Reel History

Oh, you want more Vikings? We’ve got more Vikings.

In this third (and final) installment about the History Channel’s drama series Vikings, we’re talking about the main characters and their real-life counterparts… er… if they in fact existed.

Join as we discuss the man, the myth, the legend – Ragnar Lodbrok! Was he a simple farmer from Denmark who had visions of glory or a divine hero, inspired by Odin the all-father to slay dragons, wander to distant lands and marry witch-princesses? And what does ‘Lodbrok,’ mean anyway? We’ll discuss the shows portrayal of one of Europe’s legendary leaders and compare it against the sources that exist for the real figure that served as the key figure the History Channel’s show.

We also take aim at our female lead, the mythical Lagertha! A legendary shield-maiden (were they even real?), Lagertha anchors much of the show’s 6 seasons and proves every bit the Viking hero of her husband and son. But was she real? Rollo the Walker, the inspiration for Ragnar’s brother is also discussed- we chart how you can go from dispossessed minor noble in Norway to founding a dynasty in France that would conquer Britain and Ireland, not to mention Sicily and Jerusalem!

Come join us and hear how the story ends with Harald Hardrada, the ‘Last Viking.’ England is invaded on two fronts and a fateful arrow to the eye changes history forever. It’s climatic battles, magic pants, a man who moves like a snake, fate, the gods and everything in between. It’s Vikings Part III. It’s Reel History.

Please remember to leave a review and follow us @reel_history on Twitter!

The post Vikings III | The End of the Viking Age (1066) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

We’re halfway through season 3 of Reel History! This week we’re taking a deeper look at Vikings, using the TV show as a basis to explore the real history of the Viking age. In this second installment (out of three) we zoom through a rapid fire timeline, dropping in on key events that shaped the development of the Viking age.

Come along on a journey where Anglo Saxon kingdoms find some friendly and useful mercenaries to use against one another in their struggle for supremacy! Learn the truth behind the myths of Rollo the Walker and Björn Ironside, the little boy from Vikings who took a jaunt around southern Europe. Hear all about the foundation of Normandy (or should we say Northman-dy) and the origins of the word Russia.

We all know the bloodthirsty raider but, this week, let’s learn about the people from the north who influenced all of Europe and beyond; how languages and genes mixed, and how the blood of the north made it into the veins of kings, tsars and emperors alike.

We’ll return next time to talk about some of the remaining key characters from the show, not least Ragnar Lodbrok himself, as well as the end of the Viking age. Until then, please remember to leave a review and follow us @reel_history on Twitter!

The post Vikings II | A Timeline of the Viking Age (794 – 1065) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Today we start a trilogy; three episodes tackling the smash-hit historical drama Vikings! The show features historical (?) characters such as Ragnar Lothbrok, Rollo, the first ruler of Normandy, and the easily pronounced Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson. These friendly travellers traipse across the entire Viking age so we thought we might do the same and take a crack at summarising one of the most mysticised and iconic periods of European history in three episodes.

The Reel History crew has not one but two personal connections to this show as it was filmed in Ireland, just around the corner from where we record the show, and it also tackles Scandinavian history – yes, we’ve yet to tackle a Swedish movie but this material brings us pretty jävla close and it brings our Swedish co-host out of his “I don’t know anything about history” shell, because it turns out they actually teach some of this stuff in school over there.

In this first episode we go thorugh everyday Viking life and what we know about it, and we do some historical mythbusting around more than just the whole horned helmet thing. We bring you through the early history of the region, including the ancient peoples that pre-dated the Vikings. We bring you an eyewitness account of “the filthiest of God’s people”, tell you about the technology that made the Viking expansion possible (good boats), and explain how their groundbreaking grooming habits effectively “sieged the married women’s virtue”.

Stay tuned for the next two episodes where we’ll give a breakneck breakdown of the main events of the Viking age and dive deep into key characters from the show and their real life counterparts.

The post Vikings I | Life During the Viking Age (793) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

It seemed so perfect. We had Oliver Stone, the filmmaker behind JFK & Nixon; the auteur director of Wall Street, Platoon and the Doors. We had a monstrous budget, a huge cast and locations from India to Morocco. We had one of history’s most interesting characters. We even had an excellent historical consultant on hand to keep the filmmakers honest. We finally had the follow up to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator!

And then it all went so wrong.

Join us this week as we discuss Oliver Stone’s epic disaster, Alexander. It’s Doris Day’s wig playing Collin Farrell playing Alexander the Great. Bizarre performances from some of the worst casting you have ever seen in a serious Hollywood production meets appalling dialogue in this baffling biopic. Collin Farrell is somehow supposed to be believable as the son of the Snake-Witch Angelina Jolie and horrendously drunk Val Kilmer all whilst sporting a truly offensive hair-do.

