Per Johnsen When the Norwegian Broadcasting channel NRK sent Centennial back in 1978 or maybe 1979, there was no other TV channel in Norway. If there were, absolutely nothing could have kept me away from attending a new episode every Saturday evening. I was totally glued to the screen, waiting to see what happened to Pasquinel or McKeag, and perhaps most of all, to get a glimpse of Clay Basket, played by the beautiful Barbara Carrera. I believe many young boys were in love with Clay Basket, at least I was. In fact I was in love with the whole idea of getting such a large peace of American history into my life. Back then we were used to western series like Gunsmoke and Alias Smith & Jones, both popular and exciting but oh so romantic, still the basics for a common boy's play that we simply called - to play cowboy, mainly having a broad hat, a gun and a gun belt, shooting each other, and being dead while counting to a hundred. Besides that both many boys and girls read a popular cartoon called - Silver Arrow, a semi realistic western series about a young Kiowa chief and his friends, out on weekly adventures in an historical factually based, but still imaginary world.It was quite educational, and the Centennial came along. It set a very new standard to the historical basics. It really was a revolution, not only in the historical perspective, but the characters, the scenery, the coloring, it was like never seen before, and so true to cultural history. No silly headbands on fake Indians, but Arapaho, Pawnee, Cheyenne and Lakota people as they actually appeared, and top of it all, with a story told from their perspectives. It was more than what an eleven year old boy could ever ask for. It's both hard and easy now to imagine how it was without internet streaming, video - simply no other possibility to watch it than when sent on TV. Back then I carefully put all other things aside to follow a new episode, but later I have seen it at least twice on YouTube, and now also on DVD, borrowed from the library. Oh, how fantastic it is to see it once again, digitally restored and being able to rewind and really get to really the bottom of it all. With certain cultural changes in denominations and the necessity of using actual native language, Centennial in all matters has withstood the time since it was made. It could not have been made better, perhaps much because the TV version has been true to a remarkable original book, but also because it's epic film and TV historical drama at it's very very best.

chas437 I was a history major in college, but I'll admit I'm not a fan of historical fiction.I was bored over the 4th of July weekend, so I watched as much of this monstrosity as I could handle.Let me say that the subject matter is compelling. I believe this is the reason for so many positive reviews here. The idea of two young people with nothing to live for in the oppressive climate of early 18th century, setting out for the American West with nothing to their names is indeed romantic.The issues with this massive mini-series are acting, production value, and screen writing. The actors all seem be from a stable TV actors of late-1970s, which is to say that the acting in Centennial is poor to mediocre. Robert Conrad is painful to watch as the little French trapper. I can't think of a single actor from this rather extensive cast who was ever successful in film.The production value is that of a TV movie, in other words, its tends to be like a series of old TV westerns strung together. We are treated to cliché after cliché, bar room brawls, old West style shootouts, cowboy/Indian battles, etc.In keeping with the B-rate acting and cheesy production, the writing is amateurish at best. The final episode with David Janssen preaching about the noble Indian is absolutely laughable. This episode should have been omitted and knocks the entire mini-series down a few notches.The one redeeming part of Centennial was that it gave voice to the Native American experience during the days of Manifest Destiny. But, like other elements of the mini-series, this is clumsily written and at times borders on the comedic.Lastly, for god's sake, get Native American actors to play Native American characters!

Poseidon-3 Staggering is a good word to describe this mammoth, epic miniseries which traces the birth of a Colorado town from the first time a white man sets foot on in up to the present day (of the time it was filmed.) The story is multi-generational, beginning with French-Canadian trapper Conrad and continuing on with his descendants and those of people he knew. Conrad and best pal Chamberlain's story eventually gives way to Pennsylvania Dutch pioneer and trader Harrison's, which in turn passes the torch to Dalton and his 6,000,000 acre ranch and then to town sheriff Keith and so on, before landing in 1978 with Janssen's bid at a political career. Along the way, many vignettes depict the vast changes, conflicts and hurdles, which affected the birth and growth of the town and its inhabitants. The cast is nothing short of jaw dropping with a plethora of notable television series stars appearing for either long or short stretches of time. Conrad, Chamberlain, Everett, Harrison, Weaver, Karras and Keith all get strong roles that afford them the chance to shine. There are several women, however, who also get to play terrific parts. Carrera is unforgettably gentle and beautiful as an Indian maiden, Zimbalist is wondrous as Harrison's determined wife and Redgrave has one of the best parts of her career as an English girl who transforms over time to a powerful and important pillar of the community. Naturally, there are a few folks who don't measure up in the acting department as well. Some of the smaller roles are essayed by people with limited thespian ability and McHattie is outrageously bad and over the top as Conrad's rebel Indian son. Also, Carlson, as Conrad's white daughter, and Raines, as his Indian one, have flat, unenthusiastic voices and give bland performances. Mostly, though, the cast is strong, although several actors are forced, due to the longevity of their characters in the storyline, to endure some really obvious, even shoddy, age makeup. Sadly, some folks, such as former screen hunks Walker, Rivero and Williams, get short shrift and barely appear at all. Among the more memorable sequences are Harrison and Zimbalist's trouble-plagued trip west, Weaver's taxing and dangerous cattle drive, the scheming of actors Zerbe, Nettleton and McKeon and the love story between Redgrave and her ranch hand Atherton. In truth, the miniseries could have ended one night early, with the prophetic words of Redgrave to her grandson, but it did not and so a lengthy and somewhat dull finale included Griffith, Janssen and Gless chewing over environmental issues with shady Vaughn. Exciting and dramatic sequences of the earlier hours segue into watching a red Ford truck follow Griffith and Gless around a muddy construction site, as if the driver and his pal could hear anything anyway! This, paired with the needless and protracted flashbacks, leaves a mildly unpalatable taste in the mouth. However, the bulk of the series is terrific, capped off by some great musical scoring by John Addison. Somewhere in the mêlée of period St. Louis (actually a redressed Augusta, KY riverfront) is teenage George Clooney as an extra townsperson! And where else can one find Dr. Kildare, Dr. Joe Gannon, Dr. Gonzo Gates, Dr. Sam Loomis, Dr. Sam Quinn, Dr. Buck James, Dr. Richard Kimble and Dr. Bobby Caldwell all in the same program?!

raykilleen Absolutely the finest thing ever done on TV. Book was great, and mini-series beyond description it was so good. I teach American History and show parts of it from time to time during the year. My students love it! I have former students stop by once in awhile and one of the first things they ask is I still show CENTENNIAL. When I put it on the weekly agenda they get very excited. Great story and much of it is historically accurate (Rendevzous, French fur traders, Skimmerhorn's Raid {Sand Creek Massacre}, Jim Bridger, cattle drives just to name few. Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, Sally Kellerman (gorgeous), etc. do a great job of acting. I am buying the DVD when it comes out as a gift for my grown son. He is 35 yrs old and loves it as much a I do.