Roanoak on AllMovie

The 3-part TV miniseries Roanoak traces the history of North Carolina's "Lost Colony". The story begins in 1584, when British settlers land upon Carolina's shores. There they are confronted by Native Americans who at first regard the visitors as evil spirits. This mistrust is briefly reciprocated before the settlers and Indians learn to depend upon one another. One of the Englishmen, artist John White (Victor Garber), endeavors to teach the English language to two of the tribesmen, Manteo (Tino Juarez) and Wanchese (Joseph Runningfox), who are then selected to return to England with White, there to acquaint the locals with Indian customs and traditions. Part Two takes place during the first winter at Roanoak, as a diminishing food supplies rekindles hostilities between the whites and the Indians. And in Part Three, Sir Walter Raleigh gives White permission to return to the Roanoak colony-which has mysteriously vanished from the face of the earth. A collaborative effort of the PBS network and South Carolina Educational Television, Roanoak first aired May 26, June 2 and June 10, 1986, on the American Playhouse anthology series.