Centennial

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.

I will join the list of saying this is the best mini-series every put on film and, today, any part of it would make an excellent movie! To say every actor plays his/her role to perfection is probably too much, but it comes close. The picture of the American west is absolutely beautiful, so very realistic, so much detail. Robert Conrad and Richard Chamberlain are the ancestors we all wish to have. This book should be required reading for every high school kid in the USA (well, Michener wrote several that should be required reading!!) Gregory Harrison and Stephanie Zimbalist are beyond description in their roles as a young couple going west. While some find fault with the environmental ending, it is very true to what is happening in the west today--remember when this was written and filmed. Also, if you are fast, you can see a very young George Clooney in St Louis! Buy the DVD! This movie will never be made again. Watch it with your kids!

I watched WAY TOO MUCH T.V. in the 70's, but for lucky dogs like you that's cool! Centennial was probably my favorite mini of all of them! It covered generations of a few main families through 200yrs in Colorado, and was narrated awesomely by David Janssen, and had a mystery to boot! I don't have enough space to review this whole series, but here are a few notes: Yes, Robert Conrad and the first few episodes were the best in my opinion, and in the opinions of others on this site. His portrayal of Pasquinel was incredible. A French Canadian coming to America to hunt beaver and start a life here is the American dream! Just ask Arnold if you doubt me! Roots, Shogun (Richard C. was in that one too), and Shaka Zulu also were all excellent mini-series in this vein but Centennial hit home here in America. Not many of us can relate to the other three biggies, but Centennial was U.S. all the way. Other big name actors that did a great job in this were Andy Griffith, Alex Karras (Hans Brumbaugh, man he did a great job for a new actor!), Dennis Weaver, Dan Janssen, Crenna, Carrera, Chamberlain, Kellerman, Keith, Dalton, Vaughn, I could go on forever! A POWER cast indeed! What in the heck was the budget on this thing! Some library's have this, rent it now! Hopefully AMC will show this next year uncut for it's 25th Anniv. and hopefully it will also come out on a DVD set! I'll be the first in line!!! FLAMIO

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 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.