DOCUMENTARY SERVES UP CHEESE WITH MESSAGE.

Byline: David Kronke Television Critic

Re-enactments in documentaries can be a dodgy thing. Without them, you could have a visually drab production veering between talking-head historians and period art.

But with them, there's the risk of creating a hodgepodge, something with limited drama and little effort at resonant characterizations.

And, given the budgets under which most documentaries are produced, performances in such re-enactments can be pretty hit-or-miss.

So it goes with ``Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower,'' whose title bears two unfortunate words: ``Desperate,'' reminding you that you could be watching ``Desperate Housewives'' in- stead, and ``Untold,'' which is a bald lie, since the film relies heavily on the account written by Pilgrim and Mayflower passenger William Bradford. Also, the crossing itself takes up little time -- the events leading up to and following the passage are our concerns here.

``Desperate Crossing'' is, unfortunately, more heavily dependent upon semi-cheesy re-enactments than many similar documentaries.

Still, the story of such radical religious minds rebelling against the Church of England to embrace the dangers of an alien world and their freedom to worship as they see fit remains a compelling tale, no matter how it's conveyed.

``Desperate Crossing'' capably essays the miserable trek of the Pilgrims -- 7/8 who opted to seek their freedom in North America at a time when only 2,000 Europeans dwelled there -- on the Mayflower. Initially, a second ship, the Speedwell, accompanied the Mayflower, but leaks forced passengers to abandon the trip, saddling the remaining ship with too many Pilgrims.

Viewers are thrust into the perilous voyage -- no one will be seated during the seasick-vomiting sequence! -- as well as their murderous early days in the New World, which ultimately lead to the first Thanksgiving.

Though many of the re-enactments are risible -- scenes involving King James I play more comically than dramatically, such as the one in which James declares, employing more syllables than is strictly necessary, ``This fool grows tiresome'' -- ultimately, ``Desperate Crossing's'' message emerges as inspirational: As one historian puts it, ``The great work of living is living with others.''

David Kronke, [phone]

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DESPERATE CROSSING: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE MAYFLOWER - Two and one half stars

What: The Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, courtesy of cheesy re-enactments.

Where: History Channel.

When: 8 tonight.

In a nutshell: Nonetheless, a compelling tale reminding us of who we once were.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

American natives and pilgrims eat together during one of numerous re-enactments in the History Channel's ``Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower.''