Reel History

(This is part two of a double episode – listen to part one here. We also just released our Guillotine Special bonus episode at patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast Join for as little as 2.5 EUR and get access to dozens of bonus eps!) The powdered parties are over, the pastry crumbs swept aside, and the gates of Versailles are about to be kicked in. Join us for the explosive second half of our Marie Antoinette double bill as we leave the perfumed salons of the palace and step into the hungry, furious, rapidly radicalising France that Sofia Coppola’s film mostly keeps beyond the frame. If episode one was all silk slippers and scandal sheets, episode two is bread riots and bayonets! Having charted Marie Antoinette’s rise from teenage archduchess to the most notorious woman in France, we now turn to the crisis consuming the kingdom itself. Why did one of Europe’s richest and most powerful states collapse into bankruptcy, paralysis and revolt? How did the ancien régime of privilege and feudal dues stagger into the constitutional age? We’ll trace the great turning points of the Revolution, including the famous Women’s March on Versailles that dragged the royal family from their gilded isolation and into the uneasy captivity of Paris. From there, we follow two years of humiliation, suspicion and dwindling authority before the fateful attempted escape to Varennes — a bungled flight that shattered what little trust remained between crown and country. As Europe’s monarchies close ranks and revolutionary France lurches into war, the stakes grow bloodier still. In the middle of it all stands Marie Antoinette: widowed, demonised and facing the same merciless machinery that consumed so many others. Was she a vain symbol of a rotten system, a stubborn political actor who helped doom the monarchy, or a tragic scapegoat caught in forces far beyond her control? Join us as we sort fact from legend one last time and follow Marie Antoinette from the Hall of Mirrors to the guillotine. Sources ‘Marie Antoinette -The Journey” – Antonia Fraser ‘The Ancien Régime and the Revolution’ – Alexis De Tocqueville ‘Citizens – A chronicle of the French Revolution’ – Simon Schama ‘The History of Modern France’ – Jonathan Fenby

“The revolution is over… I AM the revolution!” proclaimed Mark dramatically as we recently sat down to record this second sortie into our trilogy on the man behind the myth – Napoleon! No, but seriously, these were the confidently spoken words of a 30-year-old 1st Consul Bonaparte in 1800 as he presented himself as saviour to the war-weary French at the dawn of a new century. But cessez-le-feu and let’s not be getting ahead of ourselves; we first take a rapid-fire look at the key events that allowed this plucky provincial general to seize power and install himself and Josephine rent-free in Louis XVI’s former apartments in the Tuileries Palace. Now, watching Ridley Scott’s film could easily lead you to believe that Napoleon’s real motivation for conquering Europe was to win the heart and approval of his wife and one-time obsession, Josephine. Allow us, therefore, to supply the vital context glaringly missing from the film for the momentous events which shaped the fortunes of Napoleon, his family, and the age. Along the way, we will dish out the gossip on the affairs, love letters and tremendous lovers’ tiffs which made Josephine and Napoleon’s relationship a worthy rival to Anthony and Cleopatra’s! We’ll then embark on a journey across the Mediterranean to find out why both Napoleon and revolutionary France were so keen to invade Egypt in 1798. Learn the truth behind this often rose-tinted misadventure which would later lead Napoleon to ruefully claim ‘If I had stayed in the east, I would have founded an empire like Alexander’. Digging deeper, we examine how Napoleon used his skills as a master propagandist to emulate his hero Caesar to win over the hearts of his soldiers and the public on his ruthless ascent to the imperial throne. This cunningly crafted image of the young hero would supposedly cement the gains of the revolution while putting a full stop to the chaos it unleashed – a compelling tale that would enable him to carry out his coup d’état of 18 Brumaire. Building on this, we will examine the pivotal battles and military tactics employed by Napoleon to effectively crush all in his wake as he astounded France’s increasingly desperate enemies with victory after victory. Finally, we will learn about Napoleon’s meritocratic (if autocratic) imperial regime and its enduring civil reforms which continue to shape the modern world long after the last shot rang out at Waterloo. As Napoleon’s foreign minister Talleyrand once said of the new consul ‘If he lasts a year, he’ll go far!’. Well, he certainly lasted longer than that, so make sure to join us next time when we put a bow on this trilogy and learn what happened when the stakes (and number of coalitions) got higher and higher, and fortune finally turned on the Emperor.

