‘Mulberry Street… and Worth… Cross and Orange… and Little Water. Each of the Five Points is a finger. When I close my hand it becomes a fist. And, if I wish, I can turn it against you.’ – Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting

Jeeez…chill Bill, we were only asking for directions. We’re all friends here, so join us for the latest episode of Reel History!

Clearly, the chillingly charismatic Bill Cutting could never be accused of mincing his words or shying away from confrontation. Portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002), this is one of the actors most iconic on-screen achievements. He delivers up a scene-stealing (glass-eye-tapping) tour de force with rich dialogue and a large serving of gratuitous violence. So far so Scorsese, you might say!

Written by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian & Kenneth Lonergan, the star-studded cast is complemented by Leonardo DiCaprio’s plucky Amsterdam Valance and Cameron Diaz’s crafty pickpocket Jenny. Filling out the ranks further are comically inept John C. Reilly as Happy Jack and Jim Broadbent’s corrupt kingpin of Tammany Hall Boss Tweed. However, we found that it was Brendan Gleeson’s mercenary/barber/sheriff for hire Walter ’Monk’ McGinn who eclipsed all but Day-Lewis. After all, it was he who reminded us using the old Irish proverb that “An té nach bhfuil láidir ní foláir dó a bheith glic”. (He who is not strong better be clever!)

Wise words indeed for anyone wishing to survive and thrive in the feverish cesspit of vice, poverty and corruption that was New York’s 19th century Five Points. Loosely based on Herbert Asbury’s 1927 book of the same name, Scorsese conjures up a grimy, riotous Civil-War-era lower Manhattan. He vividly reveals its underbelly of crime-ridden slums, gambling dens and sectarian gang rivalry, all concentrated into a few stifling streets. These were bitterly fought over by supremacist nativist protestant gangs, such as the Bowery Boys, who were determined to crush the challenge laid down by the largely Irish catholic Dead Rabbits who had flooded into New York escaping destitution across the ocean.

Sounds compelling, but did any of this actually happen? Accompany us as we lift the lid on the real history behind the film. Who was the real Bill ‘The Butcher’ William Poole and the gangs which dominated the period? What exactly was the corrupt political machine of Tammany Hall where ‘the appearance of law must be upheld, especially while it’s being broken’? Along the way we will dive into many of the other factors which forged this melting pot of modern America from the New York Draft Riots, religious/race tensions and even rival police forces and fire brigades!

Feel free to support the show on patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast for more bonus content between main episodes.

The post Gangs of New York (2002) | The Five Points (1863) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

William Marshal returns from crusade older, wiser, and with silk burial cloths from Jerusalem tucked under his arm. But death is still a long way off.

In part two of our special, we trace Marshal’s rise to power across three reigns — Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, and finally King John — watching him navigate some of the most dangerous politics in medieval Europe. This was a time when kings were made and unmade on battlefields, oaths could shake empires, and being loyal could get you exiled just as fast as being treacherous.

Marshal fights Richard in single combat (kind of), survives King John’s paranoia, and ends up regent of England, charged with saving the kingdom for a 9-year-old boy while half the nobility sides with a French invader. And at the age of 70, he still leads a cavalry charge that changes the course of English history.

From political power plays to crusader pacts, courtroom drama to siege warfare — this is a medieval epic that needs to be on screen yesterday. William Marshal’s story is Wolf Hall meets A Knight’s Tale, what’s not to love? SPOILER: he really does end up buried as a Templar, wrapped in the shroud he brought home decades earlier. What a finale!

Listen to William Marshal Part 1 first, if you haven’t already!

The post The Greatest Knight | William Marshal 2/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Before he was called “the greatest knight,” William Marshal was nearly used as a human catapult projectile. In the first of our two-part special, we follow the astonishing early life of William Marshal – a man who rose from near-execution as a child hostage during the Anarchy to become a knight of international renown and a trusted retainer to the heirs of the Angevin Empire.

We begin in the chaos of civil war before heading to Normandy for a classic knight’s education, where William learns the brutal economics of chivalry, the importance of a good warhorse, and how to survive when all you’ve got is charm and a secondhand cloak.

As we tell his story, we’re also exploring the life of a medieval knight, separating Hollywood fantasy from historical fact. How were knights actually trained? What was a tournament really like in the 12th century? And how do you go from being a penniless, horseless squire to the most feared fighter in Christendom?

Along the way, we unravel the complex and ruthless politics of the Angevin realm – a dynastic snake pit that stretched from Scotland to the Pyrenees and was held together by sheer force of will, questionable parenting, and the occasional high-stakes rebellion.

Serving under the ill-fated Young King Henry – son of Henry II – Marshal finds himself at the heart of a brewing storm: rival heirs, political betrayal, an epic tournament run, and a final, almost mythic vow to carry his fallen friend’s cloak to Jerusalem.

And yes, we make repeated attempts to cast this as a prestige miniseries. Because William Marshal’s life really was that cinematic.

This is part one of a two-part series, part 2 is already available on our Patreon!

The post The Angevin Empire | William Marshal 1/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Hey Reelists!

You might be wondering what’s going on with Season 5 of Reel History. Well, wonder no more – we’re here to fill you in!

For our first four seasons, we spent a year recording ten episodes, then released them on a bi-weekly schedule in one big history blitz. It built hype and gave you a regular release rhythm – and for a while, it worked beautifully.

But let’s be real: the last couple of seasons have taken more like two years to record and release. Real life got in the way. And while we love our deep-dive approach, often spending months researching for a single episode, we don’t want to keep you waiting that long – especially when we’ve got loyal Patrons supporting us every month (thank you!!), and especially when we cover timely releases like Gladiator II.

So, heading into Season 5, we’re switching things up.

Instead of waiting until an entire season is in the can, we’ll be dropping episodes on the main feed as soon as they’re recorded and edited. That means less waiting, but it also means a more irregular schedule – occasional quiet spells, followed by bursts of new episodes.

We’re also experimenting with the format. We’ll still be covering historical films and TV shows, but our Patreon bonus pods have opened the door to all kinds of fascinating historical topics – and we’re bringing some of that energy to the main feed. So in Season 5, you’ll find both our classic film & TV episodes and “Specials” where we explore real history that hasn’t (yet) been adapted into a blockbuster or prestige miniseries.

Season 5 is already underway!

Last year we released part one of our Brian Boru Special and a full episode on Gladiator II. Part two of the Brian Boru Special is out right now, alongside this post – go check it out on our main feed!

Next up: a two-part Special on the fascinating life of William Marshal, a.k.a. “the Greatest Knight.” His story is absurdly cinematic – and we’ll be using it as a way to separate fact from fiction about medieval knighthood, exploring the chaotic politics of the Angevin realm, and arguing for why that man needs his own miniseries.

Here’s how it’ll work:

Part one of our William Marshal Special will be available to Patrons later today – which means if you’re a Patron, you get two new episodes right now (Brian Boru Part 2 on the main feed, and William Marshal Part 1 on Patreon). If you’re not already supporting us, you can join up for as little as €2.5/month and get early access, bonus episodes, and help shape what we cover next.

In two weeks, William Marshal Part 1 will go live on the main feed – and Part 2 will go live on Patreon.

The trade-off with our new approach is that we can’t promise exact dates for upcoming episodes. But we can confirm the full season structure for Season 5, which will still consist of 10 episodes:

As you can see, the Patrons’ Choice is back! We’ll be running a poll on Patreon where you can vote for the film, show, or topic you want us to tackle – and yes, that could be a film or a straight-up historical deep dive. There’s an unlocked, public post on our Patreon (patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast) where you can comment options you’d love to see in the Patrons’ Choice poll, even if you’re not signed up as a paid member. Feel free to also comment there and let us know what you think of these changes!

We’re always grateful for the support, feedback, and enthusiasm from our listeners, and we’re excited to try this new approach with you. Thanks for reading — now go enjoy Brian Boru Part 2 or William Marshal Part 1 (or both!). We’ll be back in your ears again soon.

Long may the reel continue.

The post Reel History Season 5 Announcement first appeared on Shows What You Know.

In part two of our special on Brian Boru, we chart the extraordinary reign of the most ambitious king in Irish history — from regional warlord to the first ruler with real, island-wide power.

(Listen to part one at showswhatyouknow.com or scroll back in the podcast feed!)

Brian’s ascent didn’t end with Munster. Through ruthless warfare, savvy alliances, and a string of political marriages (including to the formidable Gormlaith), he steadily brought Connacht, Leinster, and even the Viking cities under his control. In 1002, he forced the High King of Tara, Máel Sechnaill, into submission — breaking the ancient Uí Néill monopoly on kingship and forging an uneasy peace that we’ve decided to call the “Pax Boru.”

