1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

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

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writer:

Rose Bosch (scenario) (as Roselyne Bosch)

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Armand Assante, Sigourney Weaver

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Columbus
Armand Assante	...	Sanchez
Sigourney Weaver	...	Queen Isabel
Loren Dean	...	Older Fernando
Ángela Molina	...	Beatrix (as Angela Molina)
Fernando Rey	...	Marchena
Michael Wincott	...	Moxica
Tchéky Karyo	...	Pinzon (as Tcheky Karyo)
Kevin Dunn	...	Captain Mendez
Frank Langella	...	Santangel
Mark Margolis	...	Bobadilla
Kario Salem	...	Arojaz
Billy L. Sullivan	...	Fernando (aged 10) (as Billy Sullivan)
John Heffernan	...	Brother Buyl
Arnold Vosloo	...	Guevara

Storyline

Big budget account of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas. Released in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery. Shows the disastrous effects the Europeans had on the original inhabitants, and Columbus' struggle to civilize the New World.

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Plot Keywords:

new world | renaissance | year 1492 | caribbean sea | horseback riding | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for historical violence and brutality

Details

Country:

France Spain

Language:

Spanish Latin Arabic English

Release Date:

9 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Columbus

Filming Locations:

Plaza de San Jorge, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$47,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,002,680, 12 October 1992

Gross USA:

$7,191,399

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,191,399

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Légende Films, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

154 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (Eastman)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sigourney Weaver was always Ridley Scott's first choice to play Queen Isabella. However, when re-shoots for Alien³ (1992) were taking longer than expected, Anjelica Huston was considered for the role. Weaver became available only at the last minute.

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Goofs

Columbus didn't actually discover the Americas, he only discovered what would become known as the Caribbean.

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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."

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Alternate Versions

Laserdisc version runs about six minutes longer and includes the following:

• Christopher Columbus sits down to talk to his wife
• One man is bit by a deadly snake and dies
• Chistopher Columbus and his joke around about food
• The burnings are shown in close up shots
• Gun shot blast to the helmet is more graphic
• A stabbing features more blood

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Connections

Version of Christopher Columbus (1943)

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Soundtracks

Una Caza Chica
From the album "Romances"
Performed by Esther Lamandier
Disques Alienor
Distribution Harmonia Mundi

User Reviews

Brilliant and spectacular portrayal of the greatest explorer

This interesting film deals with Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas and the effect this has on the indigenous people . 500 years ago , Spain was a nation gripped by fear and superstition. Centuries before the exploration of space, there was another voyage into the unknown . Ruled by the crown and a ruthless inquisition that persecuted men for daring to dream. One man named Christopher Colombus (Gerard 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 packed with pomp and pageantry is lavishly produced by the prestigious Garth Thomas and Iain Smith ; being spectacular and brilliantly directed by Ridley Scott at his best and as stylish as ever . Ridley is an expert on super-productions and a successful filmmaker as proved in ¨Someone to watch over me¨ , ¨Blade runner¨, ¨Black rain¨ , ¨Legend¨ in which his visual style is impressive . The picture belongs to his speciality , the historical genre , as ¨Robin Hood¨ , ¨Black Hawk down¨ , ¨Kingdom of heaven¨ , ¨Gladiator¨ and ¨Duelists¨ . Rating : Above average . Essential and indispensable watching for Ridley Scott followers and historical cinema lovers .

Other adaptations about this historic character are the following : Christopher 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 Spanish/Italian TV version by Vittorio Cottafavi with Francisco Rabal as Colombus considered one of the best renditions about this immortal personage .