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BATTLEFIELD DETECTIVES
Battlefield Detectives presents a fresh approach to historically important battles. Focusing on the story of the battle, each episode poses a puzzling central question that recent scientific research is helping to illuminate - a contemporary journey of discovery and a compelling story from the past. The battles featured in the series include Vietnam, Hastings, Waterloo and Gallipoli.4 x 48 minute programs Produced and Directed by Jeremy Freeston and Chris Malone ©2003 Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd DVD Format (Set of 4 DVDs) $297.00 BRD178 or available individually $88.00 each |
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Vietnam's Bloody Secret Inspired by their charismatic young president, many ordinary Americans felt it was their duty to champion democracy around the world. Confident and ambitious, the world's greatest superpower expected the fight for democracy in Vietnam would be an easy war. But within a few years, they withdrew from Vietnam, humiliated and in disarray. How could America have lost? Bringing together the latest research on the ground and the testimony of veterans from both sides, the film investigates why America - the world's richest nation - couldn't protect South Vietnam from tiny, poverty stricken North Vietnam. DVD Format $88.00 BRD179 |
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The Gallipoli Disaster In 1915 the Gallipoli beaches in Turkey saw the largest amphibious assault of the Allied campaign in WWI. The ensuing infamous military disaster, a catastrophe that epitomises the horrors of World War One, destroyed reputations and created a war hero, Kemal Ataturk, who went on to found modern Turkey. This programme reveals that the whole campaign was lost even before the first soldiers landed - due largely to the geography of the Gallipoli landscape and also to the superiority of the Turkish troops. The Allied soldiers who landed at Gallipoli were set an impossible task. No amount of inspired leadership or planning could have defeated this combination. The scientific experts who warned the Allied leadership that an assault on Gallipoli was ill-judged were ignored. DVD Format $88.00 BRD180 |
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The Battle of Hastings - Who got lucky at Hastings? In 1066, the most famous battle ever fought on English soil took place. At Hastings, Harold, King of England, with a traditional Anglo Saxon army of foot soldiers, went into battle against William, Duke of Normandy, and his army of knights on horseback. No clues have ever been found on the battlefield - so researchers are now using a surprising array of unusual specialist techniques to investigate what really happened. They conclude that William did not win the battle of Hastings because he was a better general. Harold and William were well matched as opponents and on the day it came down to good luck - victory came down to the simple fact that Harold was killed first. DVD Format $88.00 BRD181 |
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Massacre at Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo saw the final defeat of Napoleon and ushered in 40 years of peace in Europe. Waterloo has always been seen as a tactical victory for the Duke of Wellington, his small but highly trained Allied army outfighting the veteran soldiers of Napoleon's Grande Armee. But was there more to Napoleon's defeat than the tactics and fighting prowess of the Allies? Latest scientific techniques shed crucial light on Napoleon's campaign. And a dramatic archaeological discovery helps answer the central question: What went wrong for Napoleon at Waterloo? DVD Format $88.00 BRD182 |
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BATTLEPLAN
This series provides an in-depth history and analysis of the development of warfare, and the major strategies and tactics which commanders have used over centuries to defeat an enemy. Each Battleplan is dissected to reveal the factors which are essential for success, and the inherent weaknesses which might lead to failure. The plans are then examined in relation to two or three outstanding modern examples of the military art. 6 x 50 minute programs Written and directed by Gordon Stevens ©2004 Nugus/Martin Production Ltd Set of 6 DVDs $396.00 PED228 or available individually, $77.00 each Deception Even before the Greeks used the Wooden Horse to capture Troy, deception was a critical part of warfare. Key to any Battleplan is not simply working out what your enemy is going to do and planning against