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 enlarge | Directors: Bernard Mceveety, Harry Falk, Paul Krasny, Virgil W. Vogel
Actors: William Atherton, Raymond Burr, Barbara Carrera, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Conrad
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.98
Buy New: $29.98
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New (43) Used (14) from $27.55
Rating:  271 reviews
Sales Rank: 209
Format: Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 6
Running Time: 1252 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.9 x 0.9
MPN: 61103921
UPC: 025195031776
EAN: 0025195031776
ASIN: B0018RKEQO
Release Date: July 29, 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 11-15 of 271
A Magnificent Television Epic...with a Problem or Two October 29, 2008
Michael B. Druxman (Los Angeles)
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CENTENNIAL (1978) is one of television's most memorable mini-series.
Adapted from the best-selling novel by James A. Michener, who appears in an on-camera Introduction, the nearly 21-hour epic production tells the story of a small fictional town in Colorado, beginning before it was established, in the 18th century with coming of the fur trappers and mountain men, up to modern times. It is a magnificent achievement, shot in and around the beautiful vistas of the Rocky Mountains.
The entire mini-series is now available on DVD in a handsome 6-disc/12 episode boxed set. Also included is a retrospective featurette that includes the memories of the production's cast and crew members.
The filming of CENTENNIAL was not without its problems. Not only did the production encounter unexpected hardships that caused its budget to soar, but also one of the actors died in a freak accident after only one day of shooting his role.
CENTENNIAL utilizes the services of four directors and an all-star cast that includes Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, Barbara Carrera, Raymond Burr, Michael Ansara, Timothy Dalton, Sally Kellerman, Lynn Redgrave, David Janssen, Dennis Weaver, Andy Griffith, Brian Keith, Clint Walker, Henry Darrow, Mark Harmon, Sharon Gless and many others.
As much as I admire CENTENNIAL and still enjoy watching it, I do have a couple of minor "bones to pick" with the way the project was handled. My hunch is that these issues were the result of television network interference, rather than an artistic decision by the actual filmmakers.
I think that many of the roles in the mini-series were cast with actors who the network knew would garner high television ratings (e.g. Conrad, Chamberlain, Burr, etc.), rather than other "name" actors who might be better suited for that particular character.
Aditionally, whereas the initial 3-hour episode should have begun with the story of Arapaho Lame Beaver (Ansara), it actually starts with the fur trappers (Conrad & Chamberlain), with the Lame Beaver saga being told "in flashback" during hour three. Unfortunately, these flashbacks stop the forward movement of the story.
Still, I can't recommend CENTENNIAL too highly.
Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (available December 2008)
Centennial - DVD October 29, 2008
Joan N. Staveley (Flagstaff,AZ)
Service excellent - delivery speedy - quality excellent. Great story of the Eastern Slope of Colorado history - carry families on from the beginning!
Grandest of the mini series, en elegy to the West October 23, 2008
Mr. Stephen Kennedy (Doha, Qatar)
As a rule, mini series have aspired to the label `epic'. By having starrier cast names, bigger sets, and of course more worldwide locations. This early mini series from the late 70's did something different - it kept the same location - the fictional town of Centennial, and charted the creation and evolution of the land and then the town, and the people that came and had an impact. So instead of the characters being large and the locations serving to tell us about the characters, the people are the ephemeral ones, passing through and hoping to leave their stamp on history. It's typical Michener in its style, and works perfectly in the mini series format - elegiac, rather than just epic.
So the story unfolds over 26 hours of TV of a beautiful bend in the river which is home to a tribe of native Americans, then comes the trappers, then the traders, the settlers, then the cattlemen, the shepherds, the farmers and civilization takes hold. It's a satisfying and at times informative unraveling of American history, told factually, but through a fictional town. That's not to say the characters are not well written - thanks to utterly memorable performances by the like of Robert Conrad as Pasquinel, Dennis Weaver as the cattle driver, Timothy Dalton as the rancher and yes, even Richard Chamberlain as McKeag amongst a huge cast, these are vignettes which will stay with you.
If the series has a weakness, it's the tendency to give extended and unnecessary flashbacks, particularly in the later episodes where the director feels the continual need to remind us at length of what has gone before. As for dating, it could be argued certainly that the sound quality and picture are somewhat dated now, but on the whole the series stands up remarkably well - paradoxically it is the later modern scenes with Robert Vaughn and Andy Griffith (and a young Sharon Gless) which have dated most.
Perhaps the most surprising element to me watching this again for the first time in 28 years, is the emphasis on harmony on the land - the give and take that the early settlers achieved, but later generations signally failed to achieve.
All in all, a worthwhile message, a handy historical summary, a fascinating cast and a collection of interesting interweaving stories - on whatever level you take it, this is well worth watching, despite its occasional flaw.
Centennial, an outstanding mini-series. October 20, 2008
A.J. (Ohio, USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm not going to dwell on aspects of reviews already published here, but I do wish to take exception with a few things. One reviewer stated that he thought only the first 5 parts, and the last, were worthy of consideration, but I disagree. I found the entire series was outstanding. Agreed that the first 5 parts, detailing the founding of the American west, and in particular the town of Centennial, are the best, and the last episode, which takes place in present day, is a fitting conclusion to the series, but I found the parts in between to be very good as well. The series spans many years and couldn't stay in the old west for the entire journey. These episodes dealt with many interesting storylines, including the dust storm in the 11th episode and its bloody aftermath. The entire series is well worth watching, so don't give up after episode 5.
I've also read a few people complaining that the mastering job could have been better, something I don't understand. This dvd release is excellent, with crystal clear picture and beautiful color. Perhaps this was the same master they used for the vhs release, but what's wrong with that? The vhs release looked great.
One more point. I wish to give praise to one aspect of this wonderful show that never gets attention. John Addison's majestic score. It's a stunning work of art that perfectly compliments the production.
Centennial was indeed remarkably ambitious, and stands the test of time to this day, with its message that we must take care of the land as timely today as it was then. As James Michener says in the introduction, we are the guardians of the earth, the custodians of our heritage, and the caretakers of our future.
Great Movie October 19, 2008
mp123 (California)
Thank you for putting this movie out on CD Universal so I could buy it. My husband's family is in this movie (grandfather who has passed away) and aunt, cousins. I have seen the movie in the past but I am now watching it again and I'm enjoying every minute. I think you will enjoy it too. It does keep your interest and you do learn a lot of history.
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