The Period Drama Tag

Hey-howdy my fine citizens!

I have seen this period drama tag floating around the blogosphere for a bit and as I read the various posts, something scary came to my attention.

Most of the answers involved things like Jane Austen, When Calls the Heart, and Anne of Green Gables!

Come on guys, we don’t want to scare away the viewers by making them think these are the ONLY period dramas out there.  We don’t want them to not try period dramas!

Somebody, had to do something to combat this misapprehension….

And thus, I have done a tag!

So, here we go.  *rubs hands together*

1. What was the most recent period drama you watched? Share what you thought of it.

The Patriot.  I thought it was amazing, beautiful, poignant and it will move you to the core.  Excellently done and with themes and foreshadowing that are MIND-BLOWING.  K.M Weiland should pick it up for dissection on HOW TO DO THEMES.  This movie is textbook.  It was incredible.  The Patriot took so many things that people try to do in storytelling and nailed it with a rawness that most people will never be able to do.

And the message is amazing – fight to the end, there is no option to opt out.  The battle is here – run to it.

As a side note, one of my absolute favorite parts was the fighting pastor.  I am so sick of Christians or pastors being portrayed as pacifists.  Like a Levite of the Old Testament, Reverend Oliver is a warrior priest.  Casting aside his wig and his robes, Oliver grabs a rifle and follows the militia out of his church.  “A shepherd must see to his flock!  And at times, fend off the wolves.”  When his church is burned down with the parishioners (women and children) inside, Oliver is filled with righteous fury and leaves with Mel Gibson’s son to destroy the marauders that have butchered his congregation.  And ah!  He dies in a blaze of glory, with his boots on and his hand on his weapon.  It’s magnificent.

2. Do you generally prefer period dramas in the form of a movie or a TV series/mini-series? Why?

Hmm – in theory, I like the idea of a mini series because of the detail and the ability to focus longer on the characters but I’ve watched more period drama movies so – as long as it’s well done, no preference.  Though I HAVE seen a LOT of period dramas I wish like crazy had been turned into a mini series because they had sooo much material and didn’t get to delve into it as much as I would have liked.  :/

3. What is your favorite musical period drama?

NEWSIES.  Forever and always.  No contest.

4. Read the book first or watch the movie first?

Hmm – watching the movie first can help clarify a book for me sometimes (I’m a visual) and it can be a little distracting, even to me, to watch a movie and be going:  “That wasn’t like the book!”  I think it’s more likely that I watch the movie first.  Any time I watch a movie in a historical setting, I usually do some short research afterwards to check historical accuracy and such.

5. What is a valuable life lesson you learned from a period drama?

 Last Flight Out is one of my favorite films of all time and it taught me the extraordinary beauty of ordinary heroism.  The people who fight, scheme and sacrifice to evacuate as many people from Saigon as possible before Communists overrun the city are civilians. Nobody paid them, nobody forced them – they could turn a blind eye and stay safe, but instead, they turn and run into the fire.  This true story inspires me as I watch these normal people take fear and death by the horns and wrestle with it till the end for the sake of those who can’t fight back.

Last Flight Out teaches that even the ordinary, can be extraordinary – and that heroism is something anyone can attain.

If you haven’t watched this movie, you need to.

6. Which period drama hero would you be likely to fall in love with in real life?

HA!  Easy question!  Mr. Blakeney from Master and Commander.

And yes, he is thirteen years old. 

I would fall head-over-heels in love with this little guy at first sight.  I WANT TO KNOW A REAL LIFE MR. Blakeney – I WANT HIM FOR A LITTLE BROTHER – I LOOOOVE HIM!!

“melts”

Ahhh!  THAT FACE.  *heart eyes*  Mr. Blakeney is one of the most amazing little boys, in reality, he’s a little man.  He is brave, disciplined and commands more respect than most men twice his age.  Not only is he an officer, he is an aristocrat and a gentlemen who lives up to those expectations down to the very core of his remarkable heart.

So – there you go – little Will Blakeney is the most likely person I would “fall in love with” in real life.

7. Do you ever like to binge-watch a period drama series?

Hmm – occasionally, yes.  The one that comes instantly to mind is Disney’s Return to Treasure Island mini series.

*FREAKS OUT*

*TRIES TO MUFFLE SQUEALING BUT FAILS*

THE. BEST. MINI SERIES. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. What things go best with watching a period drama?

Viewing buddies, obviously!  I like to talk about a movie as I’m watching it.  If I don’t have somebody critiquing it with me, it’s hard for me to focus on it.  Let’s see, what else?  I don’t know, a snack?  A buddy and a snack.

9. Which period drama do you think you would fit into best?

Hmm – my favorite period dramas feature a bunch of death-defying situations, so I’m basically picking my doom here.  I suppose The Patriot, because the women were so involved in a heroic struggle.  I would die a thousand deaths before being in a Jane Austen type setting with nothing to do but husband hunt.  I’d be much better suited to holding down the fort as Aunt Charlotte did in The Patriot.  And if I had a choice, I’d rather die for a cause, like Anne in The Patriot, then stay safe and grow old.

I’d definitely be one of those defiant women that burned down shipyards and fields to keep them from falling into enemy hands and then turn around to smile sweetly over a teacup as I wormed information out of officers.

I’ve sometimes wondered what I would have done during the Revolutionary War and just how much fun I could have had tormenting the British.  In the line of duty, of course.

The War of Independence was such a strong time for strong American women, it’s inspiring – and I’m definitely a flaming patriot, so I’d fit in well in that respect.

 That, or post Civil-War like Little Women, where, like Jo March, I could make a living as an authoress.