But Brian’s authority, hard-won though it was, rested on shaky foundations. Discontent simmered among his vassals, and when old enemies in the north and east sensed an opportunity, rebellion flared once more. Dublin and Leinster rose again, bolstered by Viking reinforcements from Orkney, the Isle of Man, and beyond. It all came to a head on Good Friday, 1014, in a battle that would echo down through the centuries.

The Battle of Clontarf was no simple tale of Ireland vs. the Vikings. It was a bloodbath of tangled loyalties, shifting alliances, and dynasties fighting for survival. Join us as we unpack the chaos: from Prince Murchad’s heroic charge to Brian’s final moments in prayer, to the brutal fate of Brodir of Mann and the devastating losses on both sides. It may have ended in a technical victory, but with Brian, his son, and his grandson all slain, the cost was staggering, and the dream of a united Ireland died with him.

This is the real history behind the legend — the story of a king who nearly changed everything, and the battle that ended it all.

Intro music is Lamentation by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under CC BY 3.0

The post The Battle of Clontarf | Brian Boru 2/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Surprise! A rogue Reel History appears like a fistful of sand to the eyes! We covered Gladiator in our second episode, almost exactly 5 years ago. Ridley Scott took 24 years to return with Gladiator II and while the Reel History HQ usually operates at a similar glacial pace, we have – thanks to our Patrons – had a chance to watch and break down this hotly anticipated blockbuster! There are a lot of inaccuracies to cover and, more importantly, a lot of fascinating characters, so let’s dig in.

Join us as we separate fact from fiction in Gladiator II and learn why a… sea siege? on Numidia in 200 AD would have been absurd. Learn about the real “twin emperors” Geta and Caracalla (they weren’t emperors at the time) and the true story of Paul Mescal’s Lucius Verus Aurelius (there wasn’t much of a story). Denzel Washington steals the show and the empire as Macrinus – how does the scheming of reality’s Marcus Opellius Macrinus compare? Pedro Pascal’s General Acacius might not have existed at all, but the character was most likely inspired by Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus, Lucilla’s husband who  refused the imperial throne multiple times. And, speaking of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen, reprising her role), she would have been dead a long time, but there’s still plenty to say about why underestimating the women of Rome was rarely a good idea.

Oh, and the year is wrong too. There’s no way this is 200 AD.

Also: Sharks?!

It’s Ridley Scott, it’s Gladiator; there’s gonna be a lot to talk about. Join us for this special episode and consider supporting the show on patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast for more bonus content between main episodes. If you want to stay in the world of Rome you might enjoy our trailer breakdown and theories ahead of Gladiator II and a 2-part series on the most underrated Roman Emperors.

Note that this is not the start of a new bi-weekly season, we simply wanted to get this out as quickly as possible and we’ll be back with part 2 of our Brian Boru special in early 2025!

The post Gladiator II (2024) | Geta, Caracalla, Macrinus (200) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Today, we dive into the rise of one of Ireland’s most iconic and celebrated leaders—Brian Boru, the High King. In the popular psyche, Brian Boru is known as the King who would unite the Irish clans and stand against the Viking invaders. But was this really true? What is the Real History of Ireland’s most famous king?

From his beginnings as a minor king in Munster to his rise as a national hero who reshaped the political landscape of Ireland, Brian Boru’s journey is one of ambition, warfare, and resilience. His legacy is cemented in Irish history, not just for his military triumphs, but for his vision of a unified Ireland.

Join us as we explore Brian Boru’s meteoric rise to power, his battles for control, and the defining moments that led to the legendary Battle of Clontarf. This is part one of a Reel History special topic: The Rise of Brian Boru.

Intro music is Lamentation by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under CC BY 3.0

The post The Rise of the Dál gCais | Brian Boru 1/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Welcome to the finale of Season 4 of Reel History! In this episode we look back at our past season, answer listener questions and hand out the Mel Gibson Awards to the least historically accurate films. With the assistance of some colourful buzzers, Mark and Jakob face off in a film/history quiz that proves once and for all if Jakob knows anything about history!

Thank you so much for listening to this season, please keep an eye on the feed for some upcoming specials and visit PATREON.COM/REELHISTORYPODCAST for exclusive bonus podcasts between seasons.

The post Reel History Season 4 Finale first appeared on Shows What You Know.

