Eileen Fitzpatrick

T he English language was enormously affected by the various invasions of England and by the length of time it took for each wave of invaders to merge with the indigenous population. Other historical influences, in particular the Renaissance, played a large role in how we use, and how we view, our current language. To give you a sense of these influences, I recommend for your enjoyment the following films. All of these videos are available in the Sprague Library Media Center (basement level; non-print material), through local libraries and Netflix. The list below is arranged in historical order.

I would appreciate your assessment of each of these films and your thoughts on doing 'English History Light.' Also, if you know of films we could add to the list, please let me know at fitzpatricke@mail.montclair.edu.

I know of no historical films about the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Celtic England. Of course, films based on the Arthurian legend would fit here, but they are based more on legend than on history. Similarly, I know of no films based on the Viking invasions, other than the Beowulf documentary and the recent film entitled Beowulf that I would not recommend.

Beowulf. (c. 675 - 725) A documentary video with still photos of art and monuments from the Old English period. It is less than 60 minutes, quite lovely, and gives a good historical overview. The film has much more to say about the history and language of the period than it does about Beowulf.

Becket. (1118-1170) Vintage Hollywood with Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton. This is not exactly a film for the 21st century, but the history it portrays is accurate and it gives a good understanding of Anglo-Saxon/Norman relations (with one grievous linguistic exception: Henry II, as a Norman king, would not have been able to converse with the Anglo-Saxon peasants.)

A Lion in Winter. (1133-1189) Another vintage Hollywood film, again with Peter O’Toole as Henry II. This time, however, his wife, Eleanor of Acquitaine, is more accurately portrayed by Katherine Hepburn.

Ivanhoe. (1200) A romantic adventure based on the Sir Walter Scott novel rather than an historical film. The story is set in the time of Richard the Lionhearted, son of Henry II and Eleanor and also gives a good understanding of the dispossessed Anglo-Saxons and the Norman conquerors. There are various Robin Hood movies that belong in this time period also.

Braveheart. (1272 - 1305) The story of William Wallace and the Scottish fight for freedom against the English under Edward I (Longshanks). Edward was stretched thin by the Hundred Years War in France and the Scots eventually won at the Battle of Bannockburn. Despite Hollywood touches, this film is historically accurate, but not for the squeamish.

The Tudors. (1485-1603). Henry VII, the first of the Tudor kings, came to the throne having killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, thereby ending the period of civil war in England known as the Wars of the Roses. These wars are covered in Shakespeare’s history plays, This Showtime four season series begins with Henry’s son, Henry VIII, and ends with the last of the Tudor monarchs, Elizabeth I.

A Man for All Seasons. (1478 - 1535) About Thomas More as Chancellor of England under Henry VIII, based on the play by Robert Bolt.  It is set in high Renaissance England. The story has echoes of Becket, although this film transports much better into the 21st century.

Anne of the Thousand Days. (1502 - 1536) About Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. It is also set in the high Renaissance in England. Look for the motherless little girl in the garden at the end; it is Elizabeth, under whose rule England flourished in a way it never had before.

Elizabeth. (1533 - 1603) With Cate Blanchett several years older than the girl in the garden. Gives a good view of Protestant vs. Catholic in the wake of Henry VIII.

Cromwell. (1599-1658) Oliver Cromwell was responsible for the regicide of King Charles I and ruled England as a brutal dictator -- dismissing Parliament, limiting freedom of the press, demanding rigid moral standards, and crushing both political and religious opposition to his rule as Lord Protector – but you wouldn’t know it from this film, which portrays him as a reluctant politician and budding democrat. The one thing the film gets right: Cromwell’s skill in battle caused his rise to power.

Restoration. In 1660 Parliament invited Charles Stuart (1630-1685), son of the executed Charles I, to rule England as King Charles II, thus restoring the English monarchy and ending 11 years of Oliver Cromwell's bleak Puritan rule. The age of Restoration was an era of scientific discovery, artistic exploration and luxurious sensuality. Sam Neill plays King Charles II in this 1994 film about a physician (Robert Downey Jr.) in the king's court.

The Madness of King George. (1738 - 1820) A film from the 1990s about George III and his bouts with porphyria. It is not for the squeamish (nothing was known about his illness at the time), but it gives an understanding, even delightful, portrait of the English king who lost the American colonies.

The King’s Speech. (1895-1952). History AND Speech Pathology all in one film!. The king is George VI, father of the current Queen of England, who finds himself king when his older brother abdicates. Never having been raised to be king, and with a serious speech impediment, he ascends the throne as Europe prepares for World War II and the British need a leader who can communicate well – and on the radio. I haven’t seen this film yet, but it’s supposed to be excellent.