Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992)

Director:

John Glen

Writers (WGA):

Mario Puzo (story)
John Briley (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 August 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography

Plot:

Genoan navigator Christopher Columbus has a dream to find an alternative route to sail to the Indies...

Plot Keywords:

Torquemada | Christopher Columbus | Latin America | 1490s | Box Office Flop

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Tomas de Torquemada
Tom Selleck	...	King Ferdinand
Georges Corraface	...	Christopher Columbus (as George Corraface)
Rachel Ward	...	Queen Isabella
Robert Davi	...	Martin Pinzon
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Beatriz (as Catherine Zeta Jones)
Oliver Cotton	...	Harana
Benicio Del Toro	...	Alvaro Harana (as Benicio del Toro)
Mathieu Carrière	...	King John (as Mathieu Carriere)
Manuel de Blas	...	Vicente Pinzon
Glyn Grain	...	De La Cosa
Peter Guinness	...	Fra Perez
Nigel Terry	...	Roldan
Nitzan Sharron	...	Benjamin
Steven Hartley	...	Terreros
Hugo Blick	...	De Torres
Nigel Harrison	...	Gonzalo
Chris Hunter	...	Morales
Simon Dormandy	...	Bives
Christopher Chaplin	...	Escobedo
Michael Gothard	...	Inquisitor's Spy
Clive Arrindell	...	Lord Guarco
Richard Cubison	...	Isaac
Mark Long	...	Joseph
Nicholas Selby	...	Monsignor Camos
John Grillo	...	Chios Mapmaker
Serge Malik	...	Alcalde of Malaga
Joseph Long	...	1st Alguazil
Branscombe Richmond	...	Indian Chieftain
Tailinh Agoyo	...	Indian Girl (as Tailinh Forest Flower)
Anthony Sarda	...	Indian Brave
Gerard Langlais	...	Indian Guide
Michael Halphie	...	Chios Vendor
Genevieve Allenbury	...	Harana's Wife
Michael Gunn	...	Prison Officer
Vincent Pickering	...	Healthy Prisoner
Trevor Sellers	...	First Mate of Pinta
Caleb Lloyd	...	Diego Age 8
Andrew Dicks	...	Diego Age 11
George Fisher	...	Fernando
Steven Fletcher	...	Rodrigo de Triana
Ivan De Bono	...	Sailor in Tavern
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anna Cachia	...	Prostitute (uncredited)
Valentín Fernández-Tubau	...	Nobleman (uncredited)

Directed by
John Glen

Writing credits (WGA)
Mario Puzo		(story)
John Briley		(screenplay) and
Cary Bates		(screenplay) and
Mario Puzo		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jane Chaplin	....	executive producer
Maria Monreal	....	associate producer (as Maria Gatti de Monreal)
Alexander Salkind	....	producer
Ilya Salkind	....	producer
Robert Simmonds	....	co-producer (as Bob Simmonds)

Original Music by
Cliff Eidelman

Cinematography by
Alec Mills		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Matthew Glen

Casting by
Michelle Guish

Production Design by
Gil Parrondo

Art Direction by
José María Alarcón		(as Jose Maria Alarcon)
Robb Wilson King
Terry Pritchard
Luis Vallés		(as Luis Koldo)

Costume Design by
John Bloomfield

Makeup Department
Lon Bentley	....	hairdresser: Tom Selleck
Caroline Clements	....	hair stylist (as Caroline Clements-Jewery)
Linda Gill	....	makeup artist
Julie Houle	....	makeup artist
Vera Mitchell	....	hair stylist
Rossana Parker	....	makeup artist
Baker Smith	....	hair stylist (as 'Buzz' Baker Smith)
Marian Wilson	....	wig maker

Production Management
Víctor Albarrán	....	production manager
Buck Allen	....	unit production manager
Sara Fuller	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Adler	....	key second assistant director
Peter Bennett Jr.	....	second second assistant director
Peter Bennett	....	key second assistant director (as Peter Bennett Sr.)
Brian W. Cook	....	first assistant director (as Brian Cook)
James Devis	....	assistant director
João Fonseca	....	second second assistant director (as Joao Fonseca)
Dominic Fysh	....	second second assistant director
Carl Goldstein	....	second second assistant director
Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante	....	third assistant director
Arthur Wooster	....	director: ocean voyage unit

Art Department
Tighe Barry	....	set dresser
Kevin Conlin	....	construction coordinator
Eddie Fowlie	....	prop master
Steven Gardiner	....	scenic painter
Julián Mateos	....	set dresser (as Julian Mateos)
Pepe Pinya	....	ship builder
Joe Pisani	....	buyer
Graeme Purdy	....	props
Óscar Sempere	....	art department assistant
Michael Stocks	....	scenic painter
Michael Stroud	....	buyer
Joe Templeton	....	ship builder
Jan Wilkes	....	ship builder

