Rent The Waterloo Collection: Part 1: Ligny and Quatre Bras (2011)
4.0 of 5 from 1 ratings
1h 30min
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- Synopsis:
"Ligny and Quatre Bras" is the first disc in the explosive new four part series, "The Waterloo Collection", which covers the entire 1815 Waterloo Campaign from Napoleon's return to France and ensuing battles to his final pursuit and eventual surrender to the British. This feature starts by analyzing the Waterloo campaign's background. Napoleon had returned from exile in Elba and quickly re-established himself in Paris, with a sizeable army in tow. The BHTV team begin by examining the state of preparedness of the allies and the French and the plans that they had in force. The route of Napoleon's Army is followed across the Belgian border to the first engagements astride the River Sambre and into the defiles north of Charleroi. With the Prince of Orange's Chief of Staff ignoring Wellington's instructions to fall back, the battle of Quatre Bras built from a skirmish into a full scale battle that would be one of the Great Duke's foremost clashes, had it not been overshadowed by Waterloo two days later. The battle was fought on a narrow front and was an extremely bloody business, with the British being thrown into combat as they arrived to support the Prince of Orange's exhausted troops. The fighting, however, was at its bloodiest in the village of Ligny. As the darkness fell, Napoleon released the Imperial Guard and a whole corps of cavalry into the attack around the village. The aging Blucher was pinned beneath his horse as he desperately urged his men to hold the heights above Ligny. Although the Prussians were beaten, they were not defeated and withdrew to the north to regroup. The story is brought to life by a fascinating array of re-enactment footage, shot on the very battlefields where the battles were fought almost two hundred years ago, as well as in-depth analysis from senior authorities in the field, making this feature a must for all who are interested in the Napoelonic period. - Directors:
- Tim Saunders, Graeme Cooper, Mike Peters, Andrew Duff, Frank Toogood, Tom Dormer
- Writers:
- Tim Saunders, Graeme Cooper, Mike Peters, Andrew Duff, Frank Toogood, Tom Dormer
- Studio:
- Pen and Sword
- Genres:
- Children & Family, Documentary, Special Interest
