Jack Roberts
Hannibal: The Father of Strategy
There have been few military leaders through the ages to have become truly memorable but one strategist stands out from the crowd in the 21st Century, even though he lived long, long ago, before the birth of Christ. The man in question is of course Hannibal, the great Carthaginian General who took an entire herd of elephants across the Alps in his war against the Roman Empire. Today if you mention Hannibal, the Conqueror it’s the elephants that everyone remembers, however there’s much more to the story of this incredible man than you could possibly imagine. Hannibal was without doubt the father of strategy and following his journey from ancient Carthage in North Africa to the gates of Rome will prove the point. As a tactician he was brave and courageous, in fact so brilliant is his reputation that Hannibal’s failure to win his war with Rome is usually overlooked. So, step back in time and trace the route that Hannibal took, taking him from mighty young warrior to a life in exile and discover for yourself the man behind the myth, responsible for creating a legend.
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Edgar Allan Poe: Master of the Macabre
Fear, paranoia, terror, yearning—such are the themes synonymous with the works of Edgar Allan Poe. But just how did this troubled author known as the “Master of the Macabre” come to create some of the most terrifying and haunting works of all fiction? What happened in his early childhood that significantly altered the young mind of Poe? Where did the author’s haunting despair and longing for the dead come from? What led him to excessive drinking and opium smoking as a way of escaping reality? And just what were the circumstances behind his mysterious and still unresolved death? These questions and more will be answered in this unique and exciting documentary as we follow in the footsteps of Poe to discover the mystery behind the man who wrote such classics as “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat,” and countless others.
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Freemasonry: Tracking the Code
Mention Freemasonry, the world over, and images of secret handshakes, ancient rituals and mysterious ceremonies will spring to most people’s minds. Left to the vivid imagination, fuelled by modern literary best- sellers like Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code”, we all now look for hidden meanings in the documents of history, and Freemasonry with its fascinating symbolic imagery is a natural choice for the inquiring mind. There was a time, and not so long ago, when it was almost impossible to find out anything about the Freemasons, unless of course you became one, but with advancing technology it’s possible to now successfully investigate the past of this elusive secret society. If unravelling a good mystery appeals, this program, literally follows the progress of Freemasonry from its earliest beginnings right up to the present day, will definitely be for you! So, let the journey commence in a place and time when the stonemasons of the great Cathedrals of Europe held all the secrets. Discover how the mysteries of the Great Temple of Solomon from the Bible influenced growing interest in Freemasonry and then join the Founding Fathers of America to see the craft of the Mason evolve in a New World for a New Age. You’ll even get to enter the Inner Temple of one of the most magnificent Masonic Lodges in the world, and although you may not uncover every secret of the Freemasons, you can guarantee you’ll end up knowing a great deal more than when you started “Tracking the Code”.
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The Story of Coffee: The History of Coffee&How to Make the Perfect Cup
One of the single greatest pleasures known to mankind, a stimulating drink that continues to inspire innovation in manufacture and invention, and a beverage that most people cannot wake up nor live without. The Story of Coffee will take you on an appetizing journey from its origins in Ethiopia right up to modern day coffee house culture where the cappuccino, espresso, and latte have given coffee drinkers a new vocabulary, not to mention an entire new range of coffee experiences to savor. This program will not only tell you everything you need to know about coffee styles, blends, roasts, and caffeine contents, but it will also show you how to make a great cup of coffee every time. So sit back, relax, and let the magic of coffee brew its own delightful tale.
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Bram Stoker's Dracula - A Documentary
When Bram Stoker first published his novel “Dracula” at the end of the 19th Century, few could have predicted the impact his literary vision would generate, especially the critics, who were far from receptive to his work. However, the readers of the day took Dracula to their hearts and delighted in the horror of the novel. And of course as the Hollywood movie industry developed, “Dracula” proved a perfect candidate for the silver screen. “Dracula” has become a classic icon of the horror industry, complete with swirling black cape and dripping fangs - thrilling and terrifying readers and moviegoers for more than a century, and all indications are that Dracula will continue to do so for all eternity. But how did this nightmare character ever materialize in the first place and who was responsible for releasing this voracious vampire into the waking dreams of the public at large? Find the answers to these questions and many more in a film that will take you on an exhilarating journey of discovery.