10. If you could have any period drama character for a best friend, who would it be? And why?

EASY PEASY.  I would choose Archie Kennedy from Horatio Hornblower to be my best friend.

Why?  PFFT – watch the series!  Archie is the DEFINITIVE best friend!  He is loyal, noble-hearted, courageous, smart, full of fun, intuitive, talented, AND BASICALLY AMAZING RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD.

Archie is the kind of person that comes in a pair.  He’s the ultimate right-hand man, the person you most want to back you up, the person you would seek out to scare up some fun, the kind of person that wouldn’t leave you by yourself too long.

I also feel that I would like to be his friend because that boy could use some encouragement!  Archie struggled with a lot of doubt and comparison and I would sternly inform him in no uncertain terms that he’s a better man than Horatio (every day of the week and twice on Sunday), a good officer and a fantastic person in every way.

#sweetiepie #hero

Whether it’s a mission or a party – Archie’s the pal I’d like to have.

11. Show us a picture of a period drama costume you wish you could wear in real life.

THIS, PEOPLE, THIS.  *points to image below*

 These costumes from Risen are AMAZING.  Aren’t they fabulous?!??!!!

First choice, for sure.  I.  WANT.  THOSE.  COSTUMES.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t look the same on a 5′ 3″ young woman.  You kind of need to be a rugged guy to pull this one off.  I’d end up looking more like this –

I love the elegant simplicity of Esther’s costumes in Ben Hur – the emphasis on silhouette and gorgeous color palette is wonderful.

Lady Anne’s costumes from Hidalgo are also lovely.

Look at the embroidery on the back of her jacket below?  Isn’t it gorgeous?  And that hat!  Ooo – yes, please!

Lily James also wore some lovely costumes in Darkest Hour that I could actually wear in real life   – and if I could find clothes like that, I would dress that way every day.  I’m working in that direction and slowly accumulating a wardrobe of retro clothes!

12. Are there any period dramas you like to watch during a particular season or holiday?

Hmm – Return To Treasure Island – *cue eternal squealing* – seems like the ultimate summer mini series to me.  Other than that, it’s more like if certain events are occuring or if we’re in a certain place, we might watch certain period dramas.  For instance, a vacation in Williamsburg would cause us to watch The Patriot.

13. Which period drama has your favorite soundtrack?

There are literally DOZENS of period drama soundtracks that I adore but I’ll content myself with answering with the first one that came to mind.

Kidnapped by David Hirschfelder.  This soundtrack perfectly captures the epic grandeur of the Highlands and sweeps together the grief, beauty and herosim of this movie into a beautiful, shining strain of music that echoes in your mind long after it’s played.  *literally starts fake sobbing hysterically just thinking about it*

Here’s the little opening theme.  Unfortunately, it’s a slightly scratchy quality (not cool, uploader!) but you can still hear that wild, aching cry.

14. Dream cast your favorite actor and actress in a period drama of your choosing; tell which parts they would play and why. 

Sorry – I don’t know!

15. Are there any period dramas you like more than one version of?

Er . . . Little Women.  My favorite version, overall, has to be the 1970s version because of it’s faithfulness to the book, the most accurate portrayal of Professor Bear EVER, and my favorite portrayal of Beth  – among a few other things!

But I also sort-of enjoy (at least parts) of the new version with Winona Ryder and the older version with June Allyson.

16. What are the top three period dramas that you haven’t seen on your to-watch list?

One of my buddies really wants me to watch Wives and Daughters so, for her sake, that’s high on the list.  🙂

I’m really hoping that Paul, the Apostle of Christ will be good.  If it looks all right, I’m definitely going to watch that in theaters!

7 Days in Entebbe looks great too and if it’s not tooooo violent I would like to get that one when it releases on DVD so I can watch it with my *cuss buster.*  It looks pretty amazing.

18. What was your favorite wedding in a period drama?

Um . . . the period dramas I watch and like don’t really DO weddings.  I can think of two – one in Horatio Hornblower and one in The Patriot, but I couldn’t care less about those respective couples so I was indifferent to the wedding scenes.

Oh!  I kinda liked the opening wedding scene in the Sacketts, but the bride got shot.  Seriously, there was a good reason for it!  It was kind of – significant to the plot.  Er. . . .  #nevermind  *hides*

OH WAIT, WAIT, WAIT – I REMEMBERED ONE.  Amazing Grace had a tiny wedding scene and that was really nice.

I did it, YES!  I thought of a wedding scene I liked.  Now I won’t be cast out of all female society!  #ihope

19. What is your favorite biographical period drama?

That’s a really tough choice between the two that instantly came to mind – The King’s Speech and Chariot’s of Fire.

20. Which historical novel will you forever recommend to anyone and everyone?

Treasure Island, Little Women, or Journey To The Center Of The Earth.

Annnd – I’m adding one last question about weapons – I mean, this is an ALLI TAG.

Surely, you’re not surprised.

21.  Favorite Period Drama Sword fight?

Ack!  SO MANY!  I was going to say the end finale from Scaramouche – but since there isn’t a clip available for that – I’m going to go with the sword fight from The Mark of Zorro.  A lot of modern audiences are probably too jaded to appreciate the true swordsmanship and fast choreography of this old black and white but I think it’s –

Enjoy!

And that wraps up this tag, campers!

I now tag anyone who has seen one of the movies or mini series I mentioned above.

And if you have seen any of them – let’s talk!  What are some of your favorite period dramas?  (and yes, even if it’s Jane Austen – I want to know!)

By ze way.  I stole this tag from Natalie at Ramblings of a Redheaded Girl.  Er – thanks Natalie!  😀