National Geographic Channel is going big with a two-night movie event depicting the landing of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts in 1620 and the ensuing encounter with the native peoples of the land.
From Variety:
“Growing up, we learn about the Mayflower and the colonization of America, but we never learn the whole story. The real story is an incredible survival story. ‘Saints & Strangers’ is the opportunity to tell the world about our country,” said executive producer Gina Matthews.
With an ensemble cast that includes “Mad Men’s” Vincent Kartheiser as “moral compass” of Plymouth colony William Bradford, “Pitch Perfect’s” Anna Camp as his wife Dorothy and “Black Sails’” Ray Stevenson as an adversary with a checkered past, the project plans to show the good and the bad sides of these newcomers struggling for survival. It also follows the stories of the Native American tribes who dealt with this sudden upheaval, with actors like Raoul Trujillo (“Apocalypto”) and Tatanka Means (“Banshee”) working with a coach to speak the Abenaki language.
“The Native Americans are determined to maintain their way of life just as much as the Pilgrims are determined to start theirs anew. This is one of those stories where once both groups start down a path, history is changed forever,” added executive producer Grant Scharbo.
The trailers show a dark and foreboding edge to the visual presentation. I am delighted to see the great Ray Stevenson (the inimitable Titus Pullo of HBO’s “Rome.”) His presence alone is enough to get me to watch.
“Saints & Strangers” premieres at 9 p.m. Nov. 22 on National Geographic Channel.
Paul McNamee says
Does look slick!
john maddox roberts says
This may be your first and last chance to hear Western Abenaki spoken. The language has almost died out and is only being kept alive by the strenuous efforts
lane batot says
I’ve seen this advertised on regular poor folks TV(NOT cable, in other words), and have already been looking forward to gittin’ a cheap, used DVD of it one day before too long! I’m assuming the Mean’s feller is Russel’s kinfolk…..
JimC says
Tatanka Means is Russell’s son.
deuce says
I’m always cool with some Ray Stevenson. Props for the Abenaki stuff as well.
deuce says
The Pilgrims dug up the maize stored by the Algonquins at Patuxet. Then they dug up the bodies to steal the buckskins (check out Bradford’s diary). Afterwards, they thanked God for killing the Injuns. Just not a lot to be proud of there.
Standish had a pair of stones, though. I’ll give ‘im that.
Jamestown was no shining example of European supremacy, but it looks so compared to Plymouth. John Smith refused to consider Massachusetts as a colony due to the Injun population. Smallpox took care of that.
JimC says
I think it was plague that ravaged the Algonquins deep into the interior in 1616-17, but that’s a point of detail. The Pilgrims believed that God had cleared the land for them. John Smith was a remarkable man — need to research him and do a post.
Kyle says
I’m from Virginia and apart from learning about Jamestown and just being interested in the time period, the whole settler and Indian conflicts are much more complicated than people realize. For instance, Powhatan is the one who broke the treaty with the English for no actual reason. Murdered women and children and expected the settlers to cut their losses and just leave without return. He was wrong though, and this type of behavior continued to sow the distrust between the two groups for a long time.
JimC says
Welcome!