Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786304115145 Format: Box set ISBN: 6304115148 Label: A&E Home Video Manufacturer: A&E Home Video Number Of Items: 4 Publisher: A&E Home Video Release Date: 1998-11-11 Running Time: 50 Studio: A&E Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 1996-04-26
Editorial Reviews:
The Queen Mary. The Normandie. The Mauritania. The great ocean liners of the Atlantic were the largest and most opulent passenger ships ever built. In their glorious heyday, it was as if the finest hotels and most magnificent estates of the Western World had been put to sea. Floating Palaces sets sail on a grand tour of the transatlantic liners, from the ultra-luxurious staterooms and private swimming pools of the elite to the below-deck accommodations of less fortunate immigrant travelers. Hear the real stories of the people who built and sailed aboard them and visit their renowned ports of call. Follow the great ships as they are drafted into combat and witness the haunting tragedies that led the Lusitania, Titanic and Andrea Doria to their doom.Floating Palaces is an unforgettable look at the most spectacular ships ever built.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Outstanding look into bygone era Comment: My husband and I inherited this four tape video set and just now took time to view it. How glad we are that we did! The magnificence of these major ships which made crossings of the Atlantic is hard to believe. As far as documentary film making goes, this series makes one appreciate the times in which we live, seemingly so far removed from the days of major ocean liners of great luxury which came to be used as more than luxury transportation. They actually delivered the goods in immigrants and later troops for both WWI and WWII. The actual footage of work underway on the construction of the ships, of simple man power used to load them with coal and all the other necessaries for their consumption are absolutely fascinating. The miracle of their existence and how they were a vital part of warfare, both as carriers and as strategic devices for damaging one the foes of either Kaiser Wilhelm, Mussolini, or Hitler. In a world of modern cruise ships for a taste of the luxurious life, there can be no comparison with what was experienced by the rich and famous, the steerage and later tourist classes, or the military and later their war brides. We recommend this trip into history. You will be amazed and delighted with what you will learn.
Customer Rating: Summary: Best ocean liner documentary ever. Comment: Produced by A & E in 1996, this four tape set, one of the few of it's kind, goes into great historical depth about the famous ocean liners of the past. Fittingly, it opens onboard what was, in 1996, the last North Atlantic liner left in service, Cunard's QE2. From there, the story travels back some 150 years. It covers all the major passenger ships that played such an important role in developing new countries, and tells their life stories. Some had truly remarkable lives, and established records in terms of speed, service, and luxury that have never been equalled. For example, Cunard's "Mauretania" was the fastest ship on the seas for an incredible 22 years. This same companys "Aquitania", last of the historic four stackers, was also the only major liner to serve in and survive both World Wars, and she steamed continuously for 36 years, the longest serving vessel of such size to this day. However, it is the illustrations of the ship's interiors that will impress the viewer the most. Some of the most stunning rooms ever built on a ship, could be found on these turn of century ocean liners, and rare photographs are used to bring them back to life. The intricate woodwork on these early vessels was carved by hand, in place, and when these liners passed into history, nothing of their caliber would ever be seen again. The craftsmanship of the time was unbelieveable, and would be far to expensive to recreate today. But, as is pointed out in the film, these ships truly were icons of their time, and people hoping to recapture that era by going to sea on a cruise ship today, will be sadly disappointed. There can be no comparision between a Carnival Cruise ship of today, and one of Cunard's or White Star's early giants. Modern cruise ship company's will readily tell you that those historic ships can never be matched.
The role played by these vessels during wartime is also included. Their efforts as hospital and troopships were hazardous and heroic at the same time, and their services changed the course of two World Wars. The major disasters that befell some of these vessels are also fully covered, so Titanic, Lusitania, and Andrea Doria fans won't be disappointed. This documentary is told by some of the worlds most knowledgable maritime authorities, and despite it's four hour length, it never drags or fails to hold ones attention. If your looking for a nostalgic ocean voyage down memory lane aboard one of those great "Floating Palaces" of the past, or the lone one of today, this video set will certainly be your best choice, and possibly your only one. Customer Rating: Summary: Floating Palaces: From The Savannah to the QE2 Comment: The movie floating palaces was an interesting documentary of ocean liners past. It went in depth to Brunel's mammoth ships, Cunard's scheduled service, steerage, Cunard's Grand Trio, WWI and WWII, and the Andrea Doria. From this video series, I learned alot, like the fact the Great Britan still survives. I think you will enjoy this video.