Sound Department
Ricardo Álvarez	....	boom (as Ricardo Alvarez)
Bob Bass	....	sound recordist
Peter J. Devlin	....	sound mixer
Vernon Messenger	....	sound supervisor
Vince Nuccio	....	sound assistant
Sandy Buchanan	....	post-production sound assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kenneth Cassar	....	special effects crew
Mario Cassar	....	special effects
Jerry Ciantar	....	special effects
Francisco García San José	....	special effects (as Francisco García)
Miguel Icaza	....	special photographic effects
John Patteson	....	special effects
John Richardson	....	special effects supervisor
Emilio Ruiz del Río	....	special photographic effects (as Emilio Ruiz)

Visual Effects by
Steven Begg	....	visual effects artist
Andy Stevens	....	camera assistant: model unit, Magic Camer Co
Emilio Ruiz del Río	....	matte shots (uncredited)

Stunts
Pedro Ararz	....	stunt performer
Luis Miguel Arranz	....	stunt performer
Inocencio Losada	....	stunt performer (as Inosencio Losada)
Greg Michaels	....	stunt performer (as Gregg Michaels)
Joaquin Olivas	....	stunt performer (as Joaquin Olias)
Miguel Pedregosa	....	stunt coordinator
Julio Pimentel	....	stunt performer (as Julio Pimental)
Álvaro Quiroga	....	stunt performer (as Alvaro Quiroga)
Louis Roth	....	stunt performer
José María Serrano	....	stunt performer (as Jose Maria Serrano)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	grip: ocean voyage unit (as Kenny Atherfold)
Juan Miguel Azpiroz	....	second assistant camera
George Boner	....	rigging gaffer
David Campbell	....	focus puller
John J. Campbell	....	camera operator (as John Campbell)
James Devis	....	camera operator (as Jimmy Devis)
James Devis	....	director of photography: second unit
Frank Elliott	....	focus puller
Jose Fernandez	....	key grip
Julio Fernández	....	dolly grip (as Julio Fernandez)
Mike Frift	....	camera operator
Martin Hume	....	camera operator: ocean voyage unit
Stefani Kong	....	stills
Roy Larner	....	chief electrician
Julio Leyva	....	focus puller (as Julio Leiva)
Malcolm MacIntosh	....	camera operator
Simon Mills	....	focus puller
Bob Penn	....	stills
Gene Poole	....	dolly grip
Clive Prior	....	camera loader
Clive Prior	....	second assistant camera
Mark J. Rainsford	....	key grip (as Mark Rainsford)
Tim Ross	....	camera assistant: ocean voyage Unit
Stephen Thompson	....	best boy
Arthur Wooster	....	director of photography: ocean voyage unit

Casting Department
Linda Colon	....	co-casting director
Vicki Huff	....	additional casting
Ellen Jacoby	....	additional casting
Philip Mizzi	....	additional casting
Margarida Roberto	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ann Beverly	....	assistant costume designer
Grace Camilleri	....	wardrobe assistant
Chris Criddle	....	costume maker
Martín Díaz	....	wardrobe master (as Martin Diaz)
Sara Fernández	....	wardrobe assistant (as Sara Fernandez)
Ana Maria Infante	....	wardrobe assistant
Michael Jones	....	costume maker
Vicente Martínez	....	wardrobe assistant (as Vicente Martinez)
Joaquín Montero	....	wardrobe assistant (as Joaquin Montero)
Emma O'Farrell	....	costume maker
Manuel Ortega	....	wardrobe assistant
Delfín Prieto	....	wardrobe assistant
Germinal Rangel	....	costume: Mr. Brando
Reg Samuel	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Peter Culverwell	....	assistant editor
John Nuth	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Cliff Eidelman	....	conductor
Robin Eidelman	....	music editor
Father Galea	....	religious music advisor
Mark McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Doug Mountain	....	original score mixed by

Other crew
Caroline Barrett	....	personal assistant: Mr. Brando
Bi Benton	....	production coordinator
Amanda Brand	....	vice president marketing & publicity
Lili Cordell	....	production coordinator
Fátima Correia	....	production secretary (as Fatima Correia)
Trudy Daoudal	....	production coordinator
Thomas De La Cal	....	country coordinator, Portugal
Thomas G. Francell	....	production assistant (as Thomas Francell)
Ashley Fuller	....	production assistant
Rita Galea	....	production secretary
Mike Higgins	....	location manager
Lisa Marie Hill	....	assistant auditor (as Lisa Hill)
Carol Juk	....	production coordinator
Jose La Correia	....	location manager
Carmen Martínez	....	location manager
Eric Matthews	....	location manager
Terrie McDarby	....	assistant: John Glen
Marc Millhen	....	production assistant
Allison A. Millican	....	production coordinator (as Allison Millican)
David Muntz	....	assistant: Tom Selleck
Torre Newman	....	production assistant
Alfonso Eduardo Orozco	....	publicist
Anushka Paverman	....	production assistant
Nancy Peardon	....	assistant: Mr. Brando
Gus Pollard	....	tall ships master
June Randall	....	script supervisor
Melissa Resch	....	production secretary
Alexander Salkind	....	presenter
Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante	....	location scout
Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante	....	production assistant (as Malcolm Ferrante)
Ellen Schaeffer	....	assistant: Ilya Salkind
Raymond Sciberras	....	production assistant
Gary Sewell	....	assistant auditor
Ken Shields	....	assistant auditor
Diane Sterling	....	assistant auditor (as Diana Sterling)
Ray Sterling	....	production auditor
Frida Torresblanco	....	production coordinator
Steve Fletcher	....	on-set tutor (uncredited)
Simon Giles	....	title designer: end titles (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Quinto Centenario

