Marco Polo (miniseries)

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Marco Polo
200px
Poster of Marco Polo
Genre Drama, History
Written by David Butler
Vincenzo Labella
Giuliano Montaldo
Directed by Giuliano Montaldo
Starring Kenneth Marshall
Denholm Elliott
Tony Vogel
F. Murray Abraham
Anne Bancroft
John Gielgud
John Houseman
Burt Lancaster
Tony Lo Bianco
Ian McShane
Leonard Nimoy
David Warner
James Hong
Ying Ruocheng
Composer(s) Ennio Morricone
Country of origin United States
Italy
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 4
Production
Executive producer(s) Giovanni Bertolucci
Franco Cristaldi
Vincenzo Labella
Producer(s) Vincenzo Labella
Production location(s) China
Italy
Mongolia
Morocco
Cinematography Pasqualino De Santis
Editor(s) John A. Martinelli
Running time 480 min.
Release
Original network NBC
RAI
Picture format Film
Audio format Monaural
Original release United States –
1982

Marco Polo is an American-Italian television miniseries originally broadcast by NBC in the United States, by Antenne 2 in France and by RAI in Italy in 1982. It starred Kenneth Marshall as Marco Polo, the 13th-century Venetian merchant and explorer. The series also featured appearances by Denholm Elliott, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Ian McShane, Leonard Nimoy, and others. It was originally broadcast in four episodes, where episodes 1 and 4 were twice as long as episodes 2 and 3. The series is sometimes divided into six equally long episodes.[1]

Plot Introduction

Italy - 13th century. Marco Polo, born in Venice in 1254, just turned 17 when he departed with his father and his uncle to China. His adventurous journey through Asia lasted three and half years and led him through barren deserts and vast steppes. Marco spent several years in Beijing as a guest of the Great Khan, earning the trust of and respect for the Emperor.

Plot

Part 1

As Marco Polo accompanies an Italian fleet, the fleet stops for the night. The fleet gets raided by bandits.

In year 1299 in Genoa Italy, a man Amadeo Ristico is held in a prison cell and questioned for information about the role of the loss of the Venetian fleet. Marco Polo is revealed to be another prisoner, but is accused of lying. The people questioning him are Damien of Milan and Fillipe of Genoa, both of the Order of Saint Dominic. Both are concerned that the tales of Marco Polo are pagan and will corrupt the minds of people and children. As Amadeo narrates, the narrator shifts to Marco Polo as a youth.

In his youth, Marco Polo was an eager person who loved to hear stories from other merchants. As his mother lays dying on her deathbed, Marco Polo's aunt laments for his father, for he has not sent money back but items that she sees as idols of another God.

His father Niccolo and uncle Matteo Polo return home. They appear before the Council of the Republic of Venice, hoping for a possible alliance between the Mongols and the Republic. He shows them the Mongol currency and tell stories of the might of the Mongols but he is immediately rebuked due to pagan nature of the Mongols. They want them to have nothing of the pagan people intend on sending missionaries.

Marco is interested in a girl but a discussion of marriage results in a denial. As Maccolo and Matteo attempt to find a sponsor, they are rejected by alot of sources except for one: The Knights Templar. They are given ships and travel to Jerusalem. A few days before arriving at Jerusalem, Marco has his first taste of the world when he witnesses a contigent of Crusaders massacre a tribe of Bedouin.

In the city church, the Polos, at the favor of the cardinal of Acre, get some oil of the Selpuchre via of a letter from the Pope. The father of the church is extremely reluctant to do it, but grants it. The oil is given to the cardinal of Acre, who reveals he has been chosen pope by the college of Cardinals, taking the name Gregory. In real life, it corresponds with the election of Teobaldo Visconti as Pope Gregory X.

As the Polo family ready themselves to go East again, they are taken prisoner.

Part Two

As they are taken prisoner, they are taken to the leader of the Bedouin leader. The captor leader is an Italian who converted to Islam after being taken prisoner in Tripolir. He sets the party free.

Back in Genoa in 1299, Aristico is given a break from the interrogation. As he continues to narrate the story, the party reaches Badakshan, Afghanistan in 1273 and hunts for food. Continuing on into winter of the same year, they suffer an avalanche from Muztagh-ata Mountainand wake up in a mountain temple, which is filled with riches and statues of wonderful lost statues that simply amaze and the people are very welcoming. it is revealed that the temple is a Buddhist temple in Tibet. a statue of Buddha. Here he questions his spirituality at the monks' invitation study nirvana, an invitation that was difficult to refuse.

By spring of 1275, they reach the steppes of modern-day Gansu province, where they encounter a Mongol tribe. They stay at a Chinese-speaking group who entertain them for the visit. At night, Marco engages in a wrestling match in which he is defeated. They spend a few days there.

Back in 1299, Aristicolo's writings end there and the priests demand that he continue writing the stories he kept to himself.

Marco Polo arrives in the city of Shang Du in 1275. They are granted a meeting with the city ruler, who greets them generously. His wife is very accommodating and hosts a feast in the Polos' honor.

Part Three

Part Four

Cast

Reception

The Miniseries has won 2 Emmy Awards.[2] For his work in costumes in Episode III, Enrico Sabbatini won the 1982 Emmy in Outstanding Costume Design for a Regular or Limited Series.

Vincenzo Labella as a producer, won the 1982 Emmy in Outstanding Limited Series.

The miniseries also received 7 nominations in 1982.[3]

See also

References

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External links

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