‘What a pity the man wasn’t lazy ’ remarked the wily French diplomat Talleyrand as he later lamented on how Napoleon’s restless energy had led him to dominate Europe and the age against all odds. But of course, you know all this dear listener as you’ve already accompanied us on the first two episodes of our whirlwind tour covering the first French emperor’s incredible rise and reign! So join us for our conclusion to this trilogy as we follow the heady high’s and disastrous defeats of the Grand Armée and test whether Napoleon was right when he famously claimed that ‘there is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous’.

Mark kicks off our exploration with the Battle of Austerlitz, famously dubbed the “Battle of the Three Emperors”, where Napoleon’s military genius reached its zenith, securing a decisive victory over the combined forces of Russia and Austria. From there, we witness the defeat of Prussia, the smashing of the Holy Roman Empire, and the implementation of the “Continental System”, which sought to cripple Britain’s economy. But it wasn’t all conquests and triumphs. After promptly dumping Josephine in favour of an alliance with Austria, Napoleon’s foundations start to crumble and the Russian campaign proves to be his undoing, with the 6th coalition chasing him back to France after the fire of Moscow and the disasterous battle of Leipzig. Still, he doesn’t give up without a fight, winning 4 battles in 5 days but still losing his crown and his country through forced abdication in 1814.

Now, if this was a horror movie it’d be the part where you think the monster is dead but it bursts out of the rubble for a final slash. In Napoleon’s case, this was his return to France in 1815 for a famous 100 days. You’ll have to listen to find out how this great adventure concludes, but let’s just say that a famous ABBA song might give you a hint. That’s right, he became a Dancing Queen! Just kidding – we’re talking Waterloo.

Our 3-part Napoleon series brings us towards the end of Reel History Season 4. Join us next time for our Season Finale and look forward to a bonus Napoleon episode coming shortly to patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast.

The post Napoleon III | FALL (1806-1815) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

“The revolution is over… I AM the revolution!” proclaimed Mark dramatically as we recently sat down to record this second sortie into our trilogy on the man behind the myth – Napoleon!

No, but seriously, these were the confidently spoken words of a 30-year-old 1st Consul Bonaparte in 1800 as he presented himself as saviour to the war-weary French at the dawn of a new century. But cessez-le-feu and let’s not be getting ahead of ourselves; we first take a rapid-fire look at the key events that allowed this plucky provincial general to seize power and install himself and Josephine rent-free in Louis XVI’s former apartments in the Tuileries Palace.

Now, watching Ridley Scott’s film could easily lead you to believe that Napoleon’s real motivation for conquering Europe was to win the heart and approval of his wife and one-time obsession, Josephine. Allow us, therefore, to supply the vital context glaringly missing from the film for the momentous events which shaped the fortunes of Napoleon, his family, and the age. Along the way, we will dish out the gossip on the affairs, love letters and tremendous lovers’ tiffs which made Josephine and Napoleon’s relationship a worthy rival to Anthony and Cleopatra’s! We’ll then embark on a journey across the Mediterranean to find out why both Napoleon and revolutionary France were so keen to invade Egypt in 1798. Learn the truth behind this often rose-tinted misadventure which would later lead Napoleon to ruefully claim ‘If I had stayed in the east, I would have founded an empire like Alexander’.

Digging deeper, we examine how Napoleon used his skills as a master propagandist to emulate his hero Caesar to win over the hearts of his soldiers and the public on his ruthless ascent to the imperial throne. This cunningly crafted image of the young hero would supposedly cement the gains of the revolution while putting a full stop to the chaos it unleashed – a compelling tale that would enable him to carry out his coup d’état of 18 Brumaire. Building on this, we will examine the pivotal battles and military tactics employed by Napoleon to effectively crush all in his wake as he astounded France’s increasingly desperate enemies with victory after victory. Finally, we will learn about Napoleon’s meritocratic (if autocratic) imperial regime and its enduring civil reforms which continue to shape the modern world long after the last shot rang out at Waterloo.

As Napoleon’s foreign minister Talleyrand once said of the new consul ‘If he lasts a year, he’ll go far!’. Well, he certainly lasted longer than that, so make sure to join us next time when we put a bow on this trilogy and learn what happened when the stakes (and number of coalitions) got higher and higher, and fortune finally turned on the Emperor.

The post Napoleon II | REIGN (1799-1805) first appeared on Shows What You Know.