Centennial: I guess he'd rather be in Colorado--Merle Haggard

The very final scenes from the 1978 12 part miniseries based on James Michener's novel, ended with the moving song 'I guess he'd rather be in Colorado' by Merle Haggard.
The amazing television drama starred Chief Dan George, Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, Lynn Redgrave, Sharon Gless, Timothy Dalton, Barbara Carrera, Robert Vaughn, Brian Keith, Raymond Burr, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, Donald Pleasence, Dennis Weaver and Alex Karras, among many others. The beautiful Centennial theme, title and end music are by John Addison.

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Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• centennial
• james
• michener
• conrad
• chamberlain
• redgrave
• carrera
• merle
• haggard
• colorado
• addison

[lukauskis]

i'm looking for a film i used to watch when i was kid in some german tv channel (prosieben, rtl or other)... i can't remember the name.. it was comedy kinda western series with blond guy and fat dark haired guy fighting everytime. Anyone knows what i'm about??

[riccardobruero]

Yes, the Trinity Brothers, Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.

[bibliotecamedia2]

muy bueno. en que album de merle se encuentra esta cancion? de argentina JAVIER

[riccardobruero]

I don't know if it is on any of Merle's albums, blbliothecamedia2. Merle Haggard played Cisco Calendar in Centennial, and he probably sang this song especially for the tv series.

[nessie96]

Best mini series ever aired on television...simply brilliant in every way.

[kml7]

This is the best thing that's ever been on tv. Ever.

[59arnemann]

This song is written by Bill Danoff and was fist released on John Denver's "Poems, Prayers and Promises in 1971. John has a better version on the 1995 "The Wildlife Consert" in my opinion. However, I like Merle Haggard's version too.

[mltnr290]

I can remember my wife and I watching this back in the 70's every Sunday night. I bought the DVD last year and we watched it again. It was just as good as it was 30some years ago. I always related to this because my mother was French Canadian and my father was Scotch.

[melende1966b]

@MartialVaneecke

I'm french, and I agree with you

[MartialVaneecke]

I always feel passionate and with admiration for the north-american native. I watched the series when it came out, then a rerun and now i was happy to find it back again in my local library. It brings me "back to basics". I suppose we should all see it again every now and then. So we remember.

[TheCopper05]

RIP in David Janssen.

[riccardobruero]

@TheCopper05 Well, Spielberg produced 'Into the West' a few years ago, although I don't find that half as good as 'Centennial'.

[TheCopper05]

@wolf4555 I agree. I just purchased this set on DVD. Had it on VHS. I sold the VHS tapes. I love it. They

don't make mini series anymore and I can't figure out why. David Jannsen passed away not to long after. He

was a great narrator.

[melende1953]

I'm french and I love it !

[wolf4555]

I recently watched this again from start to finish and I never ever tire of it...

and this scene with this song always makes me emotional. Just beautiful...

[nessamaine]

Written by Bill Danoff...my favorite version is by John Denver... such a lovely song!