Civilisation 

Sir Kenneth Clarke guides us through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilisation in western man. Beginning with the bleakness of the dark ages to the present day, we consider ... See full summary »

Stars:

Kenneth Clark, Nicholas Blake, William Devlin

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Kenneth Clark	...	Himself - Narrator 14 episodes, 1969-1970

Storyline

Sir Kenneth Clarke guides us through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilisation in western man. Beginning with the bleakness of the dark ages to the present day, we consider civilisation's articulations and expressions in some of man's finest works of art.

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Plot Keywords:

intelligence | christianity | medicis | rome italy | florence italy | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History | Music | War

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Civilisation: A Personal View by Kenneth Clark

Filming Locations:

Notre Dame, Paris 1, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min (13 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the episode titled "The Pursuit of Happiness", series writer and narrator Lord Clark introduces his theme by claiming that "the founders of the American Constitution . . . thought fit to mention the pursuit of happiness as a proper aim for mankind." This is a very common error (on both sides of the Atlantic), as the phrase "pursuit of happiness" appears in America's Declaration of Independence (1776), not in her Constitution (1788-89).

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Quotes

Narrator: The great religious art of the world in every country is deeply involved with the female principle.

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Connections

Referenced in The 50 Greatest Documentaries (2005)

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Soundtracks

String Quartet in G Minor
(uncredited)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Episode: {"The Pursuit of Happiness" (1969) (ep. #1.9)}

User Reviews

Enlighteneing, engaging, and intimate program of scholarly work

First broadcast in 1969,Civilization was produced not only to showcase the new medium of color television but also to reassure a then turbulent society of its established roots.

Before viewing Civilization I had never heard of Kenneth Clark, or K Clark as he was known to his contemporaries. At first glance he appears to be the product of a stodgy old order, a stereotypical brown flannel suit poised very uneasily in the Age of Aquarius. However his soft demeanor, articulate observations and frank but reasonable opinions quickly become very endearing qualities. I soon found myself very disappointed I had never met the man, or at least lived through his era.

I can say with confidence that if you seriously enjoy history, particularly the European variety, you will enjoy Civilization. Even if you don't, the stunning and intimate portrayal of 1500 years of art may still be captivating enough to hold your attention. This program is unlike anything broadcast in the post-MTV era, and it sets a standard of culture and erudition that puts networks which should know better, like the History Channel, to shame.