Customer Reviews

Christopher Columbus

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Christopher Columbus" is a movie made in England and resembles a good old-fashioned American film epic from days gone by.

The movie is wonderful but avoid this DVD unless you just want to have any copy in hand. I saw this film playing on TCM not long ago and it looked wonderful and decided to purchase Vision Video's DVD thinking it had to be the same transfer. WRONG!

This looks to be a 2nd or even 3rd generation video tape to DVD transfer with washed out colors and blurry grainy picture that is moving all over the place (gate not stable). Also there are artifacts abound. I was hoping that this was simply an error or defect but judging by the prices of their other DVDs and this title being basically a budget price point, I am sure they knew what was being put out and surprised as this is also a Christian based company. Maybe they will correct the problem and re-release it as it should be?

In the mean time, is there an official release somewhere that will play in Region 1?

Great historical drama from 1949 of the great discoverer and his ups and downs- trying to convince the rulers of Spain that the world is indeed round. Features great costumes/sets, and performances by a wonderful supporting cast, with Frederic March in title role. I rate it even with another favorite 1949 epic, The Prince Of Foxes(Tyrone Power)- although this one was filmed in color. 5 stars!

A must see! If you enjoy old movies to begin with, this is the one to see! The details are great, acting wonderful. i was not disappointed. A real keepsake. This was when movies were MOVIES!

The film has so many mistakes regarding Columbus' history. Just a few: He never spoke of a "New World" - he was sailing to Asia, actually Japan. He never till his death believed he had reached a new continent or continents. The reason he had trouble getting funding from the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella is because his math and geography were so bad - he under-estimated the size of the earth by at least 30%. He selected facts about geography that were known in the late 15th century. That is not brought out in the film. It is glossed over that after leaving Pella, Spain, his ships went to the Canaries for fresh water, food, etc. The crossing did not take 71 days - just 35 days. The biggest lie perpetuated in the film is that the view then was that the world was flat. It had been known by the Greeks since the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. that the earth is a sphere. Only the ignorant in the 15th century argued the earth was flat. I was told the big lie about a flat earth when I was in school in the late 50's, and this film was made in 1949. There are many other errors. The film is unhistorical and scientifically invalid even by 15th century standards. Regardless of possible great acting performances, don't waste your time watching it unless you recognize it as FICTION.

I am grateful that there are these old time movies! They have higher morals and less gore. This story of Columbus showed a good perspective about him which we don't get now. The acting was good and the plot was enjoyable.

An excellent story and take on Columbuse's life but I was barely able to watch the movie and found lots of problem with sound and images in another word this product is very oudated for today's technology. I hope they digitally re-mastering it. it worth all the effort.