Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: CENTENNIAL: THE COMPLETE SERIES (DVD MOVIE)
EAN: 0025195031776
Format: Box set
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: Universal Studios
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
MPN: 61103921
Number Of Items: 6
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-07-29
Running Time: 1252
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 1978-10-01

Journey to the Wild West in the sweeping sensational epic drama Centennial: The Complete Series! Relive the grand hopes dreams loves and adventures of generations of residents in Centennial Colorado - from their risky attempts to establish a settlement in 1795 through the politics and power plays of the 20th century. With over 26 TV hours of content on DVD for the first time this incredible set gives fans the opportunity to own the complete chronicle that showcases one of the finest casts ever assembled including Richard Chamberlain Robert Conrad Timothy Dalton Mark Harmon Andy Griffith Raymond Burr Dennis Weaver Lynn Redgrave Sharon Gless Stephanie Zimbalist Sally Kellerman and many more. Based on James Michener s best-selling novel this Primetime Emmy®Award-nominated saga is a captivating look at the intertwining lives of the brave men and women in a fictional American town that endured the growing pains of a nation on the rise.System Requirements:Running Time: 1252 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025195031776 Manufacturer No: 61103921
A remarkably ambitious and engrossing project, this 1978 television miniseries ran 26-and-a-half hours, cost a then-enormous $25 million, and involved 4 directors, 5 cinematographers, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 speaking parts. Based on James Michener's panoramic bestseller about the settling of the American West--as reflected in the history of a fictional town called Centennial, Colorado--the story begins in the late 18th century and ends with a typical 20th century conflict over land usage. Centennial, however, largely concentrates on various memorable frontiersmen, trappers, Indians, ranchers, cowboys, and farmers from long ago. Richard Chamberlain shines as the pioneer Alexander McKeag, Robert Conrad does some of his best work as French-Canadian Pasquinel, and performances by Alex Karras, Chad Everett, Sally Kellerman, Raymond Burr, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, and Dennis Weaver effectively add to a tapestry of adventure, tragedy, violence, and dubious Western progress. Produced at a time when TV networks were in the throes of acknowledging America's history of racial injustice, the program paints a starkly villainous portrait of opportunists exploiting and destroying Indians in the name of manifest destiny. While the project's great length might make one wary of diving in, Centennial is the sort of carefully paced drama that makes one care about the intertwined destinies of unique characters and how they illuminate America's past. --Tom Keogh

Customer Rating:
Summary: Magnificence
Comment: I agree 100% with everyone's postings and reviews on Centennial. It is by far one of the best, if not the best mini series to air on television. I have watched this mini series countless times and have my personal VHS recording of it. I was ecstatic at the announcement that finally Centennial was to be released on DVD. I am, however, very disappointed that Universal left out so much of the original version ... the prayer Lame Beaver's father taught him, Levi's rescue by Lucinda, their marriage and McKeag's death, and Lucinda's education in St Louis to mention a few. To my disappointment, at least 2 hours were omitted. I am happy to have the DVD copy, but I will burn my VHS to a DVD in order to have the COMPLETE mini series as it aired. I hope in the future Universal will not advertise a release as "complete" when it is not.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Something Missing
Comment: I remember watching this mini-series on television when it was first aired and decided to rush out and buy the book by Michener which I immediately goobled up. A great and book and a great program, which does justice to the long novel. They don't make them like that any longer, as the age of teh great miniseries has gone.
One problem with the set as i would have given it 5 stars, it advertises on the box "Bonus Features", a retropspective look, but it's not part of the six DVD set, has anyone else noticed it, is there something wrong with this, I wouls love to see the interviews etc.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: almost excellent
Comment: Of course, we love the mini series, but the dvd quality was not what we expected. Occasionally, it will go several degrees darker then lighten up again. It can be annoying.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Centennial
Comment: Centennial: The Complete Series
I am absolutely overjoyed that this fabulous video epic is now available on DVD. I have owned the VHS collection for over 10 years now, and have been anxiously awaiting its release on DVD.

The story is big, the characters are engrossing, the scenery fabulous, and the cast stellar and enormous. For the 1978, this was a huge TV production that, in my opinion, has yet to be surpassed by any other mini-series to date.

Other reviews I have read about the DVD release have mentioned poor transferrence from video to DVD - I have to disagree. I don't have a big, new, flat-panel widescreen to watch this on (just a regular, and now old-fashioned, 50-something inch TV), and from what I can see, the picture is great. The colors are rich, the picture is crystal-clear, and it looks newer and better than when I first saw the show in 1978-79.

The only thing I wish they had included in this box set would be cast interviews (if it's already there, I apologize for the error - but I have yet to find it), directors comments, etc.

Other than that, I couldn't be happier to have this long-awaited mini-series on DVD and in my possession. As Lame Beaver's uncle told him, "Only the rocks live forever" - but a story this big and great, told in such an unforgettable, engaging way, certainly could as well.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent transfer, Excellent story telling.
Comment: Transfer to DVD excellent. Sound was not that good to begin with, and has not improved, but you know, it's a TV movie, so what do you expect. The story is Michener at his best, which makes all 20+ hours great. The acting is uneven - the good TV actors are very good, and the bad TV actors are, well, bad. Conrad good, Ansara good, Karras good, Harrison good, Pleaseence good, Keith good, Jannsen good, Chamberlin good, Weaver good. The rest are so so.

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