Christopher Columbus: The Discovery
| Christopher Columbus: The Discovery | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster by John Alvin
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| Directed by | John Glen |
| Produced by | Alexander Salkind Ilya Salkind[1] |
| Screenplay by | John Briley Cary Bates Mario Puzo |
| Story by | Mario Puzo |
| Starring | Marlon Brando Tom Selleck Georges Corraface Rachel Ward Robert Davi Benicio del Toro |
| Music by | Cliff Eidelman |
| Cinematography | Alec Mills |
| Edited by | Matthew Glen |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release dates
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21 August 1992 |
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Running time
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120 minutes |
| Country | United States United Kingdom Spain |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $45 million[2] |
| Box office | $8,251,071 |
Christopher Columbus: The Discovery is a 1992 historical film directed by John Glen. It was the last project developed by the father and son production team of Alexander and Ilya Salkind (best known for the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve in the title role), and follows the events after the fall of Emirate of Granada (south of actual Spain) which led up to and including the voyage of Columbus to the New World in 1492.
Its behind-the-scenes history involved an elaborate series of financial mishaps, which later brought about an emotional falling-out between both Alexander and Ilya; indeed, as a frustrated Alexander would later lament, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, "I know, after this, that I'll never make movies again."[3]
The film was released for the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage.[4][5]
Contents
Plot
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The titular Genoese navigator overcomes intrigue in the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain and gains financing for his expedition to the West Indies, which eventually leads to the discovery of the Americas.
Cast
- Marlon Brando received top billing for his supporting part as Tomás de Torquemada
- Tom Selleck as King Ferdinand V
- Georges Corraface as Christopher Columbus. He replaced Timothy Dalton, who was originally chosen to play the title role.
- Rachel Ward as Queen Isabella I. She replaced Isabella Rossellini, who was originally chosen to play the female lead.
- Robert Davi as Martín Pinzón
- Catherine Zeta-Jones as Beatriz Enriquez de Arana
- Oliver Cotton as Harana
- Benicio del Toro as Alvaro Harana
- Simon Dormandy as Bives
- Michael Gothard was cast as the Inquisitor's spy, but also as a potential replacement for the role of Tomás de Torquemada in case Brando did not show up for filming. Brando did indeed miss the first day of filming, and Gothard took over the role. However, Tom Selleck told the director that without Brando, he would quit the film. Word apparently got out, for Brando was on the set the next day, and assumed the role of Tomás de Torquemada, with Glen reshooting the scene.[6]
- Branscombe Richmond as Indian Chieftain
- Christopher Chaplin as es
Production
Timothy Dalton and Isabella Rossellini, originally chosen to star in the picture, backed out when director George Pan Cosmatos was replaced by John Glen shortly before shooting began.[7] Dalton later filed a suit against the producers for breach of contract and fraud.[8] Glen had previously directed Dalton in both of his appearances as James Bond: The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
Reception
The film was not a commercial success, debuting at #4,[9][10] but ultimately bombed, grossing $8 million against its $45 million budget.
Critically, the film received mostly negative reviews,[11][12] with a rotten 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 29 reviews.[13] Brando's performance in particular was singled out as his "worst".[14]
Awards
It won one Golden Raspberry Award Worst Supporting Actor – Tom Selleck, and was nominated for another five, including; Worst Picture, Worst Supporting Actor – Marlon Brando, Worst New Star – Georges Corraface, Worst Screenplay – Mario Puzo and Worst Director – John Glen.
Home video
The film was released on VHS format from Warner Home Video. It has not been released on DVD in North America, but is available in other format regions on DVD.
See also
- 1492: Conquest of Paradise, another big budget, all-star epic about Columbus also released in 1992.
- Carry On Columbus – A comedy-film about Columbus released in 1992.
- The Magic Voyage, an animated film about Columbus also released in 1992.
References
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- ↑ Timothy Dalton – Biography
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- ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/christopher_columbus_the_discovery/
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External links
- EngvarB from September 2013
- Use dmy dates from September 2013
- English-language films
- Articles using small message boxes
- Interlanguage link template link number
- 1992 films
- American biographical films
- American epic films
- 1990s adventure films
- 1990s biographical films
- Films set in the 1490s
- 1492 in fiction
- Films set in Spain
- Films set in pre-Columbian America
- Films shot in the United States Virgin Islands
- Cultural depictions of Christopher Columbus
- Film scores by Cliff Eidelman
- Films directed by John Glen
- Screenplays by Mario Puzo
- American films
- British films
- British biographical films
- Spanish films
- Spanish biographical films
- British epic films
- Spanish epic films