it, but trying to convince him that you are going to do one thing - while planning to do something totally different. Deception can take many forms. Intelligence can manipulate your enemy's idea of what you are going to do by using double agents, false radio traffic or media distortion. Physical effects, like camouflage, can make armies disappear while dummy weapons and other tricks can make them appear to be where they aren't. This program looks at the historical background to Deception and the ways it was used in two outstanding modern examples: Operation 'Fortitude' - the D-Day Landings and Operation 'Desert Storm' in Iraq. DVD Format $77.00 PED229 Counterstrike Counterstrike can take many forms: the sudden inspirational seizing of an unexpected opportunity at a critical moment in a battle, or a carefully-planned reaction as the battle develops and the enemy's intentions can be predicted and planned for. History is full of examples where a numerically inferior army has turned the tide of battle by a brilliant execution of its Battleplan for counterstrike and equally, where a numerically superior force has failed to react properly and been defeated. This program looks at three occasions when different types of counterstrike worked superbly and examines why they were so effective. Tannenberg in 1914 where the German army shattered two massive Russian armies; the Russian counterstrike against Hitler's Operation Barbarossa which saved Moscow in winter 1941; and Israel's second counterattack against Egypt in 1973. DVD Format $77.00 PED230 Siege Siege warfare is almost as old as history itself - as Homer's epic of the 10-year siege of Troy shows. The Battleplan can have several aims: to frustrate an enemy's offensive Battleplan by successfully holding a critical fortress or city, to seize victory by capturing a key position, or to help achieve a victory by tying down a critical element of the enemy's forces. Three examples of siege are profiled: The German siege of Leningrad from 1941 to 1943, where Hitler simply wanted to cut off the city and starve it into surrender; the Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1953, when the French deliberately landed deep in hostile territory and totally underestimated the strength and resourcefulness of their enemy; and the Viet Cong siege of the U.S. base at Khe Sanh in 1968 when US commanders deliberately drew their enemy into an exhausting confrontation and used their air power to win. DVD Format $77.00 PED231 Pre-Emptive Strike Winning a swift victory by catching the enemy unawares, is one of any commander's great dreams. Sometimes it can be a dramatic reaction to an opportunity, or it can be designed to remove a potential threat from the enemy's arsenal. On a broader strategic level, Pre-emptive Strike can be a deliberate Battleplan used by a numerically inferior power to head off a situation in which ultimate defeat would be inevitable. Whatever the reason, it is ruthless and brutal and carries enormous risks. This program sets out the parameters for the Battleplan for pre-emptive strike and examines why leaders - often political rather than military - decide on this particular course of action. These fundamentals are then applied to two notorious examples: the bombing of Pearl Harbour on December 6th, 1941, the most infamous pre-emptive strike of all; and the Israeli pre-emptive strike which began the Six Day War of June 1967. DVD Format $77.00 PED232 Guerilla Warfare From the earliest days of organised warfare, it has been apparent that a numerically and technologically superior force can be ground down by irregular tactics. But it is rare that this Battleplan alone can win unless there is either a failure of political will on the other side, or eventually defeat by a conventional force. The principles and history of guerrilla warfare are examined in this program and the requirements of this Battleplan are analysed from two perspectives: those waging guerrilla warfare, and those opposing it. These are then applied to two modern examples: Afghanistan 1979-88 where guerrilla warfare won the military campaign and then went on to political victory - only to be followed by massive post war complications; and Vietnam 1961-73 where the Vietcong guerrillas were steadily ground down by superior American firepower and mobility, but were able to recoup the situation politically. DVD Format $77.00 PED233 Urban Warfare Urban Warfare is the most vicious form of fighting. In an era dominated by technology, it takes a soldier back to the most primitive type of warfare: hand to hand, eyeball to eyeball, knife against