Alexander the Great has lived in the memory of both the west and the east as he went from first dominating the Greek world to founding over a dozen cities and stamping Greek culture on Asia from modern Turkey to India. Dead at 32, this forever-young historical icon produced some of the regions most important cultural milestones from battles and an attempt at ethnic harmony to long-lived dynasties that would later give even Rome a headache. From a reference in the Bible as the King of Greece who will conquer the Medes and Persians to the Arabic ‘Two Horned one,’ and the Zoroastrian ‘Alexander the Accursed,’ few figures have loomed quite so large over history.

Our hosts are exasperated by a movie who’s running time is matched only by its increasingly bizarre choices. The Greeks are English while the Macedonians are Irish…except when they’re American…or Welsh…the wigs are crazy, the waste of talented actors is unforgiveable and Jared Leto is in it for some reason.

We’ll discuss the true story of this young King of Macedon and discuss why he’s known to history not just as Alexander, but Alexander the Great.

Sources:

Alexander the Great- Robin Lane Fox (2004)
Alexander the Great Failure- John D. Grainger (2009)
The Campaigns of Alexander- Arrian (Penguin Classics, 1976)
Life and Exploits of Alexander the Great- Quintus Curtius Rufus (2018)
The Age of Alexander- Plutarch (Penguin Classics, 2012)

The post Alexander (2004) | The Great (323 BC) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Lances at the ready for episode 2 of season 3 of Reel History!

In this week’s journey into the mists of time, Michael struggles with his French pronunciation and hopes no one will notice as we muster our forces to give battle to 2021’s ‘The Last Duel’ (now streaming on Disney +). With Ridley Scott at the helm and a screenplay written in part by the Oscar winning duo of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, this film seemed destined to fill post lockdown cinema seats everywhere.

Despite basking in a warm glow of critical success (85% rating Rotten Tomatoes), it has turned into a certified feudal flop at the ever-capricious box office. Why is anyone’s guess but as Mark says you can’t blame everything on Millennials, Ridley! Tune in to learn why we’re determined to right this wrong!

Set in 1386 in a feudal France ravaged by the 100 Years War, this film throws down the gauntlet by challenging the viewer to examine the story of the horrific rape of Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) and its seismic consequences from the contradictory perspectives of three central protagonists. This leads to a bitter enmity developing between two old friends, Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques le Gris (Adam Driver) that rocks the kingdom of Charles VI as Marguerites life (not to mention her eternal soul) hang in the balance. To end the stalemate, these two squires’ resort to the ‘Judgement of God’ in the form of a heart pounding duel to the death to establish the guilt or innocence of Marguerite and her attacker.

Join us to learn whether any of this happened as we pore over Eric Jager’s 2004 original source material. We turn a beady eye on the intensely hierarchal world of quarrelsome knights, squires, barons, and kings where the maxim ‘no lord without land, no land without a lord’ held sway. We examine the ancient origins of duelling before turning to the real lives behind the tale and learn how even medieval legal proceedings were drawn out tedious affairs! Along the way we balance both heavy and light topics covering everything from late medieval attitudes to rape, women’s rights (or lack thereof) to beliefs in enchanted weapons and curses. We learn of the hazards of being an out of shape knight and even find time to chat about a famous shirtless Irish trial by combat which we all agree needs to make it to the big screen!

Sources
• ‘The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat’ by Eric Jager (2004)
• ‘A Great and Glorious Adventure: A History of the Hundred Years War and the Birth of Renaissance England’ by Gordon Corrigan (2013)
• ‘Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle’ by Juliet Barker (2006)

The post The Last Duel (2021) | The Death of Trial by Combat (1386) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to Season 3 of Reel History! We’ll be releasing 10 new episodes, aiming for a bi-weekly releases on Thursdays. Follow @reel_history on Twitter to find out what historical films/shows we’re covering in advance so that you can watch along with us.

We’re back, and it seems that nobody is safe from the inaccurate madness of Mel Gibson. That’s right, in our first season 3 episode we’re finally talking about Gibson’s opening gambit in the field of ahistorical epics — Braveheart.

Michael barely contains his ire as his nemesis (Mel Gibson) turns his gaze to the Scottish Wars of Independence. In a ludicrous portrayal of Scotland’s national heroes and villains we go on a trip through Scotland’s struggle for independence against the evil English. Wallace starts off inaccurately as a simple subsistence farmer and fights his way through the wrong years before ending up as an icon of Scottish national sovereignty. From living in a mud hut for some reason and wearing a Kilt from the wrong century to gathering a rabble of followers who have never seen a bath to boldly facing down the English royal army in inaccurate battles at the wrong sites using the wrong gear while wearing blue face paint that is from a mere 1200 years ago.

