"Marco Polo" (1982) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

16 May 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | War

Plot:

The life and experiences of the 13th-century explorer, who sought to connect the civilizations of China and Europe through trade.

Plot Keywords:

13th Century | China | Explorer | Cavalry | Mongolian

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 7 nominations

Cast

Ken Marshall	...	Marco Polo (1 episode, 1982)
Denholm Elliott	...	Niccolo Polo (1 episode, 1982)
Tony Vogel	...	Matteo Polo (1 episode, 1982)
F. Murray Abraham	...	Jacopo (1 episode, 1982)
Anne Bancroft	...	Marco's Mother (1 episode, 1982)
Riccardo Cucciolla	...	Uncle Zane (1 episode, 1982)
John Gielgud	...	Doge of Venice (1 episode, 1982)
John Houseman	...	Patriarch of Aquileia (1 episode, 1982)
Burt Lancaster	...	Pope Gregory X / ... (1 episode, 1982)
Tony Lo Bianco	...	Brother Nicholas (1 episode, 1982)
Ian McShane	...	Ali Ben Yussouf (1 episode, 1982)
Leonard Nimoy	...	Achmet (1 episode, 1982)
Ruocheng Ying	...	Kublai Khan (1 episode, 1982)
Sada Thompson	...	Aunt Flora (1 episode, 1982)
David Warner	...	Antonio 'Rustichello' Rustico (1 episode, 1982)
Mario Adorf	...	Giovanni (1 episode, 1982)
Hal Buckley	...	Brother William (1 episode, 1982)
John Dicks	...	Brother Philip (1 episode, 1982)
Georgia Slowe	...	Caterina (1 episode, 1982)
Marilù Tolo	...	Fiammetta (1 episode, 1982)
Patrick Mower	...	Brother Damian (1 episode, 1982)
Lin Lao	...	Bayan (1 episode, 1982)
Gordon Mitchell	...	Arnolfo (1 episode, 1982)
Sun Shulin	...	Argan (1 episode, 1982)
Jack Watson	...	Sailor (1 episode, 1982)

Runtime:

Brazil:270 min (edited version) | USA:600 min (including commercials) | Sweden:480 min (TV version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Company:

Cristaldi-Labella

Trivia:

Peter Firth, Michael Ontkean and Mandy Patinkin all turned down the lead role.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Leonard Nimoy: Spock and Beyond" (1996)

Cinemagraphic feast of adventure and pageantry for the eyes

This is one of the better Mini series to be put forth by made for t.v series, showing when t.v. studio production gets it right they get it right. If anyone knows where I can locate a video copy of this please let me know. It's a exquisite story based on the true life adventures and experiences of Marco Polo the Venetian explorer and traveler. It spell binds you to the true life adventures and times of Marco Polo. You are made aware of the intrigues both politcal and as well as economic that send Marco Polo on this long journey. You feel the horror, terror and devastation that the black plague brings to a Middle Eastern port city where death seems to abound around every corner. You feel the majesty and the pageantry of the Great Khan's court and the simple humanity of friendship, expressed between two human beings from different worlds, the Great Khan and Marco Polo. You see Leonard Nimoy in his in between days of Star Trek the t.v. series and the Star Trek bigscreen productions; as Ahmet the evil Muslim administrator in the court of the Great Khan who trys to destroy Marco Polo because he's a rising star in the court of the Great Khan. This is one panoramic, cinemagraphic feast for the eyes truly a miniseries masterpiece and I don't say that lightly. This production could easily serve as historic docu-drama of the life and times of Marco Polo it entertains as well as educates. NBC the originating broadcaster needs to dig into there vaults and dust this one off and let a new generation experience the passion, the majesty and the adventure that is Marco Polo.