I am def a gamer with a passing interest in history rather than the other way round.
In the past other than WW2 and some obligatory Naval history I was as likely to read about ancient times in Asterix rather than history books.
Recently I am getting more interested and though I still love WW2 stuff my wargaming interests are most def in the Biblical, Classical world.
More than a passing interest in Hannibal for instance but wrong flavour of Roman's for my taste.
Just watched the 60's film with Victor Mature which def had a very documentary feel which looked 100% realistic to me.
In these locked in times has anyone got any film/ documentary faves for any period that may be worth a look, tongue in cheek or not.
I actually quite like the 2006 film Hannibal with Alexander Siddig. Its also in the style of a documentary
I caught the second half of that on telly in Saturday afternoon (also, perhaps), and was totally unable to follow it with any kind of historical knowledge.
I had thought I picked up just after entry into Italy, as Hannibal was scratching his eye and there were elephants everywhere.
A cup or tea made, and there was a battle by a river. Trebia, I thought. It became an ambush. Trasimene then, and more elephants- which shouldn't have been there.
And then a victory celebration, and it was declared to be cannae.
At which point, I started wondering if my tea was made in one of those Californian licensee dispensary things we hear about.
And then a voice over covered more years, campaigns and battles than you could name, and it was over. Basically missing all the good bits.
I just liked it for the fact Alexander Siddig was in it...I may have glossed over the inconsistent story telling :-[
Quote from: Holly on May 17, 2020, 11:52:52 AM
I just liked it for the fact Alexander Siddig was in it...I may have glossed over the inconsistent story telling :-[
You're a closet DS9 fan, admit it :)
Quote from: Erpingham on May 17, 2020, 11:56:54 AM
Quote from: Holly on May 17, 2020, 11:52:52 AM
I just liked it for the fact Alexander Siddig was in it...I may have glossed over the inconsistent story telling :-[
You're a closet DS9 fan, admit it :)
yep....DS9 one of my favourite series behind Firefly
"Just watched the 60's film with Victor Mature which def had a very documentary feel which looked 100% realistic to me"..........
Sorry...... just fallen off my chair. To quote John McEnroe "You cannot be serious!"
I saw the film as a 9 year old who already had a passion for Hannibal. In later years, after the film had passed into my personal mythology, I tried to hunt it down to see it again. I found a reference to it in a Film Gazzette which described it as " A "B" movie in the Sword and Sandal genre released in 1960. Starring Victor Mature, it has a largely unhistorical narrative in which the actors are out performed by the pachyderms" .
Unperturbed I got a copy. Boy were they right. Wooden actors; a central "Love Interest" as Hannibal falls for the niece of Roman Senator Flavius Maximus; people always driving around in chariots and Cannae is an ambush with Carthaginian archers(!) playing a key role. To be fair it does record Hannibal losing an eye (but then spending the rest of the time with a Pirates Eye Patch) and I remember the ending in which Hasdrubal's head is thrown into Hannibal's Camp and being impressed when I found that mentioned in my History book. For some reason that ending is lost in the modern versions available, leaving the ending sudden and disjointed with a voice over.
The film's tagline was "Jump on! Hang on! Here comes the avenging Hannibal and his crazed elephant army!" Need I say more?
I can't be too unkind though since it cemented my childhood (and life long) obsession with Hannibal and Carthage but as a film with any historical or artistic merit. Not really.
If you want a fun film about Hannibal, try Jupiter's Darling. Howard Keel, Esther Williams. What's not to like? (But be aware - any resemblance to history is purely coincidental).
is that "oh Hannibal oh Hannibal we are fighting men of Hannibal" in that case never seen it thank god.
The guys with couched lances charging on elephants look great
Quote from: Baldie on May 18, 2020, 01:05:14 PM
The guys with couched lances charging on elephants look great
Lord be praised, I don't have television and out broadband is so bad I've never even looked at the netflix website 8)
If you have an interest in Hannibal, try and track down Mussolini's propaganda film of the Battle of Zama. Don't treat it as history, but if you want to see Elephants charging then this is the film to watch. I believe several extras died in the making of the film. Certainly I wouldn't have wanted to be in front of any of those Elephants (or on top of them) when they were charging... (actually I wouldn't want to be within a mile of them!).
Richard
Quote from: lionheartrjc on May 20, 2020, 11:47:21 AM
If you have an interest in Hannibal, try and track down Mussolini's propaganda film of the Battle of Zama. Don't treat it as history, but if you want to see Elephants charging then this is the film to watch. I believe several extras died in the making of the film. Certainly I wouldn't have wanted to be in front of any of those Elephants (or on top of them) when they were charging... (actually I wouldn't want to be within a mile of them!).
Richard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7kIP5YZZYM
Start at about 1hr 19 for the elephants 8)
Some nice elephant wrangling there.
Not surprised if some people were killed making that :P
Terrifying indeed, especially the bit where the elephant strangles someone with its trunk.
Nice to see they had time for a quick game of command and colours just before the battle as well.
I saw the film with Victor Mature when I was around 14. The only scene I remember liking was the advance of the Roman legions at Trebia through the cold and snow. Set the mood nicely. I was disappointed when they then cut to showing the aftermath of the battle with little or no fighting that I can remember. That was a bit of a let down.
Victor Mature is the quintessential Hannibal. Is there another actor who has portrayed the legend that is Hannibal? Who can forget him saying "March!".
Indeed!! Nor can I forget the moment he throws off his helmet to put his shoulder to a wagon to help struggling soldiers, who comradely wave their thanks! I may have been unkind about the film but that image of Hannibal as a soldier's soldier and his bond with the ordinary men was crystallized into my 9 year old's brain and emphasized by Victor Mature's performance as the imperious yet admirable Heroic Leader. Yep, Victor made a big impression on a very impressionable young boy. Of course, I am a big boy now!!!
Quote from: Hannipaul on May 24, 2020, 03:49:56 PM
Indeed!! Nor can I forget the moment he throws off his helmet to put his shoulder to a wagon to help struggling soldiers, who comradely wave their thanks! I may have been unkind about the film but that image of Hannibal as a soldier's soldier and his bond with the ordinary men was crystallized into my 9 year old's brain and emphasized by Victor Mature's performance as the imperious yet admirable Heroic Leader. Yep, Victor made a big impression on a very impressionable young boy. Of course, I am a big boy now!!!
It does beg the question how he did manage to keep the show on the road for as long as he did given the army that he led
Because he is the one and only, Victor Mature! And he lends a hand pushing bogged wagons.