Join us as we discuss this muddling of the timeline that’s enough to give Doc Brown a headache and see can you make out the hushed rage under Michael’s voice as his archenemy butchers another historical period! Who was the real Wallace? Who was the real Edward I? Who the hell is Andrew de Moray and why is he always ignored for gods sake he’s so important, somebody pay attention…. Ahem

It’s Reel History, it’s Braveheart.

Stop asking us about it now, okay?

Sources:

“Robert the Bruce: King of Scots” by Ronald McNair Scott
“A Great and Terrible King- Edward I and the forging of Britain” by Marc Morris
“William Wallace”- Andrew Fisher.

The post Braveheart (1995) | William Wallace (1297) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

What’s this?! A Reel History spin off? A special feature? Well, whatever we’re calling it, we’re dropping one or two experimental episodes between seasons. We’ve been busy cooking up season 3 and it’s creeping closer by the day, so it’s well past time to start releasing these!

First off is a breakdown of the Top 5 Schemers throughout all of history. From lascivious to vicious and back again, listen to find out the true meaning of “Machiavellian”.

In the Season 2 finale we mentioned that we’d be doing 5 episodes between seasons but due to some audio issues – and the fact that we want to get Season 3 out as soon as possible – there won’t be five. There will be, like… one? Maybe two?? Either way, enjoy, and look forward to Reel History Season 3: coming soon!

In the wait for Season 3, in addition to screaming into the void about the lack of episodes, why don’t you entertain yourself by tweeting about the show (@reel_history), leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, and telling a friend? Much appreciated and see you soon. For more history trivia like “who invented the first curling iron in 1872“, you can visit lizzardco.com.

The post History Top 5 – Schemers first appeared on Shows What You Know.

“What’s this! I thought season 2 was over!”

It is but we’re going to sneak out some content between seasons, starting with this quick take on the trailer for Ridley Scott’s new The Last Duel, coming out in October!

We will most likely do a full episode on this film but since we’re between seasons we thought we’d chat about our hopes, hype and expectation.

Watch the trailer and let us know what you think @reel_history on Twitter or in a review on Apple Podcasts!

The post The Last Duel (2021) | Trailer Reaction first appeared on Shows What You Know.

If this is your first episode, you might want to pick a film you like and listen to that ep first – this is a special one, the finale of season 2! We’re answering listener questions, taking on a musical challenge and giving a sneak peak of what’s coming next in the history of Reel History. See you soon, friends – for now, that’s the end of the reel.

The post Reel History Season 2 Finale first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Ave, citizen!

It’s Episode 4 of our Roman epic and the ailing Republic is divided in two. It’s East vs. West, brains vs. brawn and man vs. woman (okay that’s a stretch) as Gaius Octavius steps into the limelight to face off against Mark Antony and his Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. It’s been a long haul but we promise we’re almost done… as the Republic transforms into the Empire, most of the iconic figures are off the board leaving only two viable factions. But as we all know, there can be only one.

Michael has calmed down after last episode having put things right for poor Cicero but we learn that his dislike for young Gaius is almost as strong as his reverence of the old statesman. We learn how Gaius Octavius rose from being an overly protected and sickly boy, seemingly no threat to anyone, to becoming the world’s most powerful man. It’s the ultimate expression of brains over brawn as Gaius Octavius outmanoeuvres the experienced soldiers and politicians alike who sought to use him and instead becomes as great as his uncle. It’s the coming of age of a dictator, from Octavius to Caesar. From simply Gaius, to Augustus.

We also delve into one of history’s most famous romances – Antony and Cleopatra. Antony had it all, Rome was practically at his heel, only a sickly and unimpressive young boy with a famous name in his way. But Cleopatra had plans, the Queen of Kings used her relationship with Antony to firmly establish her rule over Egypt, finally crushing any dissent from those who supported her brother in Egypt’s long civil war. We’ll discuss what Antony got up to in the East while Gaius Octavius consolidated the west and how Cleopatra figured into things.

The century of civil wars are coming to a close as some of Rome’s most famous men (and women) clash for a final time… The great Cicero hopes to save the dying Republic while Octavius and Antony fight it out with Rome’s fate hanging in the balance.

The Grachi, Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Crassus and Caesar all have shown the way and Gaius Octavius meant to outdo them all. His audaciousness and ruthlessness are the stuff of legend, daring to do what even Caesar himself had not.

But as he would put it: I am Caesar himself. 

Sources
Adrian Goldsworthy: Augustus: The First Emperor of Rome (2015)
Mary Beard- SPQR
Plutarch- The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (Benediction Classics, Oxford 2015)

The post ROME IV | Rise of the Empire (42-27 BC) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears! I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. It’s episode 3 of our coverage of HBO’s ROME, starting in on the second season – and the Republic hangs by a thread. The Great Julius Caesar is dead, the city is in shock. What next?

War… obviously. Haven’t you been paying attention?

