The Guillotine
(1996)
January 1, 1996
(US)
•
Documentary, History
• 50m
Overview
The Guillotine examines the fascinating and bizarre history of the "national razor" that started out strictly for execution and then became a source of entertainment and amusement. In Scotland they called it "the Maiden," in England "the Halifax Gibbet," and in France "the Machine," "the Widow," and "the Guillotine." It existed for hundreds of years, but found its home in France during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror when nearly 20,000 men, women and children died beneath its blade. Through dramatic reenactments and archival documentation of famous executions, the program explores the early technology of the guillotine and its bloodstained career throughout Europe.
Keywords
death penalty
beheading
french revolution
marie antoinette
guillotine
executioner
capital punishment
execution
docudrama
18th century
louis xvi
historical reenactment
criminal justice
reign of terror
television documentary
discovery channel
history of france
nazi executions
medieval punishment
penal history
morbid history
Where to watch
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Status
Released
Original Language
EN
Budget
—
Revenue
—
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