CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

UK, 1948, 104 minutes, Colour.
Fredric March, Florence Eldridge, Francis L. Sullivan.
Directed by David Mc Donald.

Christopher Columbus is a rather solemn British post-war biography of the famous explorer. Fredric March gives an earnest performance trying to communicate the intense vision of Columbus and his adventurous recklessness. Period re-creation is useful as well as the presentation of the geographical beliefs of the time. Useful history and biography.

1. Was this a successful historical epic? Why? Did it give good insight into history and the character of Columbus? How?

2. Comment on the documentary overtones of the film. The Commentary, picture of the Spanish court, details of Columbus' attempts to interest monarchs. details of his voyage? Was this a predominant note of the film?

3. How successful a character study of Columbus was the film? Did the film give enough of his background? of his attempts to interest the monarchs in his voyages? In his ambitions? In the achievement of his ambitions? In his seeming failure? (The omission of his death in poverty?)

4. What explained the drive in Columbus' vision and in his life? What grounds did he have for his belief in a New World? Why did they consume him so much? Which sequences best illustrated this?

5. How interesting a picture of the 15th century world did the film give? Life at the court, intrigue, the role of the church, the ambitions of nobles, the lot of the ordinary seaman, the ambitions of Spain etc.?

6. How successful was the film in communicating the frustrations for Columbus as he waited at court? The reasons for his having to wait? Wars vs exploration? The caprices of kings and queens etc.?

7. The importance of the relationship between Columbus and Fra Jose? The film opening with this? Our sympathising with Columbus through this? The pleas of Jose and the Chamberlain for Columbus' vision?

8. How well did the film communicate the personalities of the king and queen? The king as flirting with maids, taking advice from Bobadilla? The queen as more personal, her relationship with her husband, her capacity for ruling Spain, her interest in Columbus?

9. Was Bobadilla too obvious a villain? Why his scepticism? His rudeness to Columbus? His financial interest? His influence with his niece at court?

10. Were the romantic interludes helpful for the film? Columbus' attachment to the widow and her manoeuvring of him? Was this convincing? The wise advice of Beatrix at the Inn?

11. Was Diego's character well-defined? His wanting to be a notary? His interest in Columbus? The scene at the Tavern? His role in the voyages? His place in the New World?

12. How interesting were the voyages themselves? Columbus' drive and his tricks with the crew? What did this say about him?

13. The sailors themselves? The scepticism and the grizzling of the old man? The nature of the superstitions about the unknown world? The reality of the mutiny? Was it too providentially cut through? Did this give a genuine picture of the difficulties for Columbus? The uncertainty, the length of time, the wanting to find land?

14. How exhilarating was the discovery of the New World? What was your reaction to his taking the New World in the name of Spain? The colonial overtones of the film? Columbus and the Spaniards? convinced of their right? The natives? Their friendliness and trading? The duplicity of the Spaniards in tricking the natives? Bringing back natives to Spain? Columbus' triumph - was it well deserved?

15. How surprising was Columbus' failure as governor? How much was his fault? His lack of experience in this field? Were the king and queen right to relieve him of h-is duties? The irony and sadness of his being in chains? The comment on h-is success? was the queen right in her insight about his capacities?

16. How valuable are films like this in showing history and historical personalities?