Join us as we discuss the fallout of Caesar’s death, and the figures that tried to fill his considerable void. A grand conspiracy of senators led by the Epicurean Cassius formed around Brutus, son of Rome’s first family while Mark Antony and the Caesarian loyalists seem to be on the ropes. Surely the conspirators will push their advantage and dismantle the Caesarian revolution… right? All will be fine and the Republic restored… right?

Michael waxes lyrical about his hero, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Done a disservice by the show, Cicero rose from provincial obscurity to be one of the most important figures in all Roman history. The show portrays Cicero as conniving, snivelling and weak and frankly, Michael is not impressed.

Mark Antony comes to the fore, stepping in to lead Caesar’s faction in the wake of his mentor’s death. We discuss how Antony rose from ne’er do well to right-hand man of Caesar. Ever the opportunist, Antony didn’t have to be asked twice when it came time for Caesar’s funeral oration. He knew this was a tactical blunder from the conspirators and seized the opportunity to remind the mob of their love for Caesar, framing his death as a blow stuck to the mob by these supposed ‘nobles.’

Brutus and Cassius had believed they would restore Rome by removing the demagogue and defanging the mob. But Antony knew the truth – Rome is the mob.

The battle lines are redrawn. It’s the self-styled Librators against the Caesarians with the fate of Rome in the balance.

Meanwhile, Gaius Octavian waits in the wings.

Sources
Tom Holland – Rubicon (2003)
Plutarch – The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (Benediction Classics, Oxford 2015)
Mary Beard – SPQR
Cicero and Michael Grant – Cicero, selected works (2004)
Robert Harris- The Cicero Trilogy (2021) (Historical fiction)

The post ROME III | And Brutus is an Honourable Man (44-42 BC) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

You’ve heard of Julius Caesar right? Sure you have, you don’t live under a rock. That’s a good start as our second episode on Rome covers the First Triumvirate. Caesar and his pals – history’s richest man Crassus and the swashbuckling Pompey the Great – came together to run roughshod over the ailing Republic. But who were they before they took political control?

We talk about the life of Julius Caesar from dodging a death order for refusing a divorce and racking up just a frankly extraordinary debt to adventuring around the Mediterranean and being captured by pirates. Rome’s most famous man about town; Caesar went from being the most talked about style icon among the youth of Rome to a general who committed genocide, wiping out a million people in his (illegal) Gallic Wars.

One part Jeff Bezos, one part Tywin Lannister, Marcus Crassus Dives was history’s first evil property baron. We discuss his role in propping up the political alliance that would ruin the Republic. From putting down the Slave General Spartacus to an ill-fated invasion of modern-day Iraq. This is the man who once said ‘you aren’t really rich until you can afford your own army.’

And not to forget the Republic’s military darling! Join us as we discuss why Gnaeus Pompey would be known to history as ‘Pompey the Great.’ Once Caesar’s greatest friend and ally (as well as weirdly his son-in-law…don’t worry about it), by the time of Caesar’s ascent, Pompey’s star was on the wane. Would the strain this placed on their friendship lead to a break? Was Rome big enough for the both of them?

No. Obviously not.

It’s episode 2 of 4! Rome’s Republic was punch drunk from a century of civil strife and war. Would Cicero and the Senate manage to overcome the Gang of Three and restore democracy to the Eternal City or was it too late?

Illegal wars, intrigue, familial disputes and treachery. Caesar is at the Rubicon.

The lines are drawn. The die is cast.

Sources
Tom Holland- Rubicon (2003)
Plutarch- The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (Benediction Classics, Oxford 2015)

The post ROME II | The Die is Cast (49 BC – 44 BC) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Join us for the first episode of our deep dive on the history that inspired the BBC/HBO series Rome (2005-2017). Oh you say you know nothing about the Roman Empire? Perfect, this is the pod for you, citizen.

There’s plenty of melodrama as we discuss how the familial feuds and incestuous relationships among the Roman elite led to a critical break point with the Royal family and Brutus (no, not that one) led a Republican revolution, expelling the Kings forever.

Rome went from a series of villages on 7 hills populated by runaway slaves, vagabonds and women stolen from local tribes to become the most influential empire in the history of the western world. Through existential battles against local rivals, raids by savage Gauls and a cataclysmic war against a Greek King, Rome survived it all.

Hannibal is at the gates! Find out how Rome’s victory against the man who marched elephants over the Alps led them to dominate the Mediterranean from Spain to Greece. But final victory over Carthage was only the beginning of the story; we wax lyrical about the lower classes rising up against the increasing power of the rich nobles as societal issues come to the fore. How does a government designed to run a city rule over an empire?

Spoiler- Badly. It’s terrible…people die. A lot.

This is Roman history 101! We’ll give you an overview of 700 (yes, seven hundred) years of Roman history, taking you from Romulus and Remus to the man who’s name looms large over it all: Caesar.

It may have taken them more than a day but we take about an hour.

