History in Technicolour

David Crowther and Wolf O'Neill

Wolf and David explore the history films we love or (or sometimes, films we’d loved just a little less but find interesting). Turns out we like different things…anyway, then we given them a score for two things – how good are they as a film, and how accurate are they with their history.

When you’ve listened, join us at the History of England Facebook Group – you can vote, and tell us what you think of the film, and you can even tell us (in no uncertain terms) what you think of our views (while writing to your MP in the strongest possible terms).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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20 episodes
Updated Dec 7, 2023

Episodes20

Newest first

Dec 7, 2023 · 50 min
Napoleon
Epic, insightful character study, or bit of a muddle?
Aug 5, 2023 · 1 hr 4 min
Oppenheimer
Big, ambitious and absorbing portrait of a genius who helped change the world
Dec 18, 2022 · 55 min
The Great Escape
Released in 1863 The Great Escape has got to be one of the definitive tales of derring-do, the ultimate escapism, in the 'film is fun' genre. What role would you have had if you had been there? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2022 · 52 min
Chariots of Fire
I remember back in 1981 this film was a sensation; we were all running around on beaches in slo-mo. Has it stood the test of time, though, and is it any more than a bit of fluff? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 20, 2022 · 54 min
Bright Star
Jane Campion's Bright Star was released in 2009 and featured on the lives of Fanny Browne and John Keats in the last years of Keat's life. Abbie Cornish and Ben Wishaw do a brilliant job of recreating their lives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 30, 2022 · 1 hr 1 min
Gladiator
Ridley Scott's classic - is it, and were you entertained or did it unleash hell? Has it stood the test of time? And how well does the revenge format work? This and much more - and a discussion of the ubiquitous agricultural yield ratios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 16, 2022 · 58 min
The Lost King
The Lost King follows the remarkable story of Ricardian Phillipa Langley, whose steely determination and persistence led to the discovery of the body of Richard III and paints the academic community as determined to write her out of the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 25, 2022 · 52 min
Lagaan
The evil British oppressor Captain Russell - twiddly 'tache and all - forces the poor hapless (and stonkingly rich) Raja to impose the traditional tax, Lagaan threefold on the villagers unless they beat the English overlord at their weird game - Cricket (pre IPL days, obs). Find out what happens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 11, 2022 · 51 min
In Cold Blood
The 1967 film noir adaptation of Truman Capote's famous book, In Cold Blood tells of the gruesome story of the murders of the Clutter family. It used a quasi document style, and is not only strikingly filmed, but makes you ask why these people died. It won multiple nominations for Academy Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 28, 2022 · 50 min
The Favourite
This 2018 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos is a glorious tragi-comedy about the lives of three women - Queen Anne, Sarah Churchill and Abigail Hill. It travels the full spectrum from barking mad to genuinely moving. It is a blast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 14, 2022 · 40 min
Rob Roy
Rob Roy is a 1995 film telling a story of a Highland clan chief Rob Roy McGregor played by Liam Neeson; Jessica :Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Brian Cox are superb. The best film about scotland in 1995 for sure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 31, 2022 · 55 min
Cromwell
Cromwell was a 1970 film starring Richard Harris as the eponymous, and Alec Guiness as Charles I. Massive in scale and ambition, in its attempt to present Oliver as a democratic hero of the people. Does it manage it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 11, 2021 · 51 min
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is the 2006 film directed by Sophia Coppola. It took a highly stylised and sumptuous approach, with modern music – though nailing the cake thing. Reception was quite hostile – but maybe has improved? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 22, 2021 · 45 min
The Duellists
The Duellists is Ridley Scott’s first feature film, in 1977. It describes a vicious feud of honour between two officers over the course of the Napoleonic wars
Jul 25, 2021 · 54 min
Zulu
The 1964 Epic Zulu, first major role for Michael Caine was super popular - I saw it in my youth for sure. So how well has it worn? Is it a great drama, and in the light of changing attitudes to colonialism and Empire does it still sti...
Jul 11, 2021 · 55 min
Kingdom of Heaven
Ridley Scott's 2005 historical epic came soon after the massive success of Gladiator, and consciously aimed to repeat it's success. It didn't manage it, but the Director's Cut was better received, and the film has very stro...
Jun 20, 2021 · 1 hr 9 min
Monty Python
Monty Python produced two deeply researched dramas analysing the reign of the great British Hero King Arthur, and the religious leader, Brian. How accurate are they, and are we still a Python worshiping country?
Jun 6, 2021 · 41 min
Land and Freedom
The 1995 film about the Spanish Civil war, directed by Ken Loach and heavily influenced by Orwell's Homage to Catalonia. The film sees the war through the eyes of an English communist who goes to fight for the POUM militia.
May 23, 2021 · 40 min
49th Parallel
A 1941 Powell and Pressburger film designed to persuade the American people of the need to join the war against the Nazis. "Goebbels considered himself an expert on propaganda, but I thought I'd show him a thing or two" said Pre...
May 9, 2021 · 51 min
Peterloo
The massacre at St Peters Field in 1819 was a key date in the story of the development of democracy in Britain. Mike Lee's film sets out to restore that sense of outrage in loving and angry detail.