Sir Francis Drake
The History Makers Series, Castle Vision, 1994
This is a well presented and well researched documentary drama telling the story of Drake's life. Contemporary pictures and documents are interspersed with well acted and well directed drama presentations.
The information is well disseminated and accurate, as are the costumes and background details. Characterisation and the narrative voice-overs are excellent. I use this 55 minute film frequently as an excellent teaching aid. It is well worth purchasing in its own right. The only faults I can muster are that: Drake's beard is too long and the scenes, supposedly set in the jungle of Panama, look as though they have been filmed in a greenhouse. Extensive use of the Golden Hinde II add great impact.
A 96 paged book is included. James Anthony Froude's famous English Seamen in The Sixteenth Century was first published in 1895 and is a classic of Naval literature. The extracts reprinted here are a superb study of Sir Francis Drake's years of glory including the attack on the harbour at Cadiz and the defeat of the Spanish Armada."
