"Centennial" (1978)TV mini-series 1978-1979

Directors:

Harry Falk
Paul Krasny

Writers:

Charles Larson (part 5 "The Massacre") (part 7 "The Shepherds") (part 9 "The Crime") (part 11 "The Winds of Fortune")
James Michener (novel)

Release Date:

1 October 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

The economic and cultural growth of Colorado spanning two centuries from the mid-1700s to the late-1970s.

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Exploration | Con | Falsely Accused | Rattlesnake

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

William Atherton	...	Jim Lloyd
Raymond Burr	...	Herman Bockweiss
Barbara Carrera	...	Clay Basket
Richard Chamberlain	...	Alexander McKeag
Robert Conrad	...	Pasquinel
Richard Crenna	...	Colonel Frank Skimmerhorn
Timothy Dalton	...	Oliver Seccombe
Cliff De Young	...	John Skimmerhorn
Chad Everett	...	Major Maxwell Mercy
Sharon Gless	...	Sidney Endermann
Andy Griffith	...	Professor Lewis Venor
Merle Haggard	...	Cisco Calendar
Gregory Harrison	...	Levi Zendt
David Janssen	...	Paul Garrett / Narrator
Alex Karras	...	Hans Brumbaugh

Runtime:

1256 min (12 episodes) (excluding commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The role of Philip Wendell was originally played by Richard Kelton, who died of Carbon Monoxide poisoning after one day of filming.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: As Brumbaugh brings the Takimoto's to his farm for the first time - a detectable problem can be seen on the camera lens. The viewer can see two black dots in the upper left corner of the picture that are caused by dirt on the lens.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Walter Matthau (#4.7)" (1978)

THE SINGLE BEST SERIES EVER MADE

Centennial is the single best mini series ever made, if not the best movie ever made. Nothing else can nor will ever compare with it. AND before someone states Lonesome Dove is better... it isn't. The "Cowboys with John Wayne was better than that. Centennial has totally believable characters doing what they were born to do... they all work together to tell a rich full story. Rich character development and true character development on all fronts... If you have never seen this, watch it with your family [everyone can watch from 6 to 116) and remember it for what it truly is, a true tale of people doing their best when times were at their worst. If only there were movies still being made like this. All people want now are shoot em ups or sex movies, neither of which I like. This is a movie people can sit down and watch, and feel good afterwards.

The only other true treasure I can think of is the 10th Kingdom... silly? yes of course but it is really fun to watch and enjoy. I may be Chineese but I can appreciate art and but of these movies are that. The Lost Kingdom is another of my favs, but not that good... And don't talk about the 9th Kingdom, Jonnie D. really scares me with that one...

Maybe someone should start a poll to get this released on DVD. There are so many totally BAD movies/series out on DVD. And yet this is not available. WHY doesn't the studio that made this release it on DVD? All I have is the 12 volume set on VHS, and it's almost worn out!

Television came a long way when this was released, but has regressed backwards. Even my people were shown for their part in this truly American saga. But... If only...

Tia