Science against the History Books
Series
- Series Name
- British Movietone News
Issue
Story
- Story No. within this Issue
- 3 / 4
- Summary
- MOVIETONE CARD TITLE: Science Against the History Books. DESCRIPTION: In October, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was a prisoner on the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic. He died there on the 5th of May 1821. It was generally agreed that he died of cancer. But scientists at the Atomic Energy Research Station at Harwell have subjected particles of his hair to a neutron bombardment. They found traces of arsenic in his hair and believe that he died of arsenic poisoning. SHOTLIST: Scientists at the Atomic Energy Research Station, Harwell carry out tests on specimens of Napoleon’s hair in an effort to discover whether he died from arsenic poisoning. CU painting of Napoleon. (Library material of St Helena, Government House and French flag). MS group of scientists. Various shots of them at work at control panel. CU hands, checking meter readings. The hair, having been made radioactive was dissolved in chemicals when arsenic was found. MCU of Dr Hamilton Smith. He speaks. Further CUs of painting. MS Dr H Smith with another. (Shots of tomb - French material). Final shot of painting.
- Keywords
- Politics and government; Science and technology; Crime; History and archaeology
- Locations
- Harwell
- Footage sources
- France
Templar Films
- Card file number
- 89059
- Credits:
-
- Camera
- John Mould
- Commentator
- Leslie Mitchell
- Length of story (in feet)
- 311
-
Film clip
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This series is held by:
Film Archive
- Name
- AP Archive
- info@aparchive.com
- Web
- http://www.movietone.com
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 7482 7482
- Series held
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