This educational film was created to show a glimpse into medieval life; an era which spanned from 476 AD to around 1400, with a specific focus on the knights. It shows a narration of a young man’s path as he grows from page to knighthood. The film was produced in France by Encyclopedia Britannica Films (:29) in collaboration with John’s Hopkins University. A monk is depicted writing tales of events of their time (1:02). Boniface was the guardian of the chronicles of events up until the fall of the Roman Empire (1:09). Medieval battle scenes play out as knights shoot arrows at their opponents (1:15). A serf offers himself for work (1:24). Early stories from this era tell that the knights were brutal fighting men whose only occupation was war (1:31). Knights take guard on the outer edges of the castle (1:40). A code of honor was developed as a group of knights meet around a table (1:44). One of Brother Boniface’s tales is of a young man called Robert whose story begins in 1192 (2:17). Robert was sent by his father to learn chivalry and the skills of knighthood (2:25). A young Robert is pictured here at the start of his apprenticeship as a page (2:42). The lady of the house was to be his guide (2:51). She teaches him how to properly enter and greet others (3:19). Robert is seen meeting another page (3:47). The pair was to remain under Alice’s care until the age of 14 (3:54). The boys learn how to dance and sing as a part of their training (4:13). A selected chaplain teaches them how to read (4:34). Another child is pictured walking on stilts behind the castle walls for recreation (4:57). Two youth play with marbles (5:10). Lady Alice tells tales of knights from the past (5:25). A pair of knights move towards each other for a jousting match (5:31). At night, the boys play a favorite game of tournaments with miniature knights on horses (5:45). The master arrives as they are at play (6:07). A stable hand brings forward a horse for young Robert (6:48). As the boy turns 14 on Saint Anthony’s day, he became a squire (8:13). Gerald and Robert begin their second part of their apprenticeship (8:35) which was geared towards service and weaponry. The pages carve the lord’s meat for dinner time (8:52). As dinner is cleared, the lord requests for a game of chess (9:56). The squires clean the armor of the lord (10:36). They play a game of tilting at the quintain (11:13). The quintain is zoomed in on here (11:33). One of the squires fixes a heavy weight to his belt as he climbs atop the saddle in order to accustom himself for when he would be riding with heavy mail (12:12). The pair is seen playing the flute and learning to sing (12:40). The boys begin practice fighting with swords (13:14). The second portion of his apprenticeship comes to a close at the age of 21 (13:39). 1205 was to be the year of his Ascension Day (13:42). On the day prior to his dubbing, Robert’s armor is put on display for the court (14:04). His uncle volunteer’s to be his sponsor (14:13). Golden spurs are zoomed in on (14:30). Robert prepares for the strict knighting ceremony (14:44). Here he puts on the Tunic of Scarlet (14:58). The Vigil of Arms begins (15:13). The insides of the castle are seen bustling with activity on the morning of Ascension Day (15:38). A long table is set into place for the feast which is to follow the ceremony (15:46). Horns blare, flags wave, and the ceremony begins (16:16) as Robert marches in. Robert’s spurs of gold are fashioned onto him (16:45). Robert’s teacher and master perform the dubbing (17:04). Ladies wave from the balcony as he is knighted (17:45). Here Robert is to leap onto his horse’s back without touching the stirrups (17:56). The ceremony ends and the feast begins (18:47). The young knight prepares to depart from the castle of his apprenticeship (19:42) for a new manor which he received from his uncle. The film begins to wrap up as the narrator explains how knightly armor has changed over the years from woven mail to breast plates (20:17). The knights move around the outskirts of the castle (20:28).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com