"Centennial" (1978) TV mini-series 1978-1979

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Writer:

James Michener (novel)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 October 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance | Western

Plot:

The economic and cultural growth of Colorado spanning two centuries from the mid-1700s to the late-1970s.

Plot Keywords:

Colorado | Dance | Granddaughter | Partner | Native American

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Raymond Burr	...	Herman Bockweiss (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Barbara Carrera	...	Clay Basket (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Chamberlain	...	Alexander McKeag (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Robert Conrad	...	Pasquinel (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Crenna	...	Colonel Frank Skimmerhorn (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Chad Everett	...	Major Maxwell Mercy (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Alex Karras	...	Hans Brumbaugh (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Brian Keith	...	Sheriff Axel Dumire (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Sally Kellerman	...	Lise Bockweiss (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Donald Pleasence	...	Sam Purchas (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Lynn Redgrave	...	Charlotte Buckland Seccombe (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Dennis Weaver	...	R.J. Poteet (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Stephen McHattie	...	Jacques 'Jake' Pasquinel (11 episodes, 1978-1979)
William Atherton	...	Jim Lloyd (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Timothy Dalton	...	Oliver Seccombe (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Cliff De Young	...	John Skimmerhorn (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Andy Griffith	...	Professor Lewis Venor (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Gregory Harrison	...	Levi Zendt (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
David Janssen	...	Narrator / ... (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Lois Nettleton	...	Maude Wendell (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Cristina Raines	...	Lucinda McKeag Zendt (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Robert Vaughn	...	Morgan Wendell (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Anthony Zerbe	...	Mervin Wendell (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jesse Vint	...	Amos Calendar (6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Sharon Gless	...	Sidney Endermann (5 episodes, 1979)
Les Lannom	...	Bufe Coker (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Kario Salem	...	Marcel 'Mike' Pasquinel (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Michael LeClair	...	Young Jim Lloyd (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Glynn Turman	...	Nate Person (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Gloria McMillan	...	Mrs. Brumbaugh (5 episodes, 1978-1979)

(more)

Series Directed by
Virgil W. Vogel		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Paul Krasny		(3 episodes, 1978)
Harry Falk		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Writing credits
John Wilder		(12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Charles Larson		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jerry Ziegman		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
James Michener		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
George E. Crosby	....	associate producer / producer (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Susan Lichtwardt	....	associate producer (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
John Wilder	....	executive producer (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Malcolm R. Harding	....	producer (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Richard Caffey	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1979)
Alex Beaton	....	supervising producer / producer (3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Howard P. Alston	....	producer (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Original Music by
John Addison		(12 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Cinematography by
Duke Callaghan		(7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Charles W. Short		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Film Editing by
Robert Watts		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Howard Deane		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
John Elias		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Parker		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ralph Schoenfeld		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Casting by
Mary Petterson		(12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Gino Havens		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Design by
Jack Senter		(11 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Art Direction by
Lloyd S. Papez		(5 episodes, 1979)
Mark W. Mansbridge		(4 episodes, 1978)
Sherman Loudermilk		(3 episodes, 1978)
Louis Montejano		(3 episodes, 1978)
John W. Corso		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Set Decoration by
Joseph J. Stone		(11 episodes, 1978-1979)
John M. Dwyer		(10 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Costume Design by
Helen Colvig		(12 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Production Management
Robert G. Stone	....	unit production manager (6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Burt Bluestein	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1978)
Sam Freedle	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1979)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Liberti	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Scott Maitland	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bruce L. Shurley	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1978)
Bob Jeffords	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1978)
Gary Grillo	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Art Department
Craig Binkley	....	property master (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Roy Barnes	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Brian Courcier	....	sound effects editor (10 episodes, 1978-1979)
Charlie King	....	sound (9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Edwin J. Somers Jr.	....	sound (3 episodes, 1978)
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Tex Hill	....	stunts (unknown episodes, 1978)
William H. Burton	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (unknown episodes)
David S. Cass Sr.	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunt indian (unknown episodes)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Neil Summers	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Orefice	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Herb Roberts	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Michael Simpson	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Sven Walnum	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Garrison True	....	location casting (5 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Ellsworth	....	costume supervisor (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Ron Meredith	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Dave Kahn	....	music editor (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Sally Kellerman	....	composer: song "Speak Low" (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Janice Welch	....	assistant to executive producer (1 episode, 1979)
John Grace	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Belgische Radio en Televisie (BRT) (1979) (Belgium) (TV)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

1256 min (12 episodes) (excluding commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

A young George Clooney is one of the village extras in the Raymond Burr episode.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The blizzard that hits Centennial and destroys the cattle herds takes place in the winter of 1889. In actuality, the storm that wiped out the cattle herds of the Great Plains took place in the winter of 1886 - 1887.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Walter Matthau (#4.7)" (1978)

Great

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.