History (Doc Various)

A 1999 BBC programme as part of Reputations series, narrated by Peter Capaldi. Ireland's leader for 21 years, Eamon de Valera was loved and hated in equal measure. A revolutionary, he became president of Sinn Fein in 1918, but his fight for independence led to civil war and he was seen as the scourge of the IRA. This film probes the contradictory, complex character of the prime minister who styled himself as the embodiment of the Irish nation.

A 1998 History Channel Documentary, narrated by Harlan Saperstein. Documentary on Josip Broz Tito who took control of fractious Yugoslavia after World War II and brought it under the banner of Communism. However, Tito refused to bow to Stalin's Moscow, creating the first serious rift among Soviet bloc countries.

A 2023 Documentary Directed by Martin Carazo Mendez. Audio in German with subtitles in English, Italian, French, Spanish and German subtitles (click on CC for subtitles). An exploration of Cologne Cathedral, an emblematic monument and world heritage site. The towering place of worship took over 600 years to complete. Once the tallest building in the world, its ornate facade remains a masterpiece of Gothic architecture - and a reflection of the evolution of Franco-German relations.

A 2014 Documentary series looking at the most beautiful cities in the world. These majestic cities share much in common: artistic history, stunning architecture and a rich historic, cultural and literary heritage. Each episode is a journey to the heart of one legendary city. We immerse ourselves in their golden age, profiling these cities from inside out. Episode 1: Athens stands as a testament to ancient Greek ingenuity and cultural brilliance. As the cradle of democracy, it introduced revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world. The Acropolis, crowned by the majestic Parthenon, symbolizes the zenith of classical architecture. The Agora, bustling with philosophers and statesmen, was the heart of civic life. Temples dedicated to gods like Athena and Zeus adorned the city, showcasing architectural prowess. The legacy of Athens is immortalized in its contributions to philosophy, arts, and governance. This documentary offers an immersive journey into the city's illustrious past. Witness the enduring spirit of Athens, where history and myth intertwine. Episode 2: https://rumble.com/v6vii2p-legendary-cities-florence-a-renaissance-masterpiece-episode-2.html Note: I don't have the complete series.

Episode 2: We delve into the rich history and architectural splendor of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. The powerful Medici family, eager to showcase their influence, invested heavily in art, palaces, squares, and religious monuments. Their patronage transformed Florence into one of the most stunning cities of the 15th century. The city's beauty and grandeur were shaped by the Renaissance spirit, leaving a lasting legacy of artistic and architectural masterpieces that continue to awe the world today. Florence remains a symbol of cultural rebirth and artistic excellence. Episode 3: https://rumble.com/v6viikx-legendary-cities-st.-petersburg-the-city-of-catherine-the-great-episode-3.html

Episode 4: https://rumble.com/v6vin77-legendary-cities-london-the-city-of-queen-victoria-episode-4.html

Episode 4: Queen Victoria very much made her mark on England and especially London for example imposing St Pancras Station, of which she was very proud. The British capital is full of charm and history, come with us as we discover its secrets.

A 2021 ARTE France Documentary, written and Directed by Jean-Pierre Cottet, narrated by Lexie Kendrick. For over a century, the name Fabergé has evoked the world's most extravagant Easter eggs. Today, the Imperial Eggs, as they came to be called, continue to enjoy an unmatched position in the history of the decorative arts. But the work of Fabergé goes well beyond that. Miniature animal sculptures, clocks, cigarette cases, theater binoculars... relying on the rich creativity of his brother Agathon and on a network of talented suppliers, workshop managers and subcontractors, Carl Fabergé gave birth to a magical world and revolutionized jewelry. He designed a range of other work of high quality and intricate details, that took the art world by storm, provoking the passion of thousands of collectors across the planet. Fabergé broke the codes of traditional jewellery and created an exceptional industry. This film immerses us into the incredible universe the House of Faberge invented. Above the eggs, it retraces the destiny of the Faberge Clan, and explores its entire work. An exceptional human adventure that took place in a declining Russian Empire about to be swept away by the revolution. The path of the Russian Fabergé family of jewelers from Saint Petersburg reflects the history of the Russian Empire from the mid-19th century to the fall of the tsarist rule in the course of the revolutionary upheavals of 1917. In 1872, the Russian goldsmith and jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé took over his father Gustav's prosperous jewelery shop in Saint Petersburg and made it world-famous. With his outstanding creations, Fabergé fulfilled the luxury needs of the elite, who were completely isolated from the starving people. After Alexander III become aware of Faberge in 1882, he turned into court jeweler to the Tsar and later to his son Nicholas II. The Romanovs' passion for his jewelery and decorative objects ensured him unparalleled prosperity and artistic freedom. The trigger was his legendary surprise egg made of enamel, gold and ruby, with which Alexander III delighted his wife Maria Fyodorovna at Easter 1885. Until the revolution, more imperial Easter eggs followed almost every year, ever more valuable and original than the other. But these eggs are only a tiny part of Fabergé's oeuvre. In fact, he founded an industry of valuable jewelry objects that immediately aroused the passion of collectors. These exquisitely tasteful, brightly coloured, sometimes stylistically bold pieces of jewelery served the tsar's family as gifts to foreign dignitaries on their travels. Fabergé supplied the Queen and other crowned heads of Europe as well as the kings of Siam. For the families of the aristocracy and the rising industrial bourgeoisie in Russia, Fabergé's talismans, fetishes and jewels were real objects of desire, with which they could feel like little tsars. Powered by his conviction that the value of a painting is not measured by its price, Fabergé elevated the jeweller's craft to an art and the craftsman to the artist.

A 1987 Documentary Film by Nicole Védrès. Audio in French with English subtitles. Documentary limning the life of Paris and its citizens during "La Belle Epoque," the years between 1900 and 1914. Beginning with the Paris Exposition of 1900 and the completion of the Eiffel Tower, the film progresses through cultural, technological, and social changes, from peaceful and sometimes naive times to the rumbling foreshadowing of the war that would disrupt France and Europe for years to come.

A 2008 NFB History Docu-drama narrated by Robert Holmes Thomson. How can you make peace when what you really want is revenge? In the wake of 37 million casualties at the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson took his dream of a League of Nations to Paris to seek "peace everlasting," joining over 30 international delegations who descended upon the great city for the most ambitious peace talks in history. Helmed by the Big Four (the United States, France, Great Britain, and Italy), the Paris Peace Conference ultimately and ironically sowed the seeds of resentment that led to World War II. Director Paul Cowan expertly blends re-enactments with archival footage to transport us to one of the most important summit meetings of the 20th Century. Inspired by the award-winning bestseller by Margaret MacMillan, Paris 1919 chronicles an extraordinary historical event that dissolved empires, redrew maps, engineered the Treaty of Versailles - and created far-reaching consequences that continue to afflict and trouble our world today.