Made by Pierre Letarte in 1972 for the National Film Board of Canada this 30 minute documentary follows the formation of the first Quebec Nordiques team formed for the WHA. Absolutely amazing time piece that shows how the logo and uniforms were created and includes a number of interviews with the players that were coached briefly by Maurice Richard.

Permalink    Labels: Documentaries, Hockey, History, Lost Classics

Made for the BBC in 2000, this is a kicked in the teeth documentary focused on why the Challenger disaster happened and how it could have been avoided. It features interviews with key players in the decisions that were made - and not made - that led to the explosion.

Not entirely pleasant to watch, but something that is important to understand in hindsight. If you aren't familiar with o-rings and minimum temperatures than this will be 50 minutes of enlightenment.

The video can be viewed via Google Video (to the right), but is also available for download in mp4 format for the iPod Touch and iPhone on this page:

Challenger, Go For Launch (BBC)

Permalink    Labels: Google Video, History, Documentaries, Space

Terry Jones, of Monty Python fame, takes a look at the different types of people and their lives during the Middle Ages. Includes eight episodes of about 25 minutes a piece. Entertaining, educational, and at times quite funny, these were done to debunk the way must of us think about the way life was during this period of time. The series was actually nominated for an Emmy in 2004.

The first part can be viewed via Google Video (right). It, and the other 7 parts, are also available for download in mp4 format for the iPod Touch and iPhone via the following links:

Part 1 - The Peasant
Part 2 - The Monk
Part 3 - The Damsel
Part 4 - The Minstrel
Part 5 - The Knight
Part 6 - The Philosopher
Part 7 - The Outlaw
Part 8 - The King

Permalink    Labels: History, Documentaries, Middle Ages, Google Video

I've always been fascinated wtih India and it's history (and it's food). Granted I've never been there but this was about the next best thing.

Michael Wood did this 6 hour documentary for the BBC in 2007 and it is an amazing look at the country. Wood, who can be almost too cheerful at times, is a remarkable historian and he leaves few stones unturned here as he sifts through two thousand years of culture while crisscrossing the subcontinent.

As I recall I watched nearly all of this in one day while at home in bed with a cold. Whenever you have a cold I can advise the same remedy.

The first part can be viewed via Google Video (above). It, and the other five parts, are also available for download in mp4 format for the iPod Touch and iPhone via the following links:

The Story of India - Part 1
The Story of India - Part 2
The Story of India - Part 3
The Story of India - Part 4
The Story of India - Part 5
The Story of India - Part 6

Permalink    Labels: History, Documentaries, India, Asia

Made in 2001 this is a one hour documentary that gives a rare (and somewhat frightening) glimpse into what life in modern North Korea is like.

It was made by Dutch filmmaker Peter Tetteroo and received the International Emmy for Best Documentary. It was filmed over the period of one week.

Even after watching this you'll find yourself perplexed with the paradox that is the DPRK. In fact probably more so than before you saw it...

The video can be viewed via Google Video (to the right), but is also available for download in mp4 format for the iPod Touch and iPhone on this page:

Welcome to North Korea by Peter Tetteroo

Permalink    Labels: Documentaries, Google Video, History, Asia

This is, for the most part, a documentary about Cyrus Field who laid the first transatlantic cable more than 150 years ago. Despite accomplishing something that was considered ridiculous (like putting a man on the moon) he has been left out of most history books.

Considered at one time to be the "greatest American" Field is given some oft forgotten credit in this documentary done by Modern Marvels. If anything it certainly proves you can accomplish something through determination no matter what the odds.

The video, which is about 45 minutes long, can be viewed via Google Video (to the right), but is also available for download in mp4 format for the iPod Touch and iPhone on this page:

Modern Marvels - Transatlantic Cable (Cyrus Field documentary)

Field, incidentally is actually a distant relation of Stockgnome....

Permalink    Labels: Documentaries, Google Video, History, The Ocean