Christopher Columbus (1949) on Netflix
NR19491h 39mActionAdventureBiographyDramaHistory
Christopher Columbus comes to Spain with his son, seeking backing for a voyage to India by sailing west. At court, Francisco de Bobadilla works against him.
- Netflix3.0/5
- IMDb5.9/10651 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Trailer
Plot summary
Christopher Columbus, a navigator from Genoa, arrives in Spain with his son and looks for backers for a voyage to India. Father Perez, who was once Queen Isabella's confessor, brings him to the royal court. There Columbus argues that the earth is a globe and that the East can be reached by sailing west. Francisco de Bobadilla opposes the plan and uses Beatriz to distract him. The court fears it will become a laughing stock, and the idea finds little welcome. Columbus keeps making his case until the Queen agrees to pay for ships and sends him off toward distant waters.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Christopher Columbus (1949)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The replica Santa María broke its moorings in a squall in the West Indies and drifted for two nights and a day with people on board before being rescued. Then a fire broke out and the ship burned.
- Before Fredric March was cast as Columbus, producer Sydney Box wanted a young, virile actor for the lead; Stewart Granger was mentioned and, in January 1947, Arturo de Córdova was announced as star.
- The Francoist Spanish government judged the film's portrait of Columbus unflattering, and the Spanish studio CIFESA answered with Dawn of America (1951), which showed him as a more daring figure.
- A romance subplot between Columbus and the sister of his lieutenant, played by Kathleen Ryan and Derek Bond, was added towards the end of shooting.
