Capitaine James Cook

I haven't seen this in a while and was pleasantly surprised to find out it aired over the past few days. To my joy, it turns out that the series - remarkable at first sight - has aged wonderfully: the low-keyed, yet intensive enthusiasm is still there, as are some particularly beautiful sights of the ships in all sort of situations. The cramped, tense atmosphere aboard a ship and life and times in the Royal Marine are shown convincingly (I remember seeing years ago Master and Commander and thinking how much of that film seemed to have been inspired by this series) - and the acting is quite outstanding, Keith Mitchell and Jacques Penot coming to mind first, but certainly not being the only ones to have made a lasting impression.

The Arctic regions could have used better effects and the South Sea, New Zeeland etc. could certainly have offered some more outstanding locations, but that is really just a very minor complaint.

Peter Yeldham's "Captain James Cook" is notable in it's historical accuracy, beautiful cinematography and music. Keith Michell is well cast in the title role and portrays Cook as the humane and progressive British explorer that he was. While some dramatic license is taken in the interest of compressing the story for television, it is generally a faithful representation of Cook 's story. The supporting cast members portray actual historical figures and do so eloquently. John Gregg and Xabier Elorriaga are especially good in the roles of Joseph Banks and Lord Sandwich, respectively. This is one of TNT's better mini-series.

For some reason I find this series very intense. It begins in a rather light mood, I especially like the episodes on the first journey. Then the general undertone becomes darker and darker, and it is somehow hard to watch Cook's demise from an enthusiastic and able navigator into an irritable and unhappy man who seems to be unconsciously planning his own death. Somehow I got the impression that money became scarce after a while so that the Second and third journey really missed out in comparison to the presentation of the first one. Knowing a little bit about the facts I must say that one could have added more spice by including more remarkable incidents that took place during those journeys. Generally I love the acting and the cast - even though Keith Michell is about 20 years too old, as is John Gregg as Banks (the real Banks was 25 when he set out on the first journey). All the same: Keith Michell warms my heart as Cook, John Gregg is hilarious as Banks, as is Xabier Elloriaga as Sandwich. Those two especially obviously loved their parts. Elloriaga (I think it is in Part 4) is absolutely delicious as he "coaxes" Cook to agree to go on the third journey. I would have loved to see this in the original version!!!!

Very simply - a very good adventure series produced in 1987. Australian actor, Keith Michell (he was in his late fifties during the production) is solid as the brilliant Yorkshire adventurer - with gruff Yorkshire accent and syntax although he maybe lacks that 17th/18th-Century subtle and humane sense of the 'rococo' and 'Johnsonian'- this was the age of classical figures such as Bach, Handel, Humboldt and Defoe despite the horrors of the slave trade. Maybe the penetration of the Antarctic Circle by The Resolution in 1772-1773 could have have had more emphasis - surely one of the most ambitious and remarkable enterprises in modern history - along with the scenes in Brazil with The Endeavour which might have given the director a chance to show the abundance of the tropics in Latin America and views of the port of Rio. The scenes in Dutch Batavia during an outbreak of malaria are very evocative - the Dutch characters show purpose and look elegant 18th-Century costume. The music by Madrid-based composer, Jose Nieto who uses electronic keyboards is romantic and lush. Maybe excerpts from Bach and Handel could have been deployed? Spanish actor Fernando Rey (''The Light at the Edge of the World (1971) and ''Antony & Cleopatra'' (1972)) is quite good as the Head of the British Admiralty, Lord Hawke although I think his goatee-beard is anomalous.

I recorded this series when it was shown here in the UK in August 1990. I'm no expert on Captain Cook, but I just love this series which is visualy just soooo beautiful and to me realy evokes the wonder these explorers must have felt at discovering amazing new lands and peoples.

Having worked in London's British museum of natural history and having seen many of the original specimens brought back from Cook's voyages watching this series has certainly put flesh on the bones of of this truly great man who it is also very nice to know was a good natured humane fair commander of men as well.