Marlon Brando Movie:

Christopher Columbus: The Discovery Reviews:
Watch for the Birds
2008-03-01 - C. Columbus: The Discovery DVD


This movie is probably the most historically accurate film that I've seen, so far, on Christopher Columbus. Contrary to what you might have been taught in elementary school the intelligentsia did not think the world was flat. They thought the world was round and was approximately 25,000 miles in circumference at the equator. Columbus thought the circumference at the equator was more like 18,000 miles. (25,000 is correct) Since Marco Polo had traveled by land to Cathay(China) going East for about 12,000 miles, all he would have to do was sail West for 6,000 miles and voila he'd arrive in the Indies. Well, he was wrong, but got lucky and hit the New World instead. I think it is pretty arrogant to say that Columbus "discovered" the New World. One would think the Indios did that.

Anyhow it is a good movie. Tom Selleck plays the King of Aragon, Marlon Brando gives a credible performance as the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada.


Warning some bare breast of the native females, but tastefully done.

Recommended for students that want a historically accurate version of the discovery of the New world. Not the typical PAP they teach.

Gunner March, 2008


A fun romp!
2005-11-15 - This great swashbuckler is completely underrated! Made in the style of the 1940s adventures with Tyrone Power, this film is fun and exciting and I definitely recommend it. And the cast! It's so cool to see the great Brando pass the proverbial torch to next generation actors Benecio Del Toro and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Rachel Ward is excellent as Queen Isabella and Robert Davi is superb. People expected to get a serious drama about Columbus but what they got was much more fun and for this people complain? The shots are beautiful, filmed on the open seas, and the adventure is non-stop. I watched it again this this Columbus Day- what a treat!

more fun than I anticipated
2005-06-29 - Chris Columbus "get's it on" with Catherine Zeta Jones aboard his ship, charms Queen Rachel Ward, and finds himself threatened by swords, sabotage, sharks, storms, a scowling Selleck, and a very scary Brando. I loved every minute of it. The Discovery isn't a dry history lesson, but it is a damn good time.

old fashioned high spirited adventure
2004-12-08 - If this had only been made a few decades earlier it would have surely been a classic. This is a fine swashbuckling adventure that I've found myself watching time and again when I wanted an old fashioned adventure on the high seas. If you love the Crimson Pirate and Captain Blood then you should give this a look. I hope it's released on DVD one of these days.

surprisingly enjoyable!
2004-10-22 - Since Brando's passing I've been watching many of his films and I just watched the much maligned Christopher Columbus which I'd read nothing but bad press about. I wasnt expecting very much but to my surprise this a GREAT film. Perhaps there's too much swash and not enough buckle for some but in my book it's just the right combination of adventure, history, romance, and legend.
SUPERB!