Marco Polo

Marco Polo is a 1982 American-Italian television miniseries directed by Giuliano Montaldo, starring Kenneth Marshall as the 13th-century Venetian merchant and explorer. It was originally broadcast by NBC in the United States and RAI in Italy, and was eventually shown in a total of 46 countries, including France and Spain.

The story follows Marco Polo as he sets out for China with his father and uncle. His journey across Asia lasts three and a half years, leading him through barren deserts and vast steppes before he reaches Beijing, where he spends years as a guest of the Great Khan and earns the emperor's trust and respect. The cast also features Denholm Elliott, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Burt Lancaster and Ian McShane. The production marked the first collaboration of its kind between a Western and a Chinese broadcaster.