Sources
Mary Beard- SPQR (2016)
Tom Holland- Rubicon (2003)
Cassius Dio- Roman History (1989)
Livy- The Early History of Rome (2002)
Mike Duncan- The Storm Before the Storm (2017)

The post ROME I | Rise of the Republic (753 BC – 49 BC) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Greetings, partisans, to episode 5 of Reel History Season 2!

Join us as we focus our lens on a bombastic and brilliant tale of ‘a bushwhacking gorilla army doing one thing and one thing only – killing Nazis’. These memorable opening lines are spoken in the southern drawl of Brad Pitt’s Lieutenant Aldo in the alternate history war film ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009).

Quentin Tarantino stamps his trademark style on this classic revenge flick set once upon a time in Nazi occupied France to the tune of David Bowie singing “putting out fire with gasoline”.

Expertly cast and shot, this film reels out several unforgettable, slow-boil scenes as we follow Jewish orphan Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent) on a quest for retribution, all while stalked by the ‘Jew hunter’ Col. Hans Landa – superbly played by Christopher Waltz. The plot thickens when Lt. Aldo’s rampaging crack troop of Jewish soldiers attempt a daring ambush of the Nazi high command in the very cinema where Shosanna plans her own revenge!

Now none of this plot happened, and the film doesn’t pretend it did, but we thought it was a worthy excuse to dive into the real history behind the era!

We learn if such a boisterous band of Jewish fighters existed and why France fell flat as a crêpe to the Nazis in just a few weeks, then discussing the murky world of Marshal Pétain’s Vichy puppet state and the heavy toll paid for the occupation.

We find out how the fire of resistance exploded to form ‘l’armée des ombres’ as the battle for the soul of France was fought between General De Gaulle’s Free French forces and communist partisans who held two very different visions for the future of France.

Sources:
‘Modern France’ by Jonathan Fenby.
‘Fighters in the Shadows’ by Robert Gildea.

The post Inglourious Basterds (2009) | Vive La Résistance! (1940) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome aboard for episode 4 of Reel History Season 2!

To quote Jakob – “this week we’ve gone nautical, lads” so all hands on deck as we man the canons and survey the horizon for dark sails in the epic period war drama “ Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003).

Although it’s got Russell Crowe as the gregarious Captain “lucky” Jack Aubrey, this is far from just Gladiator on the sea. Peter Weir delivers a tense ocean-spanning, cat-and-mouse chase which immerses us in the claustrophobic, choppy waters of life on the damp and cramped – HMS Surprise.

This charming, critically acclaimed film is drawn from Patrick O’ Brian’s Aubrey Maturin novels. It contains a heady mix of explosive naval battles, deception, sea shanties, violin sessions and even a weird and wonderful stop off at the Galápagos Islands.

Set in 1805, all this is of course just a back drop to the wider global battle for supremacy between Britain and its allies against French dominated Europe. Napoleon is gearing up to carry out a naval invasion of Britain with 167,000 French troops hastily brushing up on their English to invade Kent at a moments notice.

Join us as we discuss this fight to the death, real life on a ship, Napoleons dastardly plans, the “Great Terror”, Trafalgar and much more as we learn why Admiral Nelson famously said ‘ I never trust a Corsican or a Frenchman’.

Sources
’The Age of Revolution 1789-1848’ by Eric Hobsbawn
‘Trafalgar : Countdown to Battle, 1803 -1805’ by Alan Schom
‘Napoleon the Great’ by Andrew Roberts

The post Master and Commander (2003) | The Napoleonic Wars (1805) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Akira Kurosawa has stood the test of time as one of the most influential filmmakers ever, and his 1954 big-budget historical film Seven Samurai is a huge part of that legacy. A t the time, Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai was the most expensive film ever made in Japan, and you can certainly see that money on the screen as outstrips most modern films in ambition and scope.

In this 1954 samurai epic, a farming village is beset by bandits and in desperation they hire a group of seven samurai to protect them.

While much of the filmmaking and story might seem commonplace to us now, that is because this film has been copied countless times (including the literal Western remake “The Magnificent Seven”) and indeed this is probably the archetype of all “getting the gang together” films, stretching from plucky space samurai in Star Wars to heist films like Ocean’s Eleven.

In episode three of Reel History season 2 we dive deep into Japanese history, zooming all the way back to the first emperor of Japan — supposedly the start of the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world — and track the societal developments that led to the formation of a fearsome warrior class and the outbreak of Sengoku Jidai (“Warring states period”, 1467 – 1615″), the intense century of civil war during which Seven Samurai takes place.

Like last week’s Apocalypto we’re happy to move beyond the limits of European history but that’s not the only change this week! As a once-in-a-lifetime treat, Jakob has taken over the role of researcher and presenter for this era, guiding us from retired emperors to mongol invasions, colour-coded hats to bushido myths… It’s time to show what you know about Japanese history!