knife. There is the constant threat of ambush or booby trap, and the casualties which can be sustained while moving from street to street or house to house against an unseen enemy are horrific. Most soldiers are desperate to avoid this type of Battleplan, but there are occasions when it becomes unavoidable. Then commanders must be particularly clear about the special requirements and the dangers to which their forces will be exposed. This program assesses these requirements with regard to three very costly battles: Stalingrad, Winter 1942-43 and the unnecessary urban confrontation which resulted in utter defeat for Hitler's forces; Berlin, April 1945 when the Red Army were determined to be the first into Hitler's capital but fear of revenge made the German defenders fight back with extraordinary ferocity; and the Tet Offensive, 1968, the desperate last throw by the Vietcong to win the political initiative against the United States. DVD Format $77.00 PED234 |
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BOUND FOR BOTANY BAY – new edited version by Dr Jonathan King This is the story of the first fleet, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. It begins in England with the British government’s desperate attempt to alleviate their overcrowded prisons by establishing a new colony at Botany Bay. Filmed on location in Portsmouth and at the fleet’s ports of call, the enormity of the hardships faced by the fleet becomes evident and the eventual landing at Port Jackson and establishment of the new colony completes one of the greatest maritime expeditions ever undertaken. Duration: 30 minutes |
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Breaking The Trade
Breaking the Trade tells the inspirational story of three modest Englishmen who, over a period of nearly 70 years, dedicated their lives to bringing about the abolition of the slave trade and slavery in the British Empire. Granville Sharp was a spokesman for slaves in the Law Courts, winning their freedom and drawing public attention to the abolitionist cause. Thomas Clarkson travelled thousands of miles across Britain collecting evidence of the horrors of slavery and organising petitions from the general public. This evidence was used to great effect by the politician William Wilberforce, a brilliant orator who spoke eloquently in Parliament for the cause of abolition. The Emancipation Act was passed in 1833 making slavery illegal. (28 minutes) Directed by Sabine Posch, produced by Alison Field ©2001 Infonation, England DVD Format $66.00 LT244D |
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Building the Impossible -
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were all built with only simple tools and human hands but have inspired and perplexed people for centuries. Now the genius behind the building of these incredible ancient monuments is revealed, with the aid of state of the art CGI, dramatisations, the latest archaeological research and the insight of legendary architects like I.M. Pei. The Seven Wonders are recreated from their dusty ruins, to the magnificent structures as they may have first appeared and the stories of the kings and queens that commissioned the constructions,and the sculptors, architects and engineers who made the vision a reality are told.The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Duration: 2 x 52 minutes Narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Written and directed by Clive Maltby. Produced by Atlantic Productions for Granada Media ©2000 Atlantic Production Ltd Building The Impossible Program 1 The Statue of Zeus at Olympia (Olympia, Greece) The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Bodrum, Turkey) The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Ephesus, Turkey) The Pyramid of Giza (Giza, Egypt) Building The Impossible Program 2 The Pyramid of Giza (Giza, Egypt) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon, Iraq) The Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes, Greece) The Pharos of Alexandria (Alexandria, Egypt) Building the Impossible - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World DVD Format (1 disc) $132.00 BRD190 |
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THE CELTS
