David Macaulay: Cathedral

Apr 30, 1986

1h 0m

★ 0.0

Overview

Author David Macaulay hosts CATHEDRAL, based on his award-winning book. Using a combination of spectacular location sequences and cinema-quality animation, the program surveys France's most famous churches. Travel back to 1214 to explore the design of Notre Dame de Beaulieu, a representative Gothic cathedral. The program tells period tales revealing fascinating stories of life and death, faith and despair, prosperity, and intrigue.

Genres

Documentary

History

Production Companies

Unicorn Projects

David Macaulay: Cathedral Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self / Host / Narrator

David Macaulay

Self

Caroline Berg

Pierre (voice)

Derek Jacobi

Bishop Philippe / Dean of the Chapter (voice)

Geoffrey Matthews

Master Guillaume (voice)

Brian Blessed

Merchant Thibaut (voice)

Paul Bacon

Bishop Gervais / Chapter Member (voice)

Sean Barrett

Friar Roland / Robert of Cormont (voice)

Peter Pacey

Ansel (voice)

Ellis Jones

This documentary follows the French soccer team on their way to victory in the 1998 World Cup in France. Stéphane Meunier spent the whole time filming the players, the coach and some other important characters of this victory, giving us a very intimate and nice view of them, as if we were with them.

6.7

The 13th Warrior

Aug 13, 1999

A Muslim ambassador exiled from his homeland joins a group of Vikings, initially offended by their behavior but growing to respect them. As they travel together, they learn of a legendary evil closing in and must unite to confront this formidable force.

7.9

Grand Illusion

Jun 4, 1937

A group of French soldiers, including the patrician Captain de Boeldieu and the working-class Lieutenant Maréchal, grapple with their own class differences after being captured and held in a World War I German prison camp. When the men are transferred to a high-security fortress, they must concoct a plan to escape beneath the watchful eye of aristocratic German officer von Rauffenstein, who has formed an unexpected bond with de Boeldieu.

8.0

Andrei Rublev

Dec 16, 1966

An expansive Russian drama, this film focuses on the life of revered religious icon painter Andrei Rublev. Drifting from place to place in a tumultuous era, the peace-seeking monk eventually gains a reputation for his art. But after Rublev witnesses a brutal battle and unintentionally becomes involved, he takes a vow of silence and spends time away from his work. As he begins to ease his troubled soul, he takes steps towards becoming a painter once again.

No Image Available

0.0

Rosa Bonheur

Invalid Date

Based on the life of Rosa Bonheur, a trailblazing feminist and artist who rose to fame in 19th century France.

7.0

The Warrior

Sep 7, 2001

In 1375, China was in chaos between Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. Coryo (an ancient kingdom of Korea then) sent a delegation of many diplomats, soldiers and a silent slave to make peace with the new Chinese government. However, this delegation got charged as spies and sent in exile to a remote desert.

6.3

Le radeau de la Méduse

Jul 15, 1998

Iranian Iradj Azimi directed this French historical drama re-creating events depicted in the famous 1819 painting The Raft of the Medusa by Jean Louis Andre Theodore Gericault (1791-1824). The ill-fated voyage of the frigate Medusa begins when it departs Rochefort for Senegal in 1816. After striking a sandbar off the African coast, 150 civilians row safely to shore, but Captain Chaumareys (Jean Yanne) orders 140 soldiers and sailors onto a raft (minus supplies) and has it cut loose. Only 14 survive from the 140, creating a scandal back in France. Gericault (Laurent Terzieff) later talks to three of the survivors while researching his painting. Work on this film began in 1987, but sets destroyed by Hurricane Hugo caused delays, so the film was not completed until 1990. However, it then remained undistributed until an incident in which writer-director Azimi slashed his wrists in front of French Ministry of Culture officials.

6.5

Sous le signe de Monte-Cristo

Dec 11, 1968

Edmond Dantès, who was active in the resistance against the Nazis, is accused for being a Nazi collaborator and is imprisoned in the fortress of Sisteron.

5.8

Crusade in Jeans

Nov 15, 2006

Dolf a 15 year old boy is sent back in time by a timemachine. Accidentally he is sent back to the Middle Ages. He is rescued by children who are part of a childrens' crusade, on their way to rescue Jeruzalem. During the trip Dolf finds out the danger is not coming from outside the crusade, but from within.

5.5

Big Time

Oct 21, 2017

Big Time gets up close with Danish architectural prodigy Bjarke Ingels over a period of six years while he is struggling to complete his largest projects yet, the Manhattan skyscraper W57 and Two World Trade Center.

0.0

Ralph Erskine

Jul 9, 1986

The British architect based in Stockholm looks back on major projects of a long career inspired by European Modernism combined with his personal sensitivity to nature and community. Erskine is especially valued for his vital understanding of social interaction, exemplified in commissions for universities and housing complexes built from Scandinavia to Italy. The architect takes the camera on a tour of his buildings while offering revealing comments and interpretations.

No Image Available

0.0

The Face of Horror

Invalid Date

In 14th-century England, knight Edward Carnifex marries his devoted love Eleanor after murdering her father — only to betray her for a wealthier bride. And it is only a matter of time before Eleanor will be forced to take a bloody revenge...

7.9

Braveheart

May 24, 1995

Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against English rule.

6.3

Madame Bovary

Mar 3, 1991

In 19th-century France, doctor's wife Emma Bovary seeks to escape her dull provincial life through various extramarital affairs and extravagant spending, leading to tragic consequences.

8.0

Antoine de Caunes : la vie rêvée d'un enfant du rock

Nov 25, 2025

Documentary on Antoine de Caunes, a French television presenter, comedian, actor, journalist, writer and film director.

7.1

Henry V

Oct 5, 1989

In 1415, in the midst of the Hundred Years' War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France.

6.4

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

Oct 27, 1999

In 1429, a French teenager stood before her King with a message she claimed came from God; that she would defeat the world's greatest army and liberate her country from its political and religious turmoil. As she reclaims God's diminished kingdom, this courageous young woman has various amazing victories until her violent and untimely death.

No Image Available

0.0

Ohnivý máj

Sep 20, 1975

No overview available.

5.0

The Blood of Others

Aug 25, 1984

In the German-occupied Paris, Helene is torn between the love for her boyfriend Jean, working for the resistance and the German administrator Bergmann, who will do anything to gain her affection.

6.1

Vatel

May 1, 2000

In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?