Cathedral

I cannot even count the number of times I watched this. It is based on the book by the same name, but the marriage of animation, storyline and it's teaching of the Gothic Structures are amazing. A very short video, but gives you a sense of the work that went into each cathedral. I'll probably continue watching it because I never tire of it.My only grunt on this seems to be the transfer of the original to DVD. It looks as though it was recorded from a projection and not a very good scan. Perhaps they did not have the original film and this was a 2nd generation copy of video tape. Still, it is a wonderful production. Recommend it highly.

Anyone as fascinated with cathdrals as I am will find this video very engaging. Hosted by David Macaulay, It is an extension of his book "Cathedral" (which captured my attention many years ago) and is enriched with an abundance of historical context (starting in 1214 with the design of a prototypical, albeit fictional, Gothic cathedral in France). The video has won numerous awards, and it's easy to see why. Mr. Macaulday has an extraordinary talent for explaining (in a series of books) how humans have managed to build utterly challenging structures (not only cathdrals, but pyramids and castles as well).

Part documentary, part animation this is entertainment that teaches! I have owned the VHS copies of this series and used them to teach these history subjects for years. It was time for an upgrade. David Macaulay is a wizard at presentation and delivery. There is also the stellar talents of Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed and others to make the animated storyline a joy for young and old to watch...and LEARN!

I use this documentary to teach a unit on Gothic Cathedrals in my Western Civilization course and along with the text, students often comment about how good "Cathedral" is as it helps them visualize the process of building these magnificent houses of worship. I have spent time in France and have seen many of the cathedrals that are included in the documentary and love returning to them through this medium.

My family loves all of the videos in this series. They are excellent.

Glad I found this. Since the disgusting fire.Praise Christanity .We will survive and continue .

This is from an old series aired on PBS. It includes live action, and animation to give the viewer a little what it must have been like, back in that period when Cathedrals were built in Europe.

Using excellent commentary as well as graphics and animation, this version provides tremendous insight to the technical aspects provided in the other DVD.

Some background information first, to place my review in context. I have studied medieval history, have conducted surveys of medieval churches, and have even written about aspects of medieval history of my home town. So I approached this DVD with some trepidation and curiosity.This 60-minute DVD commences with an animated sequence showing the imaginary old cathedral of Notre Dame de Beaulieu in northern France being destroyed by fire in the year 1214. `Oh dear', I thought, what have I let myself in for? But I had no need to worry. This is a marvellous production, with all the learning and integrity that PBS brings to its documentaries.The programme focuses on the cathedrals of northern France - Chartres, Reims, Amiens, Bourges, Paris, Laon and Rennes all appear - and is presented by David Macaulay and Caroline Berg. (They are good, but have an annoying habit of addressing each other rather than the viewer.) They explain how the new Gothic style was distinguished by its greater height, its stone vaults and its walls of glass. They also quote and visit Abbot Suger's visionary works at the abbey of Saint-Denis, just north of Paris (although more recent academic work - this DVD was made in 1985 - has shown that postulated that Suger was really more of a traditionalist).There are good graphic explanations on-screen of these changes in architecture and their effects, of how walls of glass, for example, had to be supported by piers of greater solidity, to compensate for the now-missing stone. The problem of the subsequent lack of internal volume that this entailed was solved by transferring the support away from the internal piers, which could now be more slender, outside through flying buttresses. The pinnacles on top of these are not there for purely decorative purposes, but also add weight and solidity to the structure.Meanwhile, the interspersed animated sequences are extensive and continue throughout the programme, giving a good idea of the religious, financial, economic and social background to the construction of such mighty cathedrals. (The voices will be familiar, as they include such luminaries as Derek Jacobi and Brian Blessed.) The role of relics and pilgrimages is considered, as well as where the stone and timber came from to build these medieval skyscrapers, how the work paid for, and how it was organised. Details of how stained glass and tracery in rose windows are covered, as are the types of new sculpture supplied, how the roofs were erected and the stone vaulting was set, and the bells cast. The DVD also highlights the necessary economy in the use of stone.As cathedrals competed to go higher and higher, there was bound to be a disaster waiting to happen. The collapse of the 150-foot high nave at Beauvais is shown in an aerial shot. Indeed, the aerial shots of the other cathedrals are excellent too, if a little short in length on screen. (But, hey, that's what the pause button's for!)Overall, I was very impressed with this DVD, which more than met my expectations. Much was already known, but much also was new to me, for example how the stone vaults were put in place. This programme makes a serious attempt at entering the medieval mindset in which religion and the church took centre-stage. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the medieval period of western civilisation or with an interest in gothic art and architecture.

Very informative.