A fascinating journey through the history of the Celtic culture, following the trail back to pre-Roman times when the Celts were regarded as the masters of Europe. Few people understand who the Celts actually were or what their true legacy is. This powerful series cuts through the romanticism and clichéd images to give a true picture of Celtic culture. Presenter Richard Rudgley follows the trail back to pre-Roman times, looking into every aspect of Celtic life to show how they adapted to change. 2 x 50 minute programs Produced and Directed by Chris Malone ©2006 Channel 4 Television DVD Format $88.00 BRD183 The Celts Program 1 We call them the Celts - bloodthirsty warriors who fought naked in battle and took their enemies heads as trophies. They had powerful priests called Druids, who practiced human sacrifice to their gods, and a distinctive artistic style now sold as jewellery across the world. Evidence of Celtic civilisations stretch across Europe, in Germany a huge walled settlement is unearthed, in Switzerland thousands of artefacts illustrate the distinctive Celtic artistic decoration. Excavations in northern Europe uncover a huge engineering achievement. The expanding Roman Empire crushed the Celts in continental Europe and evidence uncovered in Britain and Ireland suggests that migration of a warrior tribe of Celtic settlers occurred, bringing their foreign traditions with them. The Celts Program 2 A monument in the Shetland Islands is one of the largest and most mysterious of Iron Age Britain. In Wales, a reconstructed hill fort and roundhouses echoes the way of European Celtic society, the people were warriors, but also farmers using iron tools - ones which we still use today. Roman writing tells of Britons who spoke a language similar to the Celts of Gaul and shared a class of religious leaders unique in the Celtic world - Druids. Two million people in Britain and Ireland speak a Celtic Language - the greatest number is Welsh. Does this make an even stronger connection between the people of the British Isles and Celts of Europe? In Ireland, a rocky crag soaring vertically seven hundred feet out of the Atlantic Ocean sums up the unique spirit of what became Celtic Christianity. |
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EMPIRES OF STONE
Three stunning documentaries which use the magic of computer graphics
to recreate The Acropolis, The Colosseum and The Great Wall – all
powerful symbols of the empires that created and built them. Produced and directed by Patrick Fleming for October Films © 2001 Channel Four Television Set of 3 x 55 minute Programs
The Acropolis Upon its elevated platform, the Acropolis boasts four of the greatest masterpieces of classical architecture. These buildings are potent symbols of a golden era of wealth, energy and creativity, which in a period of just 40 years, produced almost everything we associate with the ancient Greeks. Computer graphics restore the entire site to the brilliant purity of its original conception and in doing so, reveals the extraordinary building skills and architectural aesthetics that make the Parthenon and the other buildings of the Acropolis unique. Understanding the cultural and social influences that demanded and created such a timeless beauty, help reveal the secrets of the Grecian empire.
The Colosseum The ruins of the Colosseum are nearly 2000 years old and much of its infrastructure and detail has been lost to the ravages of time and architectural looting. This program returns these ruins to their former glory, using the latest archaeological evidence and sophisticated computer graphics. The engineering secrets, bizarre rituals and cultural significance of this truly epic building are revealed and the spectacular entertainments held there are relived. This building, more than any other, reflected the character of the Roman Empire, from its zenith of power to its ignoble decline. The rise and fall of the Colosseum served as a powerful metaphor for the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
The Great Wall The Great Wall of China is a feat of engineering without equal. It is the history of a nation written in the earth and stone of battlements and ruins that stretch in total for 50,000km. To tell this story, parts of the wall that have now, literally, been lost to the sands of time are "rebuilt" by computer graphics. These animated rebuilds dramatically demonstrate how The Wall was built, how its defenses were designed and how it dominated both the landscape and culture of China for three millennia.
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Four Hours in My Lai - Anatomy of a Massacre
On the 16th March, 1968, US soldiers swept through the South Vietnamese
village of My Lai, gunning down nearly 500 men, women and children.
Twenty years after the event, the US soldiers involved in the slaughter
and the Vietnamese civilians who survived, talk of that day. For many,
My Lai lives on as a nightmare of guilt, for others there is no remorse.