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Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: A Documentary
The name Frankenstein is well known all over the world, as images of a large, sunken-eyed monster with a bolt through the neck springs menacingly to mind. However there’s more to this tale of classic horror than you might have at first realized. The monster is not Frankenstein at all, the apparition has no name, but is in fact the creation of a mad doctor, the eponymous hero of the book, therefore making it Frankenstein’s monster. Also the author of this great gothic novel had a life story that proved without doubt that fact, on occasion, could truly be stranger than fiction. To find out more, take a journey of discovery into the mind of Mary Shelley, the remarkable young English woman who imagined both Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his monster into being. Visit early 19th Century London, when Regency style dominated, to see for yourself the places that shaped Mary Shelley and meet the people who influenced her. From the mad, bad and dangerous to know Lord Byron, to her husband the great romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Follow in her dainty footsteps into the dark recesses of a nightmare world for the ultimate Frankenstein experience.
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Napoleon: A Dealer In Hope
There are few characters from history as distinctive as Napoleon Bonaparte, and whether you admire him as a military genius, deride him as a tyrant, or simply recognize him as half of one of History’s most famous couples with his first wife, Josephine, Napoleon is as fascinating today as he ever was. Yet, when it comes to the finer detail, few of us could add much more to the above, but this film spot-lighting the life and times of Napoleon offers a more complete picture of this most notorious of men. Follow in his footsteps from the wildly beautiful Island of Corsica to the elegant glory of Paris, where you can find evidence of Napoleon’s influence almost everywhere you look. Then take a guided tour of Napoleon’s military campaigns, as like his hero Alexander the Great before him, he set his sights on conquering the world. Napoleon has been credited with the line “A leader is a dealer in hope”, and in the desperate years of the French Revolution and its aftermath his own unique leadership qualities would have shone out like a beacon of hope. Time, and knowledge may have tarnished Napoleon’s shining reputation, but the legend truly does live on, as we set off in search of the man behind the myth.
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Marie Antoinette: Queen of Versailles
There are few women in history as renowned for glamour and decadence as Marie Antoinette, the French Queen, who is alleged to have fueled a Revolution with the immortal line “Let them eat cake.” However, as with many modern day news reports, there’s more to this story than first meets the eye. Delve more deeply into the enticing life and untimely death of Marie Antoinette and you’ll uncover a tale of style, fashion, intrigue and danger that would satisfy even the toughest celebrity magazine editor of the 21st Century. Step back in time to 18th Century France and visit the beautiful Palace of Versailles, where Marie Antoinette was sent, hardly into her teens, to be the bride of the future King Louis XVI. Follow in her delicate footsteps through the state apartments, the great Hall of Mirrors and the beautiful formal gardens of the Palace to the lesser known Petit Trianon and Peasant Village that Marie Antoinette created to leave her own indelible stamp on Versailles. Discover for yourself what really happened to the Austrian Princess who was dispatched to the French court as part of a peace treaty, to become one of the most famous members of her adopted country’s Royal Family. It may be a story that sadly lacks a happy ending, but Marie Antoinette - Queen of Versailles is still worthy of our attention, telling us of one woman’s remarkable courage when an entire nation turned against her.
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Pirates: Dead Men Tell Their Tales - The True Story of the Pirates of the Caribbean, A Documentary
When it comes to loveable rogues throughout history, Pirates have always been in a class of their own, and the world of literature, closely followed by Hollywood, certainly knows how to tell a terrific Pirate tale — complete with swashbuckling heroes, fair damsels in distress and the pre-requisite number of scurvy sea dogs to stand on a poor unfortunate dead man’s chest! Take to the High Seas for a true celebration of the greatest Pirate adventures, from the pages of such classics as “Treasure Island” and “Peter Pan”, right through to the spectacular movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Step back in time and sort fact from fiction and discover the real magic of Pirates, investigating the stories of Blackbeard, Sir Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd and many more, including the notorious women Pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. For Pirate enthusiasts of all ages, this documentary really offers something for everyone, and whether you want to know the difference between a Pirate and a Buccaneer, what a piece of eight is, or where a Pirate’s distinctive manner of speaking comes from, the answers are all here, as these seafaring dead men really do tell their tales.
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The History & Art of the Geisha
Mention Geisha and a hundred and one images of beautiful young Japanese women, dressed in the traditional Kimono, will immediately spring to mind. However, in western society the history and art of the Geisha is shrouded in mystery and fraught with controversy. Even well researched Hollywood movies on the subject have faced cultural obstacles, and the Geisha code of silence has proved to be equally as inscrutable as these remarkable women themselves. This fascinating exploration of the Geisha will take you on an enlightening journey of discovery into the secret world of Japanese society. Uncover the origins of the Geisha, who in the first instance were all male, and follow their evolution through to the 21st Century. Let the ancient traditions of Japan open your mind to a more elegant and genteel way of life, which values all the Arts, in every form, and the frequently overlooked skills of polite conversation. Step back in time to an age of tradition and culture, normally hidden from public view that has preserved the art of the Geisha for all eternity.
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D-Day: The American Way
The 6th of June 1944 has gone down in history as D-Day, the beginning of the end of World War II. Code-named “Operation Overlord,” it was the culmination of meticulous planning and cooperation between the Allied Forces under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Brave young American servicemen left their homes to cross the Atlantic to fight side by side with Allied troops from all over the world and to liberate France from the grip of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi domination. Of the five invasion beaches along the coast of Normandy, the first two, code named “Utah” and “Omaha” were stormed by American Battalions. At “Utah” the dawn landings were very successful as the 4th US Infantry Division met little German resistance. However at “Omaha” it was a very different story. An elite German Infantry Division held the higher ground and waited for the landing craft to come ashore before annihilating the defenceless young men. More than 5,000 were left dead, wounded or missing after the carnage, where so many Americans made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against tyranny on “Omaha” beach. This film is a tribute to the bravery of those young Americans who gave their all on D-Day. Follow in their footsteps and watch the events of the Normandy Invasion unfold before your eyes, taking you back in time to France, 1944, when America’s finest laid down their lives for the good of mankind.
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America in World War II
There were those who described World War I as the war to end all wars and for the American servicemen involved in the conflict, it was a hope they whole-heartedly shared. Yet early one Sunday morning, December 7th, 1941 to be precise, the young men of America were again called upon to fight in a World War, the second of the 20th Century. This was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the rest, as they say, is history. Great Britain and much of continental Europe had been at war with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany since 1939, and President Roosevelt had been in constant communication with Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill, but when the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor that fateful day, America was suddenly at the heart of the conflict, shoulder to shoulder with the Allies in the fight against Hitler and the Axis powers. Follow the fascinating story of America’s journey into World War II and discover the remarkable, selfless courage and bravery of Americans both at home and abroad that literally turned the tide of the war against Adolf Hitler. Watch how Hollywood played it’s part in the war effort; see how the American women went to war, manning the production lines in factories, building ships, aircraft, tanks and jeeps; and trace the routes of the American troops who gave their all on the beaches of Normandy, the battle fields of Europe, the open skies and on the high seas of the Atlantic and Pacific, making the world a safer, better place for future generations.
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Howard Hughes: The Great Aviator
As a young man, Howard Hughes was unstoppable. His wealth, power and ambition attracted business associates. His achievements as a movie producer propelled him into Hollywood’s inner circle. His dark good looks, Texan charm and vulnerability seduced countless actresses and socialites, marking him as a playboy with a decidedly possessive streak. Hughes was a passionate and prolific filmmaker who pushed boundaries, enraged censors, and did whatever it took to get his films made his way. Whether performing a death-defying stunt in “Hell’s Angels”, designing a special bra for Jane Russell in “The Outlaw”, or facing the wrath of mobster Al Capone and the United States government to ensure the release of “Scarface”, Hughes was a force to be reckoned with. As an aviation pioneer, Hughes broke numerous flight records to become a national hero. His contributions to aeronautic design gained him multi-million dollar government contracts. In later years, he expanded his empire to Las Vegas with the purchase of several hotels and mining interests, becoming America’s first billionaire. And his greatest dream, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute flourishes today. But a dark undercurrent of eccentricities and germ phobia eventually drove Hughes into a self-imposed exile for the last 20 years of his life. He died at age 70, a shell of his former self, surrounded by an army of aides and doctors. The legacy of Howard Hughes is both inspirational and tragic. Gain insight into the motivations of this complex man through a rare interview with Dr. Raymond D. Fowler, the psychologist who performed the psychological autopsy for the Hughes Estate in 1986. Explore the public and private life of one of the 20th Century’s most important Americans.
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