If you have a moment we would appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts and you can follow us/tell a friend about the show on Twitter @reel_history.

Sources
“A History of Japan” by John Godwin Caiger and Richard Mason

“Bushido” by Inazo Nitobe

We also recommend these three YouTube channels: Linfamy, Voices of the past, The Shogunate

The post Seven Samurai (1954) | Sengoku Jidai (1586) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to episode 2 of season 2 of Reel History!

This week we dust off our mics, clear our throats and try not to choke as we digest the 2006 smash hit ‘Apocalypto’.

Mel Gibson delivers a heart thumping tropical jungle chase that is one part Rambo, one part Predator with a double serving of his trademark dollop of historical inaccuracy.

Set in early 1500s pre-Spanish Yucatán Mexico, we follow our hero Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) as he seeks to reunite with his stricken family, crossing a Mayan world in the midst of violent end-of-days chaos. Hot on his heels are a bunch of vicious assassins led by Middle Eye (Gerardo Taracena) and the wily Zero Wolf (Raoul Trujillo) who are determined to hunt Jaguar Paw mercilessly across a beautifully shot lush but perilous landscape.

Sounds great right? Well, not exactly. Whilst the film delivers on many fronts, Mel’s crimes against historical accuracy have never been so grave! Tune in to find out how bad did he mess it up.

Given this hiccup we decided to explore what was really going on in the valley of Mexico when in 1519 the Spanish pitched their tent on the turf of the powerful Aztec / Mexica Emperor Montezuma.

Join us as we cast an eye on a moment often heralded as the ´birth of modern history’. We find out how the infamous Hernan Cortez and his ragtag army used shock and awe tactics and good old fashioned treachery to bring this complex, sophisticated civilization to its knees.

On this whirlwind adventure we discuss everything from the Maya, the Aztecs, the truth behind human sacrifice, astronomical prophecies and how Cortez and his companions famously ´suffered from a disease of the heart that could only be cured by gold’. All this with the bonus of listening to Michael struggle to pronounce words like Huitzilopochtli and Quatzalcoatl in a Irish midlands flat accent.

Sources
“Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs ” by Buddy Levy

The post Apocalypto (2006) | Mesoamerica Meets Cortés (1519) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Season 2 of Reel History starts today! We’re aiming to release episodes every other week so please subscribe, leave us a review and tweet your history puns at us @reel_history.

A Knight’s Tale from 2001 is a sport films about jousting and while it has a tenuous connection to any real history it serves as an excellent jumping off point for a discussion about knights, jousting, courtly romance and intrigue.

Did you know that Heath Ledger’s Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein was actually a real person? And while Paul Bettany’s depiction of Geoffrey Chaucer is a riot of WWE proportions, what connection is there really between this film and Chaucer’s “The Knight’s Tale” from The Canterbury Tales? Answers to all this and more about feudal Europe can be found in our SEASON PREMIERE of SEASON 2 off Reel History!

Sources
“The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English” by Thomas Asbridge

The post A Knight’s Tale (2001) | Feudal Europe (1372) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

With 10 episodes we’re closing out season 1 of Reel History! In this finale episode we follow a more loose structure, having general chats about history and answering listener questions that have cropped up throughout the season. If you have any questions for us to answer in future episodes, don’t hesitate to get in touch via [email protected].

We’ll be back with season 2 after we’ve built up a buffer of episodes to release bi-weekly. Please take the time in between seasons to tell a friend, review Reel History on Apple Podcasts and check out our many sibling shows at showswhatyouknow.com!

The post Reel History Season 1 FINALE first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to episode nine of Reel History: Shows What You Know About Braveheart! Join us as we delve into 14th Century Britain and come to terms with the feudal struggle between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England. How can a man falling off a horse lead to decades of bloodshed? How does Robert the Bruce go from Earl of Carrick to become first a folk hero and then a national icon?

Feudal Britain is brought to life in this Netflix medieval epic, pitting Edward Longshanks “The Hammer of Scots,” and his apparently lunatic son against the resisting Scotland in a winner takes all battle for supremacy in the north. Join as we dissect Chris Pine’s role playing the legendary Outlaw King, Robert the Bruce.

As this is a brand new podcast (part of the Shows What You Know network) we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or check us out on Spotify!

Sources
“Robert the Bruce: King of Scots” by Ronald McNair Scot
“A Great and Terrible King – Edward I and the Forging of Britain” by Marc Morris

The post Outlaw King (2018) | Robert the Bruce at War (1304) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to Cut to Black: A Reel History Special. This is a crossover between two of our Shows What You Know podcasts! On Cut to Black we discuss The Sopranos; on Reel History we dig into the historical context of movies and television.

