1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writer:

Roselyne Bosch (scenario)

Release Date:

9 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

Centuries before the exploration of space, there was another voyage into the unknown.

Plot:

Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas and the effect this has on the indigenous people.

Plot Keywords:

Christopher Columbus | New World | Bare Chested Male | Child Nudity | Male Rear Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Christopher Columbus
Armand Assante	...	Sanchez
Sigourney Weaver	...	Queen Isabella I.
Loren Dean	...	Older Fernando Columbus
Ángela Molina	...	Beatrix Enriquez
Fernando Rey	...	Antonio de Marchena
Michael Wincott	...	Adrian de Moxica
Tchéky Karyo	...	Martín Alonso Pinzón
Kevin Dunn	...	Captain Mendez
Frank Langella	...	Luis de Santángel
Mark Margolis	...	Francisco de Bobadilla
Kario Salem	...	Arojaz
Billy L. Sullivan	...	Young Fernando Columbus
John Heffernan	...	Brother Buyl
Arnold Vosloo	...	Guevara

Also Known As:

1492 (Australia)
1492: Christophe Colomb (France)
1492: La conquête du paradis
1492: La conquista del paraíso (Spain)

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

France | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | France:U | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Costa Rica

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Screenwriter Roselyne Bosch got the idea for the project when she discovered millions of untranslated parchments while researching an article on Columbus. After joining forces with a French film executive, she finally found an interested director in Ridley Scott, who had always wanted to make a movie about Columbus. Scott agreed to direct the film on one condition: Columbus must be played by Gérard Depardieu. Depardieu was contacted, and eager to take the part.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film makes reference to three voyages, stating that the second voyage was the one in which Columbus fell out of favor; the epilogue says that Columbus took a third and final voyage to America. Actually, Columbus made four voyages. The second voyage tarnished Columbus's reputation, but it was the third voyage which proved to be his downfall.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Young Fernando Columbus: Of all the words my father wrote - and there were many - I remember these the most: "Nothing that results from human progress is achieved with unanimous consent. And those who are enlightened before the others are condemned to persue that light in spite of others."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Alien³' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Amazonia

Brilliant and spectacular portrayal of the greatest explorer

500 years ago, Spain was a nation gripped by fear and superstition. Ruled by the crown and a ruthless inquisition that persecuted men for daring to dream. One man named Christopher Colombus(Depardieu) challenged this power.Following the theories of Marino De Tiro and Toscanelli and driven by his sense of destiny, he left his lover Beatriz(Angela Molina) and crossed the sea of darkness in search of honor, gold and the greater glory of God. He discovers America along with Martin Alonso Pinzon(Tcheky Karyo) and sets off on various voyages. In 1502 Columbus sailed with his son Fernando on his last travel to the New World . They landed in Panama where the Indians revealed to them the existence of a new sea- The Pacifican Ocean.The biography that Fernando(Loren Dean)wrote about his father restored the name of Columbus to its place in history, but the glory had been taken by also Italian Americo Vespuccio.In 1992, his descendant Christopher Columbus is an Admiral in the Royal Spanish Navy. Life has more imagination that we carry in our dreams.

This is a historical biography of the 15th discoverer made for the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage. It deals about his discovery of America, his fighting against enemies(Michael Wincott, Mark Margolis) and the fame that first greeted him . The man who explored the New World is shown in all his flawed complexity in this film. Colombus is well portrayed in a good acting by Gerard Depardieu who takes a contemporary approach as an ambitious adventurer who finally gets the Queen of Spain(Sigourney Weaver) along with a banker(Frank Langella) to agree to finance his voyage. Shot on location Salamanca(Spain) and Caribbean islands glamorously photographed by Adrian Biddle. Stirring and emotive musical score by Vangelis(chariots of fire). The motion picture is brilliantly directed by Ridley Scott, a super-productions expert(Gladiator, Kingdom of heaven).

Another adaptations about this historic character are the following: Christoher Columbus(1949) with Fredric March,Florence Eldridge and directed by David McDonald; Columbus(1985) with Gabriel Byrne, Faye Dunaway and directed by Alberto Lattuada; The Discovery(1992) by John Glenn with George Corraface and Marlon Brando; and TV version by Vittorio Cottafavi with Francisco Rabal as Colombus.