Centennial

"Centennial" is a great mini-series to discover America… It goes over a span of 200 years…It's about Pasquinel, a solitary trader with the Indians, who made his way through territory no white man has ever traveled, defending his trade and his life… It's about a man from Scotland who had come seeking solitude, but he found friendship and love… His name was Alexander McKeag… It's about the legendary Arapaho leader, Lame Beaver, who knew that the coming of the white man was the beginning of change…

"Centennial" is also about strong men, men of destiny and vision… It's also about stubborn men who only saw little in the windy, water-shy stretch of plains to stop for on their trek to a new place called Oregon…

"Centennial" is also about men of integrity like the young Mennonite named Levi Zendt who could not know it at the time that he was destined to leave the home he loved and share the dream of Alexander McKeag… It's about traders like Zendt, and soldiers like Maxwell Mercy… It's about men of honor, like Major Mercy who worked tirelessly to bring about a lasting peace… Men of vision like the stubborn German from the Volga named Hans Brumbaugh, who had walked from St. Louis to find gold… It's about the Englishman Oliver Seccombe, who would found an empire from the dream of a lifetime… A ranch that would spread from the Rocky Mountains on the west to the Nebraska border with Longhorns driven north from Texas by John Skimmerhorn and R. J. Poteet…

"Centennial is about many more characters like Clay Basket, the fiery Indian woman who shared the life Pasquinel loved best; Lise Bockweiss, the golden-haired lady of St. Louis; Pasquinel brothers whose names would strike terror into the hearts of all white men who thought of crossing the plains; Frank Skimmerhorn, the obsessed militia colonel who led a disgraceful massacre against Cheyenne chief, Broken Thumb; the frontier lawman Alex Dumire who would fall prey to a kind of crime the presence of his badge and gun could not prevent; the traveling actors, Mervin and Maude Wendell who founded its fortune power and prestige on stolen money and a murder

I strongly agree that Centennial is arguably the best mini-series ever made. The production is top drawer, with wonderful locations, costumes, musical score, cast, and direction. It is at its best from the beginning up through the cattle drive segment, and weakens somewhat thereafter, especially at the end. This is a small criticism, however. The one particular thing that has always stuck in my mind over the years is the incredible, standout performance by Robert Conrad as Pasquinel. For most of his career, his best work was in lighter vehicles such as "The Wild, Wild West," and never distinguished by any particular depth of characterization. In the role of Pasquinel, however, Conrad delivered a performance of which any actor could be justly proud. He gives the character all of the realism and believability one could possibly want, and conveys the qualities, both good and bad, which make Pasquinel such a compelling figure. If only for that performance alone, Centennial is well worth watching.

Centennial is the greatest mini series ever produced and one of the finest westerns ever made, others being the Lonesome Dove series, Into The West and Dances With Wolves. The clothing for Centennial was authentic in detail (I have purchased items of like clothing from those who made some of the clothes for Centennial) and the locations were breathtaking. I read where Pasquinel was Robert Conrad's favorite role and that he displays a photograph of himself as Pasquinel on his piano. Centennial is truly "IT" for any western or western history buff. I have owned a decent copy recorded off of television (quite old) and have the boxed set on VHS. The GOOD NEWS is, I ran across information on line that the DVD boxed set of all 12 episodes is due out soon. The info didn't elaborate but I would assume (hope) that it will include lots of behind-the scenes and cast interviews. We'll see! Anyone interested can look for it on line or ask their local retailer. Once it's out I'm sure the public will be made aware of it. What a great thing to finally have a flawless, digital copy of this outdoor masterpiece....one that has no chance of being "eaten" by my player and has an indefinite shelf life with no color fading, age lines appearing or sound quality reduction occurring. HAPPY VIEWING!!!

I was in my senior year of high school when Centennial came on TV, and from the very first episode - I was hooked. I'd never read the book (but, I did afterwards), so it was all new to me and I just loved it. The whole story line, the characters and the actors and actresses that played them - it was just an incredible TV watching experience that I don't think has ever been equaled by anything else I've watch in all these years.

Robert Conrad, has always been one of my all time favorite actors, but as Pasquinel he was at his very best. Richard Chamberlain as McKeag - I loved his Scotsman's brogue. Barbara Carrera as Clay Basket loved by two men any woman would have been happy to have, and later torn by the love for her children. Richard Crenna's Colonel Skimmerhorn was a character to both hate and gleeful when he was disgraced. Dennis Weaver as R.J. Poteet on the cattle drive was so level headed and brave. Brian Keith, another all time favorite - I just loved Sheriff Dumire and his belief in law and order. Chad Everett, also another all time favorite of mine, his Major Maxwell Mercy was such a compassionate soldier just trying to do his job but also keep his integrity when it came to the issues of the Indians and the reservations. Gregory Harrison was new to me, but as Levi Zendt he was a wonderful character. I could go on and on about all of the characters, but I won't. Well, except I have to mention Mark Harmon - good lord but he was so young and good looking back then and just starting out. When each beloved character died, I would feel so sad - for some I even cried, like I had just lost one of my own friends, that's how immersed I became in the story and the characters.

There were so many great characters, with an incredible cast. Over the years I found myself keeping track of most of the actors/actresses and their careers - like Mark Harmon for example - I think he is aging very well. I loved Brian Keith in Hardcastle & McCormick, and I cried when they reported his death.

As soon as video tapes became so popular I waited for Centennial to come out in video - and as soon as it did, I bought it. Whenever today's news and world chaos gets me down, and I feel the need for some mental piece - I sit down and put in a tape and I'll go back in time, to when America was young. My parents also like to borrow the video set.

What I would like to know now is when will it come out in DVD! My video tapes are getting a little worn. It has to come out in DVD! What is taking them so long? Everything else is coming out in DVD, why not Centennial? In fact I was checking to see if it was out in DVD yet, when I came across this website and read everyone's comments. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who loved the show so much.

And now after all this reminiscing, I think I'll have to get the tapes back from my parents so I can spend a weekend watching it again.

Kelly Lake Ariel, PA

I read the book Centennial in 1976 when it was first published in hardback. Its the only book I ever read that kept me up all night. A truly amazing story of the west, as it really was.

I missed the mini series in 1978 for some reason and just happened to see it available in the public library and took it in in one gulp. All I can say is WOW! What have I been missing all these years. Thank god for home video.

This is as close to a perfect presentation of Michener's novel as I could ever imagine. If you are in love with the west and it's history you will love every minute you spend watching this delightful program. It's characters capture every nuance of those in the novel. Romance, treachery, adventure, loyalty, history, the whole spectrum of humanity is here and well done too. And a word about the cast. How was it possible to assemble such a grand group. Just terrific. The only thing done lately to compare with this is "Gods and Generals".

If you love history I recommend it to you.