VISIONS OF ENGLAND (TV)
Summary
One in this series of informative travel programs which explore regions with aerial photography. This program is narrated by Franca Barchiesi and focuses on England, displaying breathtaking footage shot from a helicopter-mounted camera. The program begins at the White Cliffs of Dover, the "gateway to England." The program discusses how the isle's isolation and Englishmens' ability to master the seas forged the country's independence of character. Then, the helicopter travels past Dover Castle to the Martello Tower and the sloping field in the Town of Battle where "English and Norman blood mingled and ran into the soil" during William the Conqueror's invasion of 1066. Then, the camera explores the "satisfying" Sussex countryside and the surrounding English Channel which attracts the "bravest of hearts." Next, the town of Eastbourne and nearby Brighton -- home to the Palace Pier and George IV's Royal Pavilion -- is viewed. Then, the helicopter flies to "Needles," Isle of Wight, a popular holiday destination featuring Carisbrooke Castle and Victoria's palatial Osborne House residence, where she virtually retired after the death of Prince Albert. The nearby Southampton is also examined as the site of the launching of the Mayflower, Titanic, and present-day luxury liners. Then, the program shows Salisbury Cathedral and other medieval cathedrals on the plains of Hampshire. Next, the helicopter heads toward the mysterious Stonehenge, which dates back to the building of the pyramids. Then, the program moves on to examine the magnificent water gardens at Stourhead and the "less imaginative" Stourhead House before traveling to Longleat House and its manicured shrubbery maze. Also seen is the nearby 2000-year-old Uffington White Horse, sculpted into the chalky earth beneath the grass on a hillside, and viewed in its entirety only by "heavenly eyes." Then, the helicopter travels along Hadrian's Wall, built in 122 A.D. across Northern England from sea to sea. Then, the helicopter surprisingly locates a biplane daredevil over the Midlands before heading toward geometric water shapes such as Moon Pond in Studley Royal. Next, the helicopter looks at medieval abbeys such as the ruins of Fountains Abbey. Then, the helicopter visits Bempton Cliffs on the East Yorkshire coastline with its huge colonies of nesting seabirds as well as the Flamborough Lighthouse. Next, the helicopter ventures to the second longest bridge in the world -- the Humber Bridge across the Hull estuary before heading on to York, a city that "typifies England's turbulent history." Also visited is the nearby Castle Howard. On the country's West Coast, surrounded by the Irish sea is England's version of the Eiffel Tower -- the Blackpool Tower -- in England's most colorful seaside resort. Then, the helicopter makes the approach toward Liverpool, known now as the birthplace of the Beatles rather than for its former mercantile glory. The helicopter flies over the gentrified Queen Square and the "faded grandeur" of the Merseyside buildings. Then, the helicopter flies over Southern Wales, seeing the Severn Road Bridge and Exmoor National Park, before viewing Dunster Castle and the village of Cheddar and its famed gorge. Next, the program heads to Bath, looking at the Bath Cathedral and Roman Spa before flying over the Newmarket Racecourse where -- with apologies to Churchill Downs -- the "finest thoroughbreds in the world" reside. Then, the helicopter heads toward Cambridge and its American Cemetery where "Old Glory" flies in memory of American soldiers killed during the two World Wars. Also, looked at are Cambridge University, King's College, and its adjacent cricket patches. Then, the helicopter heads toward the "rolling hills of the Upper Thames Valley" of the Cotswold Region with its colorful cottages and unique character. Then, the Avon River is looked at where, most notably, resides Stratford and William Shakespeare's home. Continuing to follow the Thames toward London, the helicopter approaches the Duke of Marlborough's Blenheim Palace where Winston Churchill was born before heading on toward the "college town" of Oxford and passing Wimbledon's tennis grounds. Finally, the helicopter makes it to London where sites are examined such as: Lord Foster's architectural wonder the Swiss Re Building, nicknamed "The Erotic Gherkin"; New City Hall; London Eye; Houses of Parliament; The Clock Tower housing the bell known as "Big Ben"; Buckingham Palace; Marble Arch; British Museum; Admiralty Arch; Trafalgar Square; Piccadilly Circus; Baker Street (where the fictional Sherlock Holmes resided); Prince Albert Memorial; Royal Albert Hall; Covent Garden (where the fictional Henry Higgins first set eyes on Eliza Doolittle); Hyde Park; Kensington Gardens and Palace; Kew Gardens; Regent's Park Canal, smack in the middle of the London Zoo; bridges across the Thames including Tower Bridge; Tower of London, home of the crown jewels; Globe Theatre; Westminster Abbey; St. Paul's Cathedral; and Harrod's department store. Traveling to Greenwich, the helicopter flies over the Royal Naval College and Royal Observatory, then passes the Thames Flood Barrier. After circling over Canterbury, site of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" and the Cathedral, where the martyr Thomas Becket was murdered, the helicopter passes over Folkestone, where the Channel Tunnel -- commonly called the Chunnel -- begins an underwater path for high-speed trains to Paris, France. As the program concludes, the helicopter returns to its starting point: the White Cliffs of Dover.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: WLIW-TV / PBS
- DATE: November 30, 2002
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:12
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:91208
- GENRE: Public affairs/documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Great Britain - Description and travel
- SERIES RUN: WLIW (Plainview, NY) - TV, 2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Roy Hammond … Executive Producer
- Sam Toperoff … Producer, Writer
- Franca Barchiesi … Narrator
- Albert, Prince of Great Britain
- The Beatles
- Thomas Becket
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- Winston Churchill
- Duke of Marlborough (See also: Churchill, John)
- Norman Robert Foster
- George IV, King of Great Britain
- William Shakespeare
- Victoria, Queen of Great Britain
- William I, King of England