We’ve watched Ivanhoe, the James Mason version. There are other, shorter versions out there, but this one is my favorite and in fact, one of my favorite movies ever! It’s very long though, maybe 6 hours? Also pretty in depth, younger children (under 10) will probably have a hard time following it. It is one of those movies that I could watch several times and catch more nuances every time.
Another one we’ve just watched is El Cid, the older version with Charleton Heston. Also excellent. I have Brother Sun, Sister Moon on the schedule to watch also. That one is about St. Francis of Assisi. I understand that there is a video of the Castle and Cathedral books by David McCauley that is supposed to be good also.
Becket with Peter O’Toole. Excellent! The only part that young ones heads need to be turned is at the beginning when Henry II is in theloft with a peasant girl-both are clothed, but it looks bad. It’s at the beginning.
There are others, but I can’t think right now. For yourselves, the British TV show Cadfael is set in the 13th C. during the Civil War and it is very accurate to the times. It’s about a monk (former Crusader) who solves murder crimes. It’s not for children, but for you and your husband. No cursing, but some male/female kissing scenes in a few of them.
I will check out the ones you’ve suggested. If it helps my dd’s are ages 9, 7, and 5. I did check out Castle since we are reading that book this week. I also checked out Knights of the Round Table 1953. So we’ll see if that one is good.
If you have any other ones you enjoy, Rachel, I look forward to your suggestions!
We watched the version of Ivanhoe with Elizabeth Taylor. My kids loved it, especially the jousting. Dh and I watched the Agony and the Ecstasy which is about Michelangelo. I thought it woudl be a little slow for my kids but it is a decent movie too, more toward the end of the Middle Ages I guess but it still gives you some flavor of the times.
Becket is streaming on Netflix, too. Hmmm…the ages are a little young. It’s a very long movie and kind of nuanced. It’s best understood after knowing about the situation that happened then; after readinf the All the Swords of England would be helpful. I suggest you watch it and then decide.
The Lion in Winter w/Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn
Agony and the Ecstasy is streaming
Life in Medieval Times: LIving in the Past is streaming; a doc specifically aimed at children.
The Book that Changed the World narrated by John Rys Daives
G-d’s Outlaw: The Story of William TYndale
Galileo 1975. Though I haven’t seen it, it has a good cast. Preview. Is streaming.
If you can get a hold of some Shlessinger Media DVD’s they are real good. They hve docs specifcially for your children’s age group and there is variety. I get many from a library south of me where I go and stock up every couple of months. There are a few available from Netflix if you have DVD service. Here’s the list:
Thanks, will look into those movies as well, Rachel! I’m trying to find Ivanhoe on video. Can’t watch on youtube. We don’t pay for Netflix. We are all about free. Unless it’s a treasure, we’ll purchase for keeps (mostly Christian movies).
We’ve watched some of those already listed. Hope I’m not repeating any…
Joan of Arc (Ingrid Bergman)
Castle (David Macaulay documentary style based on his book PBS)
Cathedral “
My kids watch the two PBS DVDs three or four times to really soak in the information which they found fascinating. My 12yos is actually doing a mini-research paper on castles because of it. It will be IEW in style as an optional assignment since we will be off from our co-op during December.
We will watch Ivanhoe this week and Cecille B. Demille’s The Crusades.
Becca, let me know how Ivanhoe is. I’ve not heard of Cecille B. Demille’s The Crusades. Will look into that one as well! Tonight we are watching Knights of the Round Table.
One other note. I used Beth Holland’s book, Learning with the Movies during my planning time for the year. It is an easy way to come up with a very good list to take to the library. I’ve utilized inter-library loan for some films. I was unable to find one that way. We do not have satellite or Internet at home, so Netflix is no longer an option (or, have they started the mailing program up again?)
Here are some titles that will loosely fit with our Term 2 for Module 4: