Information
- BFI identifier26205
- Date1949 (Copyright)
1949-09-05 (Release) - Production countryUnited Kingdom
- Production company
- SynopsisThe voyages of Christopher Columbus. (Synopsis)
- Work historyProduction The production of Christopher Columbus was fraught with difficulties. Neither Sydney nor Muriel Box were keen on the idea, but were forced into the production by Rank who had paid a large sum of money for the story rights. The location shooting - in and around Barbados - was a disaster, quite literally. The construction of the Santa Maria (and presumably the Nina) at the same time as the studio filming at Shepperton proved satisfactory. However, the launch of the Santa Maria did not bode well. As she was launched and sent off down the slipway by the wife of the Governor of Barbados and a bottle of champagne, she stopped and remained there for ten days until she was dragged into the sea. The steam yacht Valena, used as a base by the crew and used for photographing action scenes, then rammed the Santa Maria. Later the Santa Maria followed the example of the original ship. The rocking mechanism of the Santa Maria collapsed; the ship caught fire and was a complete write off - at a cost of £100,000. The location shooting was hampered by the tropical heat. The photographer, Cyril Knowles had to use the local gaol to keep the technicolour film cool. Fredric March and his "crew" languished under their heavy authentic costumes and armour. March's wife, Florence Eldrige, had managed to set fire to her face while doing studio work. Trouble even extended to the parrots. One parrot had too broad a north country accent, while another shouted "tea break" during a dramatic scene. Faced with such disasters and problems, the cost of the shoot had to be reduced. After the loss of the Santa Maria, half the cast and nearly all of the photographic unit were sent home to save costs and reduce expenditure. A new "crew" was hired in Barbados. The press book claims most of the shooting was actually over when this happened. Photography concentrated on the Nina - standing in for the Santa Maria. However, she too had disasters. She was "lost at sea" not once, but twice. On the second occasion, after an air-sea rescue search, she was discovered 100 miles from her original location, her crew suffering badly from sea-sickness. She was towed back to Barbados and is today tied up in the harbour of Bridgetown. It is clear from reading the post-production script and the third draft of the screenplay dated 12/3/1948 that major changes occurred in the script, perhaps even during filming. The more noteworthy changes include; the loss of a prologue in which Columbus rescues a dying sailor from a shipwreck and is told of sailing 28 days east and sighting land; the murder of his wife after leaving the court of King John of Lisbon. These two scenes were then followed by what became the opening of the actual film ie the arrival at the Monastery of Rabida. Pre-production must have begun on the prologue as Sonia Holm was contracted to play the part of Columbus' wife. Interestingly in the early scenes of the film Columbus wears a distinctive locket bearing the portrait of a woman - a reference perhaps to his dead wife. The locket disappears by the time Columbus arrives at court. A further sequence seems to have been dropped from the film. In the third draft screenplay, Columbus is attacked by the Portuguese when beginning his voyage. He is forced to set sail for the Canaries to effect repairs. Here Columbus strikes up a friendship with the Governor - Beatriz. Flora Robson was also set to play a part in the film - this may have been the part of Beatriz. The cost of the production was put at £500,000. Critical reception The film was a critical failure, as the Boxes had feared. As Muriel Box wrote, "..a really harsh trouncing by the critics...it seemed thoroughly deserved" Most critics agreed the film looked wonderful even lavish, though some felt it looked a little too stylish, especially the costumes, as one critic says, "the aristocracy were far too busy working out colour schemes for their old Spanish costumes". Most of the criticism centred on the dullness of the plot and lack of narrative drive and adventure. Other criticism focused on the pro-American script and flavour of the production. As Elspeth Grant wrote, "It should be a wow in America. It's just a woe to me". Versions There are three documented versions:- "Version one: which has the shortened reels 3A and 3B. Version two: which has the shorter ending Version three: which has the long ending. This script is based on the full length reels 3A and 3B and on the short ending, as this is the export version". From Post Production Script The major change in the versions is the ending. The short ending (version two) has Columbus reinstated by the King and Queen, him leaving their presence and telling Juana he will be remembered longer than the monarchs as he walks down a corridor. The longer version (version three) has a distinctly American feel and has two sailors (Derek Bond and Niall McGinnis?) informing Columbus of the great nation his discovery will give rise to, complete with quotes from Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Helpfully, the post production script includes a shot list and dialogue for the longer ending. The shorter reels 3A and 3B are more problematic. From the post-production script it is unclear how the reels are shorter. However, from a viewing of Archive material it seems that the shorter reel 3A stops at scene 11 (166ft) with Columbus being told to leave the court by Bobadilla. The long reel 3A continues with Columbus returning to the Monastery of Rabadin, talking to Father Perez; Father Perez visiting the Queen and interceding on behalf of Columbus; and Columbus making his demands from the Royal Commission. Reel 3B (ie the longer version of reel 3B) then continues, this has Bobadilla informing Columbus of the refusal of the court to sanction his voyage and Columbus leaving court. The shorter reels 3A and 3B miss out the above scenes, moving from Bobadilla telling Columbus to leave the court; a new scene is inserted whereby Juana informs the Queen that Columbus has left for France. The story then returns to Reel 3B and the Queen having an audience with Father Perez and the Chancellor at which she recalls Columbus. Interestingly, the Archive also has an extra series of scenes involving an assassination attempt on Columbus, though this does not seem to be documented in the post-production script. This scene is placed immediately before Columbus sets off for Rabadin. Effectively then, the Archive's original viewing copy has the shorter reels 3A and 3B and the shorter ending - an amalgamation of "Version one" and "Version two" according to the post-production script. Press screening 10/6/1949 - which seems to have been the `American' version. Released in the UK 5/9/1949. Released in the USA October 1949 References ANSTEY, Edgar et al (Ed). 'Shots in the dark: A Collection of reviewers' opinions of some of the leading films released 1949-1951. 1951 p. 59-61 BOX, Muriel. Odd woman out: an autobiography. 1974 p. 196-197 HECK-RABI, Louise. Women filmmakers: a critical reception. 1984. p. 162-165
- Genre
- CreditsDirected by: David MacDonald
©: General Film Distributors
Production Company: Gainsborough Pictures
view all - CastFredric March (Christopher Columbus)
Florence Eldridge (Queen Isabella)
Francis L. Sullivan (Francisco de Bobadilla)
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Title
Christopher Columbus (Original)
EIDR identifier
10.5240/53AD-4AE6-9524-A8B9-3F35-JCategory
FictionThis work is included in the BFI Filmography.
- Collections
- Film / Video
35mm Colour Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
35mm Colour Positive - Safety - Mixed - Viewing
35mm Colour Positive - CTA - Mute - Viewing
view all - Scripts / DocumentsMusic Cue Sheet (Special Collections) - MUS-273
Script - Script type: Post Production Script - SCR-2622
Script - Script type: Third draft of screenplay - SCR-5553
Script - Script type: Post production script - SCR-5554
Ephemera: publicity - PBS-26205
Medium and small pressbooks held. Music Cue Sheet Held.
view all - Posters / Designs
- StillsPhotograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1237067
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1237068
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1237069
Photograph: film still - Portrait - SPD-1237070
Photograph: transparency - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00o-0m3
view all - ArticlesMotion Picture Herald v177 n3 15 Oct 1949 - Credits, ReviewToday's Cinema v72 n5816 15 Jun 1949 - Credits, ReviewVariety 22 Jun 1949 - Credits, ReviewToday's Cinema v72 n5819 22 Jun 1949 - Reviewview all
- +Christopher Columbus
Work - 26205 - 1949 (Copyright)
United Kingdom - Film - Fiction
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