From Amazon.com
This 1979 made-for-television feature is one of the rare attempts to dramatize a chapter of America's formation. Set in 1620, the story concerns the religious persecution of the Puritans in England and their decision to emigrate to Plymouth Colony in America. Most of the action is set aboard the
Mayflower and focuses on relations between the Puritans and the ship's crew, whose Captain Jones is played by Anthony Hopkins. This is a fairly sturdy and enjoyable piece of historical drama, with the most important details about who, what, where, and why informatively answered. Richard Crenna is fine as the Reverend William Brewster, one of the Pilgrim Fathers and a veteran of relocating religious minorities to more hospitable places. David Dukes is effective as Miles Standish, giving us some insight into how this military man came to be an essential part of the Plymouth community. Jenny Agutter, Trish Van Devere, and Michael Beck are also in the cast. Veteran television director George Schaefer (
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln) helmed the production.
--Tom Keogh