This episode bridges the gap between both podcasts as we’ll be using Scorsese’s The Irishman as a jumping-off point to discuss the formation of the mafia in the USA, so whether you’re hearing this on our Cut to Black feed or Reel History feed we believe there will be something in it for you!

So, I heard you paint houses? This week we tackle the Martin Scorsese mobster masterpiece, The Irishman! Join us in our special crossover episode with sister show Cut to Black as we discuss the origins of the American Mafia. How did the organisation of the Mafia Commission lead to deals with Union boss Jimmy Hoffa and what was the role of WWII veteran “the Irishman,” Frank Sheeran in Hoffa’s infamous disappearance? From the Five Points Gang to the Bay of Pigs invasion, we track the influence of the mob on shaping the 21st century.

The post The Irishman (2019) | The American Mafia (1975) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to episode 7 of Reel History ! Well this week we were eager to find out “how does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower-
Somehow defeat a global superpower?”

So naturally our gaze couldn’t help being drawn to the phenomenal smash hit “Hamilton – An American Musical” (2015) !

Who would ever dream of making a 46-song Broadway Musical about the adventurous life of the founding fathers’ “little lion of federalism” Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)? Well award-winning playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda had that exact revelation when reading Ron Chernows biography of this almost neglected trail blazer.

To his enemies (and he had many) simply a “bastard brat of a scotch peddler” – Alexander was in fact a “young ,scrappy and hungry” pioneer of inexhaustible ability at the vanguard of the American revolutionary golden generation.

Happily this era also happens to be one of Mark’s most cherished subjects so we naturally couldn’t resist plunging head-first into the earth-shattering events of the entire period as we witness the birth and fledgling fortunes of this plucky (if flawed) young Republic.

The founding fathers famously thought that it was ridiculous for a continent to belong to an island. We touch on their fiery and brilliant ideals and lives (not to mention duels ) from the imperious Washington to the much maligned “American Cataline” Aaron Burr. Oh and in case you forgot he’s the ´damn fool that shot him’!

So kick back and prepare to face off against Britain’s king George as we remember that “when push comes to shove” he will “kill your friends and family to remind you” of his love.

As this is a new podcast we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. And follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits throughout the week!

Sources:
“Founding Brothers – The Revolutionary Generation” by Joseph J. Ellis
“Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow
“1776” by David McCullough.

The post Hamilton (2015) | American Revolution (1776) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Are you prepared for glory? Well you better get prepared because this week we’re discussing King Leonidas and the brave 300! Frank Miller’s famous comic book gets the Zack Snyder treatment and turns the Greco-Persian wars into a rock’n’roll soap opera where semi-naked men slaughter wave after wave of demons from the East. But who were the Spartans, really? Did 300 men stand against a million at the Battle of Thermopylae and why would a king sacrifice himself to preserve a nascent western democracy?

Doesn’t really add up, does it? No… Join us for some insight into the world of ancient Sparta!

As this is a new podcast we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. And follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits throughout the week!

Sources
“Histories” by Herodotus
“History of My Times” by Xenophon
“Persian Fire” by Tom Holland

The post 300 (2007) | This is Sparta (480 BC) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to episode five of Reel History! This week we (well mainly Mark to be honest) take a critical sledgehammer to Joe Wright’s 2017 semi-historical drama “Darkest Hour” (available now on Netflix).

Written by Anthony McCarten and set in early 1940, it provides a glimpse into the chaotic life and whiskey-soaked times of that quintessentially British icon Winston Churchill.

Love him or loathe him, we watch as he grapples with political foes both at home and abroad whilst promising nothing but “Blood, toil, tears and sweat” in the existential struggle against Nazi hegemony on the continent.

The acting prowess of Gary Oldman won a well deserved Oscar for his stellar performance as the cantankerous old Tory prime minister (and not just for wearing a fat suit as Jakob claims). He is also joined by Lily James as his ever patient secretary Elizebeth Layton, who acts as witness to both his tender moments of doubt as well as every distillation of his rhetorical genius!

Lamentably this film is also unfortunate enough to be cursed by Mark’s pet hate Ben Mendelsohn making a ludicrous appearance as the well-groomed King George VI. However the film is redeemed slightly by another star turn by Reel History’s MVP Stephen Dillane as Viscount Halifax.

We take advantage of this epic setting of high stakes politics and war time distrust to deconstruct the often rose-tinted mystique which surrounds this giant of world history.

Join us as we pour over his controversial legacy. His reputation hinges on a delicate tight rope. This is best illustrated by his past grave failings at Gallipoli and abhorrent views on race and imperialism being counterbalanced by his undoubted leadership in defending western democracy against the horrors of fascism.

There is also “that definitely didn’t f** happen” moment to discuss with only one ridiculous stand out contender this week!

As this is a new podcast we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. And follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits throughout the week!

