Mythology

This documentary examines the legends and facts surrounding the mystery of the mythic place called Camelot and its wise leader, King Arthur. Whether fact or fiction, Camelot is revered as a peaceful and benign place where ideals of chivalry and service prevailed. Narrated by actress Kathleen Turner, the film searches for answers regarding the identity of Arthur and the location of Camelot. Archeologists weigh in on those subjects and more, while they continue to search for the actual round table used by Arthur's knights. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

Each culture has its own mythological traditions, and while everybody is familiar with the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece, it should also be noted that the Irish have a deep and ongoing tradition of mythological legends of their own. Celtic legends are kept alive to this day on the strength of the storytelling tradition, and these tales are passed along from generation to generation. The aim of this program is the search for the Celtic gods of Britain. It's highlighted by a study of the mystery surrounding Finn Mac Cummaill, the mighty warrior of Fianna, and other Celtic warriors. This video provides a door into these enduring mystical traditions. ~ Dan Macintosh, All Movie Guide

This documentary traces the Arthurian legends from their inception in the 6th century historical figure of an British chieftain, through his metamorphosis into the romantic figure of grail legends and the round table we know today. By the 12th century, Arthur was a national hero to the English. The exploits of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, immortalized by the French poet Chretien de Troyes, fired the imagination of other writers down through the centuries, notably in "The Idylls of the Kings", by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Richard Wagner's opera "Parsifal", and "Morte D'Arthur, by Sir Thomas Mallory. These works, and others, and the myths they embodied, are explored in the film. Considered are the essentials of the Arthurian myth, such as his relationships with Guinevere, Lancelot, and his magical teacher Merlin, and his nemesis Mordred. This is a fascinating look at one of the Europe's most enduring heroes. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

This edition of Biography, the long running documentary series from A&E, explores the life of semi-legendary sixth century king of the Britons King Arthur. He may originally have been a Roman-British war leader in called Arturus; but he is represented as having united the British tribes against the invading Saxons, and as having been the champion of Christendom as well. He is said to have fought against the invaders in a series of momentous battles, starting with a victory at Mount Baden and ending with defeat and death at Camlan, after which he was buried at Glastonbury. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle makes no mention of him, however; he first appears in Welsh chronicles long after the event. The story of Arthur blossomed into a huge literature, interwoven with legends of the Holy Grail and courtly ideas of the Round Table of knights at Camelot, in such writers as Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chrétien de Troyes, Layamon, and, most notably in English, Sir Thomas Malory. ~ John Patrick Sheehan, All Movie Guide

The filmmakers at The History Channel reconsider the belief system of the Ancient Greeks in this documentary that explores the similarity and differences between mortal man and all-powerful deity while offering unexpected answers to puzzling enigmas that have confounded scholars for centuries. From the origins of the pantheon to recently unearthed archeological evidence suggesting that the Greek Gods were not myth but very real, this history lesson in classical Greece goes to great depths in exploring both the daily lives of the people who lived during those remarkable times and the lasting influence of the era on the modern world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Based on the book by Raymond McNally and Radu Florescu, this documentary mixes historical research, literary scholarship, film clips, and folklore with dramatic re-creations of scenes from Bram Stoker's famous novel Dracula. Christopher Lee, star of innumerable horror films for England's venerable Hammer Studios, narrates and appears as both Dracula and his historical counterpart, Vlad the Impaler. Examining the facts behind the novel and its inspirations, In Search of Dracula includes footage shot on location in Transylvania, plus Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. Although Stoker himself never visited Transylvania, he did his homework; as the footage here attests, his descriptions of the land's mountains and forests prove uncannily accurate. In addition to the landscape of Transylvania itself, the film explores the links between the fictional Count Dracula and Vlad Tepes Dracula, a 15th century Romanian prince known for impaling his many enemies, most notably the Turks, on long spikes. The film also looks at Countess Elisabeth Bathory, a 16th century Hungarian noblewoman whose predilection for bathing in the blood of her servant girls gave her a reputation as a "living vampire" and got her walled up in her own castle. Other topics range from vampire bats and psychological vampirism to the use of vampire imagery in the Greek Orthodox church and the emergence of the femme fatale "vamp" in silent film. Yvonne Floyd's script also spends time exploring the links and similarities between the Dracula mythology and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In addition to In Search of Dracula, McNally wrote Dracula Was a Woman, a more focused treatment of Countess Bathory's story. Lee would go on to host another documentary, the 13-part TV series 100 Years of Horror. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Journey to the peak of Mount Olympus to explore the fascinating mythology of every Greek god from Aphrodite to Zeus as filmmakers set out to explore the cultural and artistic importance of the ancient deities throughout history. In speaking with world renowned classicists and historians, this documentary aims to reveal both the significance of Greek mythology and the reasons that the ancient gods were endowed with a series of all-too-human shortcomings. A look at the magnificent artwork inspired by the timeless tales offers an even more compelling view of just how these ancient deities continue to inspire even into the 21st Century. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Look beyond the myth and ambiguity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Scandinavian explorers who were rumored to land on America's shores centuries before Christopher Columbus as the filmmakers of The History Channel travel back in time to the era of the Viking. A restoration of the fabled longship cuts across the North Atlantic into uncharted territory as historians recount the tales of Leif Ericsson and his famed father Eric the Red. A rare interview with L'anse aux Meadows discoverer and modern-day Norse explorer Helge Ingstad offers unprecedented insight into the lives of these legendary adventurers. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The documentary King Arthur's Britain features archaeologist Francis Pryor explaining how new discoveries have changed perceptions and opinions of what life might have been like during the time that the famous king may have ruled. The film offers evidence that illuminates such legends as the sword Excalibur, and the creation of the Knights of the Round Table. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

This documentary takes a look at a number of 2000 year old artifacts found in a cave near the Dead Sea and the story they might tell. Could these ancient coins have been left behind by Bar-Kokhba, the Jewish upriser whled a rebellion against the Romans so many years ago? ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

The War Symphonies: Shostakovich Against Stalin documents how the famous composer wrote some of his most well-known work as a direct response to the oppressive tactics of the Russian leader. The film utilizes recordings of the symphonies along with archival footage in order to provide viewers with a historical context for the events discussed. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Fairies have appeared in many cultures, including that of the ancient Celts, and Shakespeare utilized them in his plays. Hollywood has its famous fairies, notably Tinkerbell of Peter Pan, the Fairy Godmother of Cinderella, and the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio. The Fairy Faith looks beyond Hollywood to the more complex fairies of other countries, surveying the origins of the enduring belief in the creatures. John Walker, director of the video, also investigates the manner in which fairies are depicted in art and literature, and talks with some individuals who say they can see into the world of fairies. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide

In the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the city of Camelot plays a vital role, as the seat of power for the wise and mighty king as well as a place of beauty and solace that a great man would gladly call home. But while King Arthur and many of his Knights were at least inspired by characters in real life, it's long been a matter of debate if there really was a Camelot -- and if so, where it was and what it was like. The Legend of King Arthur: Camelot is a documentary which explores the myth and conventional wisdom about the fabled city, as well as historical and archeological research which attempts to clarify if Camelot did indeed have some basis in fact. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide