Medieval England: The Peasant's Revolt (review)

the United States. (Course, Currents in the History ofthe Americas)Theodore Berson, Newark College of Engineering The Music of Williamsburg (Colonial Williamsburg, 1 960) 40 min. color This film illustrates the diverse European, African, and colonial music forms found in eighteenth century America. Using the plot device ofa sailor's visit through Williamsburg, the picture recreates the era in a highly professional manner. The concert music, ballad opera, and slave dance sequences are particularly good; a glass harmonica presentation is unique. But in the interest of general audience appeal the film suffers annoying touches ofthe modern day. No attempt is made to recapture the accents of colonial speech; little attempt is made to avoid the distinctive "folk" sound ofthe late 1950's; every attempt is made to avoid the unappealing aspects ofearly Virginia culture. The film is best used in conjunction with a reading such as Irving Sablosky's American Music. (Course, Colonial America) George W. Geib, Butler University Hamilton Fish (IO Films, 1964) 50 min. b&w This film (originally one ofthe Profiles in Courage TV series) deals with the efforts of Grant's Secretary of State Hamilton Fish to avoid United States involvement in Cuba's 1868 revolt against Spain. It portrays the Secretary ofWar John Rawlins as trying to involve the nation, for financial gain, in a war against its best interest. The dialogue is cogent and makes use ofactual cabinet discussions. Overall it has more historical accuracy than is usually found in films made for TV. The film is good at provoking discussion by posing the question whether Just causes can result in an unjust war. It can be compared with events leading to the Spanish-American War thirty years later, and is ideal for covering the neglected area of foreign affairs in the Gilded Age. It is useful for both U.S. history surveys and courses in American diplomatic history. (Courses; U.S. History since 1865, American Foreign Relations) Richard H. Bradford, West Virginia Tech., Montgomery, West Virginia Medieval England: The Peasant's Revolt (Learning Corp. ofAmerica, 1970) 35 min. color. This film is a penetrating recreation ofthe events surrounding the confrontation ofthe peasant leaders, Wat Tyler and John Ball, with the young King Richard II at Smithfield in June, 1381. The stark realities ofthe harsh social and political inequities suffered by the peasantry are conveyed, as well as the futile but momentarily determined efforts of the peasants to gain radical concessions from Richard II. There is also an excellent study guide, providing a key to the pertinent primary materials and a survey ofthe background ofthe revolt. This film could be useful in English History surveys, Medieval History, and English Literature courses. (Course, Western Traditions I) Richard J. Wurtz, Southern Illinois University Source Notes The most cursory investigation offilm resources, either for teaching or research purposes, soon reveals a major obstacle: the absence of a comprehensive catalogue or filmography. Unlike printed material, which has been catalogued for centuries, film collections are an uncharted wilderness badly in need oforder and classification. Only 25 ...