(66 minutes) ©Yorkshire Television DVD $66.00 BRD146 |
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THE GREATEST HEROES IN HISTORY
A series of documentaries charting the exploits of some of history's most formidable figures.7 x 24 minute programs Directed by Jane Quigley A Wark Clements Production ©2002 Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd Set of 7 DVDs $385.00 PED220 or available individually $66.00 each |
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Alexander the Great The legend and legacy of Macedonian King, Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) unrivalled military genius and conqueror of the ancient world. The passion, brilliance and excess with which Alexander lived reflected his hard warrior upbringing, his education at the hands of Aristotle, and his firm conviction, that he was born of the gods. Alexander intimidated the Greek world into submission by destroying Thebes and set about satisfying his lust for power and thirst for knowledge by conquering the 200-year-old enemy of Persia. But he was unable to convince his loyal and battle-worn armies to follow him beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan into India and died at the age of 33. DVD Format $66.00 PED221 |
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Hannibal The military genius of risk-taking Carthaginian General Hannibal Barca (247-182BC). The ancient city state of Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) dominated north Africa and the Mediterranean for 600 years, during which time the first Punic Wars were waged against the Romans - a bitter and bloody 100-year campaign. The son of a general, Hannibal embraced his nation's loathing of Italy and he led the Carthaginian armies during the second Punic Wars. Hannibal's charisma, presence and strength ensured his loyal troops would follow him anywhere. Despite the Romans' best efforts, Hannibal outsmarted his enemy in battle numerous times, before finally losing to Roman general Scipio at Zama in 202 BC. DVD Format $66.00 PED222 |
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Julius Caesar The career of Julius Caesar, the most famous Roman leader of all. A successful military campaign in Asia Minor enhanced Caesar's reputation as a great soldier and a nine-year campaign saw his troops conquer Gaul (now modern France), the greatest military achievement of any Roman leader. He returned to a strife-filled Rome determined to seize power but his overwhelming ambition was his undoing. After being elected dictator-for-life, and amassing vast powers, he was stabbed to death by conspirators in the Senate. DVD Format $66.00 PED223 |
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Nelson Horatio Nelson's naval career ended with one of the greatest military victories in history. Like so many of history's big names, Nelson's achievements have become shrouded in legend, and in this programme experts Mark Grove and Peter Warwick extract the man from the myth to reveal what set him apart. Nelson made his name during the French Revolution, when Britain, refusing to recognise the new French republic, was at war with France and its ally Spain. Nelson's immortalisation was guaranteed when he died during his greatest hour at the Battle of Trafalgar. DVD Format $66.00 PED224 |
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Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military genius, rose to power during the Revolution and declared himself Emperor. Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Napolean's hunger for learning and sympathy for the Revolution set him aside from his fellow cadets. With the old order destroyed, Napoleon prospered under the wing of the feared Robespierre, and on his return from a successful Egyptian campaign, he entered Congress and seized power in a bloodless coup.Napoleon crowned himself Emperor in 1804 and his armies conquered much of Europe. However, the disastrous march on Moscow brought his removal from power and exile to the island of Elba. DVD Format $66.00 PED225 |
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Washington Washington was born in 1732 and enlisted into the Virginia militia where he showed bravery and strategic brilliance as he led several successful British expeditions against French invaders. He returned to his farm after being denied a commission by the British but responded to the call of duty when heavy British taxation inspired the colonists to unite and revolt. Washington's troops began the eight-year War of Independence as a ragtag bunch of conscripts, but ultimately triumphed. Having already supervised the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, Washington was reluctantly appointed President for two four-year terms. DVD Format $66.00 PED226 |
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Lincoln America's greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, led the political crusade for the abolition of slavery.He developed a passion for politics, and for the notion of fairness, became a congressman, and in 1860 was elected President. His well-known hatred of slavery panicked the 'slave states' into withdrawing from the Union and forming the Confederacy. Five years of bloody conflict followed, in which Union General Ulysses S Grant ultimately led the north to victory.Tragically, Lincoln was assassinated after the war but by then, he had already shaped the commitment to human freedom which would define the nation's vision. DVD Format $66.00 PED227 |
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The Greatest Speeches of All Time - Box Set of 3 Discs Duration: 200 minutes |
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The Greatest Speeches of All Time - Volume 1
©1998 SoundWorks Inc. DVD Format $66.00 D0707 |
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The Greatest Speeches of All Time - Volume 2
©2004 SoundWorks Inc. DVD Format $66.00 D0708 |
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The Greatest Speeches of All Time - Volume 3
Duration: 52 minutes |
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Greatest Speeches also available on Compact Disc: The Greatest Speeches of All Time Volume 1 - CD John F Kennedy - Inaugural Address, Martin Luther King Jr - I Have a Dream, Franklin Roosevelt - Declaration of War, Ronald Reagan - Evil Empire, Winston Churchill - First Radio Address as PM. Also Richard Nixon, Robert Kennedy, General Douglas Macarthur. Duration: 77 minutes ©1996 SoundWorks Inc. Compact Disc - CD $44.00 ADS100 The Greatest Speeches of All Time Volume 2 - CD John F Kennedy - Test Ban Treaty, Martin Luther King Jr - Brown Chapel, George H W Bush - Post Desert Storm Victory, William Jefferson Clinton - Normandy. Also Ronald Reagan, Jesse Jackson, Barry Goldwater, Franklin Roosevelt. Duration: 80 minutes ©2005 SoundWorks Inc. Compact Disc - CD $44.00 ADS101 |
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GREAT SPEECHES - BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP, Martin Luther King Jr.
