Dr. Guillotin and His Execution Machine

Perhaps unfairly named for Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (who merely conceptualized such an execution machine), the guillotine was actually designed and constructed by a French harpsichord maker, and used (heavily) during the French Revolution (1789-1799). Contrary to common belief, however, comparable execution machines--proto-guillotines, as it were--had been operating in various countries and cultures for many years prior to the French Revolution, but, because of the particularly efficient design of the French instrument, the name became indelibly associated with our Gallic friends. Filled with period engravings and woodcuts, original photographs, archival film footage, and--typical of A&E productions--good reenactments, this program is chock full of information about the long history of this instrument (including little-known facts, such as that the final use of the guillotine in France occurred as late as 1977, or that the guillotine was used during the Nazi occupation of France to execute more than 20,000 people in 1943-44 alone). Enthusiastically recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (M. Rechel)