The post Darkest Hour (2017) | Winston Churchill (1940) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

This week we tackle Michael’s favourite subject – the Crusades. Yes, we’re discussing Ridley Scott’s flawed epic “Kingdom of Heaven.” from 2005. Join us as we discuss the events often described as a clash of civilisations, when religious fervor and ethnic allegiances led to the rise and fall of kingdoms and the siege of the Jerusalem. Nobody is safe as Orlando Bloom’s Balian of Ibelin takes on the legendary An-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub.

Kingdom of Heaven opens a discussion on the origins of the Crusades, the seemingly miraculous expansion of Islam and the living standards one might expect to find in the 12th Century. Just who were these knights and sultans? Why were they really fighting and how is it that a blacksmith from northern France knows how to command the army of Jerusalem?

We’d be delighted if you’d take the time to review us on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits!

Sources
“The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin” by Jonathan Phillips
“The Crusades: The War for the Holy Land” by Thomas Asbridge

The post Kingdom of Heaven (2005) | The Crusades (1187) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to episode three of Reel History! This week we delve head first into the paranoid pressure cooker of Stalin’s Soviet Union as we feast our eyes on the comedic pantomime that is Armando Lannucci’s “The Death of Stalin“ (2017). Based on the graphic novel “La Mort de Staline” by Fabien Nury & Thierry Robin this film (now available on Netflix) is graced with real acting pedigree.

Steve Buscemi plays the wily Kruschev as Michael Palin sets Molotov alight. Jeffrey Tambor is irrepressible as Malenkov whilst Jason Isaacs exudes martial prowess in the role of General Zhukov. The film centers around the tumultuous hours leading up to and following the death of the Red Tsar. We witness the politburo’s back stabbing, often hilariously incompetent power struggle as Beria battles Kruschev for supremacy of a Cold War superpower.

We take advantage of this setting to explore the fascinating, if often tragic wider context of the events leading up to the revolutionary birth of the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin’s domination of the lives of millions within. We follow Stalins bloody journey from his early “koba” years as an underground, bank robbing Bolshevik to his struggle to seize power and enact his terrifying vision of Socialism in one country.

All this whilst learning about his passion for gardening and penchent for love letters and worryingly tweetable quotes!

As this is a new podcast we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. And follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits throughout the week!

Sources
“Stalin A Biography” by Robert Service (2004) .
“Stalin – The Court of the Red Tsar” by Simon Sebag Montfiore (2003) .
“Russia : A 1000 Year Chronicle of the Wild East “ by Martin Sixsmith (2011)

The post The Death of Stalin (2017) | From Gangster to Red Tzar (1953) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to episode two of Reel History! On this podcast we talk about historical movies and TV, anything that claims to be based on a true story, and we check- how bad they mess it up? What was life actually like during that time period?

This week we watched Gladiator (2000) starring Russel Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus and Oliver Reed as Proximo. Directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson.

Gladiator leads us into a discussion on the glory days of the Roman Empire. From the grandeur of the Empire and imperial power to the pitiless existence of the fighting slaves, we discuss how this time period came about. Just who was Marcus Aurelius and was Maximus Decimus Meridius even a real guy?

As this is a brand new podcast (part of the Shows What You Know network) we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits throughout the week!

Sources
Mary Beard- SPQR (2016)
Marcus Aurelius- Meditations (2006)
Cassius Dio- Roman History (1989)
The Five Good Emperors: The History of the Roman Empire during the Reigns of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius (2018)

The post Gladiator (2000) | Colosseum of Carnage (180) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to the first episode of Reel History! On this podcast we talk about historical movies and TV, anything that claims to be based on a true story, and we check – how bad did they mess it up? What was life actually like during that time period?

We’ve watched Netflix’s The King (2019), starring Timothée Chalamet as Henry V, Joel Edgerton as Falstaff and Robert Pattinson as The Dauphin. Directed by David Michôd who also wrote it together with Joel Edgerton. Based on the “Henriad” plays by the bard himself, William Shakespeare.

The King serves as a starting point for us to learn and discuss what the Hundred Year war was all about. From the early days of feudal warring lords to the massive victory at the Battle of Agincourt (as depicted in the film) and the long-lasting consequences to the national identities of both England and France.

As this is a brand new podcast (part of the Shows What You Know network) we’d be delighted if you’d take the time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s especially helpful early on! Look for new episodes of Reel History every other week at ShowsWhatYouKnow.com or just search Reel History on your podcast app of choice! We’ll be releasing our first season, consisting of ten episodes, along that biweekly schedule.

Follow us on Twitter @Reel_History for historical tidbits throughout the week!

Sources
Gordon Corrigan – A Great and Glorious Adventure: A History of the Hundred Years War and the Birth of Renaissance England (2013)
Juliet Barker – Agincourt (2005)

The post The King (2019) | The Hundred Year War (1415) first appeared on Shows What You Know.