Ten speeches including: Bus Boycott, Montgomery, Alabama - 1956, Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize - 1964, Civil Rights Meeting - 1966, Been To The Mountaintop, Memphis, TN - 1968. (30 minutes)©2006 Speech Works DVD Format $55.00 D2506 |
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Great Speeches - I Have A Dream, Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. joined his Christian beliefs with a deep desire for racial harmony through non-violent resistance to discriminatory laws. In 1955 he led the Montgomery, Alabama boycott of city buses protesting Rosa Parks's arrest for violation of segregation laws. He and his family were subjected to harassment and he was jailed on conspiracy charges. His 'I have a dream' address to the civil rights march on Washington in 1963 moved the conscience of the nation. In 1964 he received an honorary doctorate from Yale, the Kennedy peace prize, and the Nobel Peace Prize. Like his hero Gandhi, the non-violent King was destined to die by violence. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray during a civil-rights mission to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. However, the tragedy of his death ultimately served to advance the cause of civil rights still further. Seen and heard in original footage are the highlights of dramatic speeches made by Martin Luther King Jr. including:
©2004 SoundWorks Inc. DVD Format $55.00 D0709 Also available on Compact Disc: Martin Luther King, Jr. - We Shall Overcome - CD Five speeches - The American Dream (entire speech), My Little Girl, All Here Now, We Must Work, We Shall Overcome. Duration: 46 minutes ©2000 SoundWorks Inc. Compact Disc - CD $36.00 ADS102 |
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GREAT SPEECHES - JOHN F KENNEDY, The Presidential Years
Thirteen speeches from the Presidential Years including: Democratic Convention Acceptance Speech - 1960, State of The Union Address - 1961, 1962, 1963, Civil Rights Legislation - 1963, “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” - 1963. (57 minutes)©2007 Speech Works DVD Format $66.00 D2507 |
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Great Speeches - Sir Winston Churchill, The War Years
Churchill attended military school rather than university and volunteered for duty in British imperial campaigns in India and the Sudan. He went to South Africa to report on the war there and returned a hero after he wrote of his daring escape from the Boers. As First Lord of the Admiralty, he sponsored the disastrous Dardanelles Campaign in World War I. Churchill was one of the first to warn of the perils of Russia's Bolshevik Revolution and to speak out against the dangers of Nazi Germany. At the age of 66, he was asked to lead the British people through the dark days of 1940. Rejected by the British voters in 1945, he stayed on in the Commons and then returned to power in 1951. He died in 1965. Highlights taken from archival footage show ten dramatic speeches made by Sir Winston Churchill:
©2005 Speechworks: SoundWorks International Inc. DVD Format $55.00 D0710 |
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HISTORY IN ACTION
History viewed from the present has an aura of inevitability. This series looks back to key events of the 20th century without the benefit of hindsight and examines contemporary reaction to these events. Original material is used including archive film, photographs, and cartoons to give the flavour of today’s news to historical happenings. ©Granada Television. 8 x 20 minute programs
or available individually History in Action Volume 1 – DVD The Smell of War – 21 July 1914: The heir to the Austrian Empire and his wife were assassinated on 28 June 1914 in the capital of Bosnia. Regrettable but he was unpopular, and any such figure would have been at risk from Serb nationalists. Is this not just another Balkan crisis? Stalemate – December 1914: All over Europe, family reunions this Christmas have proved impossible because nations are still at war. Everyone counted on a short victorious war. What has gone wrong with plans so carefully laid over the past ten years? DVD $66.00 BRD148 History in Action Volume 2 – DVD The Red Tsar – 22 December 1929: Throughout the USSR the 50th birthday of Joseph Stalin, leader of 176 million people, is being celebrated in a blaze of glory not seen since the days of the Tsars. Yet outside the USSR, Stalin has been little known. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? – 29 July 1932: Yesterday American forces and police commanded by General Douglas MacArthur scattered the Bonus Army – unemployed veterans of World War 1 who have marched on Washington. Is this a Communist inspired attempt at revolution? DVD $66.00 BRD149 History in Action Volume 3 – DVD Tiger at the Gate – 15 October 1930: Following the General Election on 14th September we learned the startling news that the Nazis are now the second largest party in the Reichstag. Who are they? And who is Adolf Hitler? The Master Race – 11 August 1936: The Olympic Games are being held in Berlin to show the world Hitler’s belief that ‘true’ Germans are the Master Race. But behind the scenes of the Third Reich, there is evidence of deliberate persecution of political opponents, trade unions and especially Jews. DVD $66.00 BRD150 History in Action Volume 4 – DVD One False Step – 22 August 1961: In Berlin, newly divided by a wall, tension is running high. Both sides have moved up troops and tanks confront each other at the Brandenburg Gate. One false step could plunge Europe into another crisis in Berlin. Soweto, Class of ’76 – 9 September 1976: Since June 16, the white government has presided over the largest massacre of its black population since South Africa came into existence. The cause is the government’s much-disputed racial policy – Apartheid. DVD $66.00 BRD151 |
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The History of The Wonderful World
From the Big Bang to the Greenhouse Effect, from Greek democracy to the French Revolution, this animated series takes viewers on a humorous joyride through the history of mankind. Although descriptions are necessarily brief, the film places events in their historical context and provides a fascinating and amusing overview of history.Part 1: A Place on Earth The evolutionary cycle from the big bang and early single cell organisms to early humans and the development of ancient societies and early religions. Part 2: A Place in Heaven Highlights of this episode include the Roman Empire, Christianity, Islam, The Crusades, discoveries in the New World, the Industrial Revolution, World Wars and the Atom Bomb. © Filmforsyninger, Denmark. Director Anders Sorensen Animated, 2 x 25 minute programs DVD Format (1 disc) $66.00 MMD06 |
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The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela
This intimate and compelling portrait of one of the century’s greatest
leaders. Its purpose is to examine how Mandela has achieved what he
has achieved, how he has risen above his personal trials and kept his
eye unflinchingly on a distant, noble and, in the end, heroically realised
goal. The vibrancy of the narratives of those who have known and shared
the more important moments of Mandela's life, and the diligently selected
archive material sheds fresh light on Mandela as revolutionary, prisoner
and President. (110 minutes)©1999 Story Street Productions and Unapix Entertainment DVD $77.00 ITD101 |
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MEN OF OUR TIME
A series of programs documenting the lives and influences of four prominent men, Gandhi, Lenin, Roosevelt and Hitler, who helped shape the 20th Century. Features original archival footage and interviews.© Granada Television Set of 4 DVDs $198.00 BRD156 Gandhi Millions of Indians saw Mahatma Gandhi as their saviour and through a campaign based on passive resistance he won independence for India from the British. (39 minutes) DVD Format $55.00 BRD154 Hitler Adolf Hitler was a man whose actions materially affected the human race. Kingsley Martin presents an personal assessment of the life and times of the Fuehrer. (54 minutes) DVD Format $66.00 BRD159 Lenin At age 47, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin saw his Marxist vision materialise - Russia was taken over by the workers and the Iron Curtin was to descend. But when he died in 1924, his plan fell under the distorting weight of Stalin. (39 minutes) DVD Format $55.00 BRD155 Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt, four times President of the United States, led the American people through the great depression of the 1930's and was their wartime leader until his sudden death in 1945. (39 minutes) DVD Format $55.00 BRD153 |