Distributors

• Scotia International Filmverleih (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Gama (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (1992) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Mediawith Classics (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• J.B. Jones (special effects)
• Magic Camera Company, The (special optical effects)

Other Companies

• Albion Gee & Co.  legal advice
• Century III at Universal Florida  music recording facility
• GSE  main title (as G.S.E.)
• Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren & Richman  legal advice
• Pinewood Studios  post-production
• Rogers & Cowan  public relations
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Seattle Symphony Chorale  choir
• Seattle Symphony  orchestra
• Universal Studios Florida  production base

Also Known As:

Cristóbal Colón: el descubrimiento (Spain)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

UK | USA | Spain

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Germany:12 (f) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #31900)

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Ocean

Company:

Quinto Centenario

Trivia:

It has been alleged that cast and crew did not receive any salaries because of funding problems

Quotes:

Christopher Columbus: [to the Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor] I recall our blessed Lord said: here is a new commandment I give to you. That you love one another as I loved you. Surely it is not blasphemy to take that message to the shores of Africa or across the ocean sea.

Movie Connections:

Version of Alba de América (1951)

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet...?"

Christopher Columbus: The Discovery a swashbuckler? Is it a revisionist history? A celebration? Condemnation? All or none of the above? Well, yes it is, and that's just part of the problem.

To be honest, it's not really THAT bad. It's not that good, but it's not that bad. Aspiring to Warner Bros. in the 30s to evoke the spirit of Errol Flynn, but only making it to Fox in the 50s and their Richard Conte Deluxe-CinemaScope costumers, the Salkinds' much ridiculed version is not quite as moronic as its reputation would imply.

Many of the key incidents Ridley Scott omitted are to be found here: the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, Colon's ineptitude leading to the wrecking of one of his ships, with the relationship between him and the Spanish Court much more convincingly essayed. To Ferdinand, the New World means finance, to Isabella, converts. Both are allowed more depth than in 1492: Conquest of Paradise; Isabella in particular is penned in far more detail than Sigourney Weaver's conspiratorial flirt. Sadly, this high-point of the script brings the low point of the casting, to hysterical effect.

Isabella may have been a gung-ho Catholic zealot not averse to having a few hundred heretics tortured to death, but it's hard to believe she was quite as jolly hockey sticks as Rachel Ward's head girl of the chalet school incarnation here. On the other hand, as the king, Tom Selleck, the poor deer, wanders through it all like a man emerging from a serious road accident, aware of his wounds but too numb to take it all in. You just can't help feeling sorry for him.

Other casting is similarly erratic. Although hardly memorable, Marlon Brando's Torquemada is at least allowed a motive and rationale for his cruelty that is very much of the time. Robert Davi and Oliver Cotton are both very good in drastically underwritten roles, but Nigel Terry, whose ham acting has near-ruined many a good film, makes the most of the opportunity to ruin a naff one by undermining many of their scenes. A young Catherine Zeta Jones here seems dead set on being the next Rachel Ward: with her disturbing tendency to stare at the ceiling in moments of high emotion as if waiting for a song cue, she is just part of the scenery.

Yet the odd thing about The Discovery is that while critics were quick to sneer in anticipation of Ridley Scott's version, it actually comes down much harder on its hero. George Corraface's Columbus has a much nastier side to him than Depardieu's victim of snobbery and class warfare; whereas Scott constantly found or invented excuses, here the explorer has the kind of contradictory fanaticism that sees no need of them, as capable of exploitation and cruelty as of great dreams, and certainly more mercenary in his motives. If Depardieu's incarnation fails his dream for all the right reasons, Corraface's succeeds for all the wrong ones, and he is good enough in these later scenes to dispel at least some of the memory of his incessant would-be dashing grinning of the first half.

But the darker side is never tapped by either the confused script or John Glen's painting by numbers direction. The photography is distinctly available light - there is no vision or style here, and despite the higher budget it looks cheaper than its main rival. The New World seems to be little more than a stretch of highly desirable beachfront property ripe for timeshare development, making it hard to see what all the fuss was about. Only Cliff Eidelman's rich and sweepingly romantic score attains the epic status the film aspires to.

Too old-fashioned (or not old-fashioned enough) for its own good, this may have made marginally more than 1492 at the US box-office, but it's no surprise that it's now no more than a footnote to Scott's film (which itself is no more than a footnote to Scott's career these days).