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Secret Knowledge: Bolsover Castle (2015) #936
DOCUMENTARY
Main
30 mins. BBC. Lucy Worsley tells the story of Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. Built in the early 17th century, Bolsover Castle became the pleasure palace of playboy Cavalier and ambitious courtier William Cavendish. Guiding us on a tour of the castle and its remarkable collection of artworks, Lucy brings to life the spectacular masque held by Cavendish to win the favour of King Charles I. And from within the walls of this eccentric architectural gem emerges a colourful tale, capturing the tensions of early 17th century England that would eventually lead the nation to civil war. |
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The Fairy-Tale Castles of King Ludwig II with Dan Cruickshank (2013) #1556
DOCUMENTARY
Disk
1 hr. BBC. Ludwig II of Bavaria, more commonly known by his nicknames the Swan King or the Dream King, is a legendary figure - the handsome boy-king, loved by his people, betrayed by his cabinet and found dead in tragic and mysterious circumstances. He spent his life in pursuit of the ideal of beauty, which found expression in three of the most extraordinary, ornate architectural schemes imaginable - the castle of Neuschwanstein and the palaces of Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. Today, these three buildings are among Germany's biggest tourist attractions. In this documentary, Dan Cruickshank explores the rich aesthetic of Ludwig II - from the mock-medievalism of Neuschwanstein, the iconic fairy-tale castle that became the inspiration for the one in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty, to the rich, baroque splendour of Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig's answer to Versailles. Dan argues that Ludwig's castles are more than flamboyant kitsch and are, in fact, the key to unravelling the eternal enigma of Ludwig II. |
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The Castle (1997) #278
FILM
Main
Directed by Rob Sitch. With Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Anthony Simcoe. A working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion. |
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In Search of History: Frankenstein (1997) #1118
DOCUMENTARY
Main
42 mins. The History Channel. It is the most famous monster in literature. The enduring creation of Mary Shelley has appeared in countless films and books since it was dreamed up by the 20 year old wife of the famed poet Percy Shelley. But is it possible that the story of the grotesque monster assembled from the parts of cadavers is rooted in the truth? FRANKENSTEIN investigates the true stories of two men who may be at the heart of the classic tale. First, travel to the castle near Frankfurt where an 18th century German doctor conducted gruesome experiments on corpses and live humans! There are startling parallels between what is known of his experiments and Shelley's tale. Another possible source is the work of amateur British scientist Andrew Crosse, who claimed to have generated life in the course of electrical experiments. He was silenced by a religious outcry against his god-like claim, but is his story at the heart of Frankenstein? |