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Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet
Sweeping, cinematic desertscapes, narration from the world’s leading
scholars on Islamic history and interviews with Islam’s modern
devotees characterise this landmark documentary about Muhammad, the
7th century prophet who continues to shape the lives of more than 1.2
billion people around the world.This insightful documentary takes viewers to ancient Arabian sites where Muhammad lived as well as into the homes, mosques and work places of today’s followers of his example. It casts doubt on stereotypical preconceptions and describes the passion and dedication that Muslims have for their faith and the values they hold true. Stunningly shot on film throughout the Middle East, Europe and the US, the film chronicles the life of one of the most influential men in history. (115 minutes) Produced and directed by Michael Schwarz ©2002 Kikim Media & Unity Productions Foundation, USA
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MYTHS OF MANKIND
A series of programs attempts to unravel the realities that lie behind some of mankind's most famous myths. Best-selling authors and investigators explore the stories behind the myths, using stunning visuals, dramatic reconstructions and computer-generated images to illustrate their research.Produced and directed by Roel Oostra. ©2003 CTC/Cresset Communications Set of 6 x 50 minute programs
or available individually Myths of Mankind: The Osiris Myth Osiris, the god of afterlife and eternity, holds the key to the mystery of the pyramids in ancient Egypt. The legends of Osiris and his faithful consort Isis, inspired a cult which grew in importance as Egyptians came to believe that their right to the afterlife had to be earned by righteousness and Osiris was their judge. Many of the burial rituals found in the pyramids are connected with the beliefs of the cult. (50 minutes) ©2003 CTC/Cresset
Myths of Mankind: The Truth About Troy What truth is there in Homer and his Iliad? Science now provides spectacular answers as scrutiny of ancient documents reveal the exact location of ancient Troy and historians are piecing together the story of Helen of Troy. The documents tell of a clash between east and west, a challenge to the mighty Hittite empire, the origins of the mysterious Etruscans and provide the kernel of truth in the myths of ancient Rome. (50 minutes) ©2003 CTC/Cresset
Myths of Mankind: The War Against Time - Mystery of the Incas The Inca Empire was the largest kingdom on earth yet it existed for barely a century. The Inca's were described as fearsome warriors yet in 1532, a tiny band of 175 reckless adventurers blundered into the midst of this mighty empire of seven million and succeeded in conquering it almost overnight. How could this happen? Compelling new discoveries reveal the true scope of the cataclysm known as the Spanish Conquest and the tragic secret of the Incas and their lost War Against Time. (50 minutes) ©2003 CTC/Cresset
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Nicholas and Alexandra
A most compelling and authoritative chronicle of Tsar Nicholas 11 and
Empress Alexandra, from Nicholas’s reluctant accession to the throne
in 1894 to the couple’s bloody assassination alongside their children
at the hands of Bolsheviks in 1918. Material concealed by the Communist
censors for decades is now examined, together with extracts from the
Tsar’s personal diaries, family letters and photographs. Presented
by Prince Michael of Kent, descendent of both Nicholas and Alexandra. (100 minutes)Produced and directed by Michael Beckham. ©1994 Granada Media DVD $77.00 BRD113 |
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Vietnam: The War that Divided America
This program, provides an historical overview of the Vietnam conflict, from its beginning during the French occupation of Indochina to the signing of the Paris peace treaty in 1973. Divided into four segments, the first examines early US involvement from 1945 to the end of 1962. Part 2 sees US Escalation from the downfall of Diem to The Tet Offensive of 1968. Part 3 describes the reactions at home during a five-year period from 1968 to 1973. Part 4 examines the aftershocks from 1973 when the Americans left Vietnam to the fall of Saigon in 1975. Program Guide included. (48 minutes)© The Associated Press DVD $66.00 GAD101 |
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