Looking for ideas
Jul. 22nd, 2011 08:25 pmDuring our trip to Britain, Amber was impressed by my sweeping knowledge of British history. Actually, I've just watched a lot of historical movies and mini-series which then inspired me to either read a book or (in recent times) look up the story on Wikipedia. It's not exactly in-depth historical expertise, but I can at least get the kings and queens in approximately the right order.
Amber and Thorin and I have all been recently captivated by the steamy mini-series The Tudors. Since the kids have now finished that series, I suggested that they swing right into the classic "Elizabeth R"mini-series to see what happened next. Amber wanted some more suggestions, so I've been trying to assemble a complete tour of the English monarchy in movies and mini-series. Anybody want to chime in? Here's what I've got so far. I haven't personally seen all of these, but have at least some reason to think that they are worth watching. Of the ones that I HAVE seen, my two favorites (which are also among my favorite movies of all time) are Lion in Winter and Rob Roy.
I think this list hits at least a bit of every century from the 11th through the 20th, but there are some notable holes. To start with, hasn't anybody ever made a movie about the Norman Conquest?? I was hoping someone would have done The Golden Warrior, but apparently not. I'm very shaky on the War of the Roses era - about all I could think of there was Shakespeare, and I'm not personally familiar with any of those plays. I've never quite figured out how the Hanovers got to England, and my movie history doesn't help much in that regard. And why can't I find any movies about Bonnie Prince Charlie? Surely there must be some! Rob Roy kind of hits the right era, but I think it's between the two Jacobite uprisings.
I was concentrating on movies that at least touched on the monarchy and politics, but I'd be happy to include some good period movies that just do a good job of reflecting life in a particular era. Any suggestions?
---- Here's the list so far. * marks the ones I've seen.
*Pillars of the Earth (miniseries)
Becket
*Lion in Winter
Kingdom of Heaven
*Holy Warriors: Richard Lionheart and Saladin (a documentary, but such a juicy one that I'm including it)
* The Adventures of Robin Hood
* Braveheart
Edward II (the 1970 version with Ian McKellan)
Henry V (Laurence Olivier version)
King Richard III (Laurence Olivier)
The Black Arrow (1948)
* The Tudors (miniseries)
* Elizabeth R (miniseries w/Glenda Jackson)
Mary, Queen of Scots (Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson again)
Cromwell
Restoration
* Rob Roy
* The Scarlet Pimpernel (Leslie Howard)
* The Madness of King George
Young Victoria
* Upstairs, Downstairs (miniseries)
* Downton Abbey (miniseries)
* The King's Speech
Amber and Thorin and I have all been recently captivated by the steamy mini-series The Tudors. Since the kids have now finished that series, I suggested that they swing right into the classic "Elizabeth R"mini-series to see what happened next. Amber wanted some more suggestions, so I've been trying to assemble a complete tour of the English monarchy in movies and mini-series. Anybody want to chime in? Here's what I've got so far. I haven't personally seen all of these, but have at least some reason to think that they are worth watching. Of the ones that I HAVE seen, my two favorites (which are also among my favorite movies of all time) are Lion in Winter and Rob Roy.
I think this list hits at least a bit of every century from the 11th through the 20th, but there are some notable holes. To start with, hasn't anybody ever made a movie about the Norman Conquest?? I was hoping someone would have done The Golden Warrior, but apparently not. I'm very shaky on the War of the Roses era - about all I could think of there was Shakespeare, and I'm not personally familiar with any of those plays. I've never quite figured out how the Hanovers got to England, and my movie history doesn't help much in that regard. And why can't I find any movies about Bonnie Prince Charlie? Surely there must be some! Rob Roy kind of hits the right era, but I think it's between the two Jacobite uprisings.
I was concentrating on movies that at least touched on the monarchy and politics, but I'd be happy to include some good period movies that just do a good job of reflecting life in a particular era. Any suggestions?
---- Here's the list so far. * marks the ones I've seen.
*Pillars of the Earth (miniseries)
Becket
*Lion in Winter
Kingdom of Heaven
*Holy Warriors: Richard Lionheart and Saladin (a documentary, but such a juicy one that I'm including it)
* The Adventures of Robin Hood
* Braveheart
Edward II (the 1970 version with Ian McKellan)
Henry V (Laurence Olivier version)
King Richard III (Laurence Olivier)
The Black Arrow (1948)
* The Tudors (miniseries)
* Elizabeth R (miniseries w/Glenda Jackson)
Mary, Queen of Scots (Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson again)
Cromwell
Restoration
* Rob Roy
* The Scarlet Pimpernel (Leslie Howard)
* The Madness of King George
Young Victoria
* Upstairs, Downstairs (miniseries)
* Downton Abbey (miniseries)
* The King's Speech