“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” catapults audiences into the heart of medieval England, where the legendary outlaw Robin Hood leads a band of merry men in a daring revolt against tyranny and injustice. Directed by Kevin Reynolds and starring Kevin Costner in the titular role, this epic adventure weaves together action, romance, and heroism in a timeless tale of courage and camaraderie. OR, as Mark prefers to describe it: “Nottingham” catapults audiences into the fascinating life of the off-beat heroic Sheriff of Nottingham as he tries to hold the realm together in the face of petty criminals being led by a jealous noble who has returned from an ill-conceived war in the East which brought nothing but hardship and death. Set against the backdrop of a war-torn England ruled by the ruthless Sheriff of Nottingham (portrayed by Alan Rickman in a scene-stealing performance), the film follows Robin of Locksley as he returns from the Crusades to find his homeland ravaged by corruption and oppression. Determined to right the wrongs inflicted upon his people, Robin takes up the mantle of the hooded outlaw, stealing from the rich to give to the poor! Daring heists, exhilarating skirmishes and heart-pounding chases through the ancient forests of Sherwood. The film’s best quality is a scenery-chewing performance from Alan Rickman, so powerful Costner may as well have stayed on a ranch in the American west or whatever. You’ve heard the legend of Robin Hood and his merry men, you’ve probably even heard the name Richard the Lionheart. But did any of this really happen? Was a Cult-leading satanist Sheriff really in charge of England, defied only by a rich man who has decided to slum it with the plebs? Join us on Reel History and find out! Side note: The accompanying song by Bryan Adams is a crime against culture.

In episode 4 of Season 4 we’re diving into the 2004 film adaptation of King Arthur, marketed as the epitome of historical accuracy but leaving much to be desired. With a star-studded cast led by Clive Owen and Keira Knightley, the film aimed to elevate the Arthurian legend to new heights but ultimately stumbled in its execution. Join us as we dissect the discrepancies between cinematic portrayal and historical reality, using this film as a launchpad to explore the enigmatic legend of King Arthur. From the very first frame, where the claim “Historians Agree” sets the stage, we debunk the notion of consensus around the Arthurian legend and scrutinize the film’s depiction of native peoples, dubbed “Wodes,” even though they’re clearly Picts. Venturing beyond the silver screen, we delve into the origins of the Arthurian myth, tracing its evolution from ancient folklore to modern-day interpretations. Through discussions on Roman conquests, the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, and the tumultuous fall of Roman Britain, we unearth the historical foundations upon which the legend of King Arthur is built. Sources “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” by Edward Gibbon “The Twelve Caesars” by Suetonius “The First Kingdom: Britain in the Age of Arthur” by Max Adams

This is our PATREON’S CHOICE of Season 4 – a vote was put to our Patrons and Anastasia was the top pick! If you want to influence future topic selection, and get a Fabergé egg’s worth of bonus episodes for a mere 3 rubels, head to patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast Step into the fantastical world of animated royalty and historical intrigue as we take on the tall tale of Anastasia Romanov. Hold onto your tiaras, because this isn’t just a fairy tale – we’re diving deep into the tumultuous history of the Romanov dynasty and the seismic events that led to their downfall. We can’t resist the allure of rewinding all the way to the origins of Russia as a country – trust us, it’s relevant! To grasp the significance of the Romanovs and their iron-fisted reign, we need to take a step back, since this royal house held absolute sway over the Russian Empire for an astounding 300 years. We’ll explore a complex web of political unrest, economic disparity, and social upheaval, uncovering the myriad factors that contributed to the Romanovs’ downfall. But amidst the opulence and power, there’s a lingering mystery that has captured imaginations for decades – the conspiracy theory of Anastasia Romanov’s survival. We delve into the fascinating lore surrounding Anastasia’s alleged escape from the clutches of revolutionaries, and why relatively recent historical evidence debunks this myth. Join us as we go beyond the animation into the annals of history and uncover the truths, myths, and mysteries surrounding one of the most fascinating dynasties in European history. Oh, and if you think we forgot about Rasputin, please stay tuned for next week. 😉

