screenwriter, Laurence Heath - Screenwriter, Alberto Lattuada - Screenwriter, Tullio Pinelli - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

Dawn of America