A spectacular documentary on the history of lighthouses, filmed on location in France, Great Britain, Canada and the United States.
ORDER DIRECT FROM JANSON MEDIA: SPECIAL PRICE $9.95
LENGTH: 52 Minutes
MSRP: $24.95
CATALOG #: 20321
UPC #: 6-4603203219-2
ISBN #: 1-56839-271-0
RELEASE YEAR: 2005
PRODUCER: Sofidoc Productions
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The golden age of the lighthouse is over. Most lighthouses have been already automated or are scheduled to be automated sometime over the next few years. The golden age of the lighthouse dates from the 19th century. The expansion of trade, the birth of colonial empires, and the transportation of millions of immigrants all called for a better system of identifying coastlines.
The lighthouses, solitary and beautiful, will survive, but lighthouse keepers are another matter. Victims of the electronic age, they are no longer needed when the lighthouse can so easily be maintained by automation in the modern era of technology.
The documentary was filmed at the lighthouses of Ar-Men, Cordouan, Kereon, and Le Creac’h in France; Bonavista, Cape Race, Sable Island, and Pointe Amour in Canada; Bell Rock and Longstone in Great Britain; and, in the United States, Boston, Portland, Maine, and the Statue of Liberty, in New York City.
Reviews
“Today, however, the lighthouse keeper is more likely to be a machine than a man, and Guardians of the Night is ultimately more of a nicely filmed retrospective of an age which has passed. Recommended.” – Video Librarian
“Lighthouses, long a tourist attraction and symbol of isolation, receive their due in this interesting video…. The history of the construction of lighthouses, the way they were kept staffed and operational,and the perils of lighthouse duty are explored…. A fascinating history, recommended to students of architecture, social and marine sciences, as well as the general public.” – Library Journal
“Using historic prints and magic lantern slides, as well as clips from Charles Chaplin’s film THE IMMIGRANT,the program illustrates the enduring fascination and romantic appeal that these beacons of warning have held for sailors and landlubbers alike over the decades.” – Video Shopper
“Artistically photographed….Smooth voice over accompanied by a stately musical background relates the history of these structures.” -Booklist
“… This remarkable video belongs in every public library…. The video takes you on some perilous trips to many isolated lighthouses and shows you the life of the people who operate these facilities… There is a lot to commend in this video, but I believe it’s enough to say that it covers a highly popular subject about which there is a dearth of information. Expect this one to be a fast-moving item in your collection.” – Video Rating Guide for Libraries
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