What awaits you on this episode? GLORY! TAKE IT! ITS YOURS! Yes, we are paraphrasing the awful dialogue delivered haplessly by Brad Pitt in the 2004 Wolfgang Petersen epic, Troy. Loosely (very loosely) based on the Homeric poem, the Iliad, the movie explores the legendary Trojan War, a conflict sparked by the love affair between Paris, Prince of Troy, and Helen, Queen of Sparta. Starring Brad Pitt as the warrior Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, and Orlando Bloom as Paris, the film boasts a star-studded cast. Which sounds great, right? Sigh. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of the Bronze Age world, where the powerful Achaeans (Greeks) led by Brian Cox’s Agamemnon and Peter O’Toole’s Priam, King of Troy are on the brink of war. Agamemnon the ambitious king of Mycenae, seeks to expand his influence by conquering Troy. To achieve this, he manipulates the legendary warrior Achilles into joining the Greek forces. As the armies clash on the shores of Troy, the film portrays the brutal and visceral nature of ancient warfare. Except not really. But what is the Iliad actually about? What was life really like during the Bronze Age? Did Troy really exist? What about this horse you’ve heard about? Join us as we separate the REAL history from the REEL history!

Ahoy and welcome to the highly anticipated Season 4 premiere of Reel History! We’re back with another 10-episode season, releasing biweekly on Thursdays. Beyond our usual eps you’ll find bonus discussions delving deeper into these topics on the Reel History Patreon – thank you to our Patrons for bringing this season to life! Join now and get immediate access to over a dozen bonus episodes for as little as three doubloons a month: https://www.patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast In this episode, we set sail on a thrilling adventure as we explore the Golden Age of Piracy through the lens of the iconic film “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003). As the crew gathers in the studio, the excitement is palpable, and the rum is flowing. Of course piracy isn’t something new or unique to the Caribbean, so we start with a brief history of ancient piracy – did you know the Latin word for the Irish basically means pirate? We explain the problem with privateers and sort out what the heck a buccaneer is before getting into the push and pull factors that led to a massive rise in piracy in the Caribbean during the 17th century. Learn how the coming of peace makes for idle hands, and how those hands tend to pick up muskets! We delve into key figures such as Vane, Bellamy, Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Hornigold, and Jennings, providing listeners with an intimate look at the pirates who shaped this era. The narrative sails through the highs and lows of the Pirate Republic, with a focus on what led to its eventual decline. The retaking of Nassau is dissected, unraveling the events that marked the end of the pirate haven. And of course we can’t leave you without getting into the intriguing concept of the Pirate Code, including the infamous “right of parlay.” Are they guidelines or what? Join us for this swashbuckling voyage, where fact and fiction entwine to reveal the fascinating truths behind the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Golden Age of Piracy.

** Visit PATREON.COM/REELHISTORYPODCAST for exclusive bonus podcasts between seasons *** Welcome to the finale of Season 3 of Reel History! In this episode we look back at our past season, answering listener questions and handing out the Mel Gibson Awards to the least historically accurate films. Michael and Jakob also face off in a historical quotes quiz (it’s tense, see image) and we celebrate the completion of this season with a mandatory gâteau. But besides looking to the past, we also look ahead… As of TODAY we’re launching a Patreon where you can sign up for 2.50 EUR to get one (1) bonus episode per month. It will be quiet here on the main feed as we start producing season 4 but there will be a consistent stream of extra podcasts and updates available to you via our Patreon. If you decide to sign up, you’ll be helping us buy history books, audio equipment, train tickets and pints, all of which would be much appreciated and which would expedite our production of season 4. So what do you get out of this? Well, we’re committed to producing the next season as quickly as possible so we won’t put out a plethora of bonus content but we’re committing to releasing one bonus episode per month between seasons. These will be things like: * Footnotes & Fancies: We explore Footnotes, where we expand on topic touched on in the main show but which we didn’t have time to properly get into, and Fancies, where we give updates on production, answer Patron questions, and get into various fanciful topics. * Top 5 History: We list out some of the greatest and worst people and achievements in history, answering questions like who were history’s top 5 emperors, pirates, scientists or martyrs? * Reel History After Dark: Come with us to the pub We might add additional shows and tweak our Patreon concept based on listener interest, so if you do sign up, don’t hesitate to tell us what you think and what you’d like to hear from us. And, of course, if you’re not interested in the Patreon, just stay on this feed and you’ll have season 4 delivered in 2023! Until then you can hang out with us on Twitter @reel_history (if the platform still exists by the time you read this) and catch up on a whole host of other podcasts from the same crew over at showswhatyouknow.com!