Hunting the Lost Symbol

Not only can Washington, D.C.'s Masonic heritage be seen in the Washington Monument, parts of the U.S. Capitol, and even in the layout of the city's streets, but the Freemasons' early adherents included George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Although the organization insists it's a “society of secrets, not a secret society” and is intent only on the principles of enlightenment and separation of church and state, Dan Brown's latest bestseller The Lost Symbol puts a more sinister spin on things, describing a “hidden Washington” full of mystery and intrigue. Combining archival stills, location footage, and interviews with experts, this Discovery Channel documentary investigates some of the novel's plot points, separating what's true from what's merely necessary to tell a good tale (explaining along the way such curiosities as a sculpture of George Washington in the Smithsonian Institution that depicts him sitting on a throne bare-chested). Although suspicions about Masons run deep in American history—compounded by our culture's natural distrust of secret rituals and the Masons' traditional reluctance to respond to critics—fantastic conspiracy theories and claims of satanic imagery are dismissed by one member as “utter nonsense.” While cracking open the door on this obscure but important institution and revealing its colorful history and characters, director John Tindall's Hunting the Lost Symbol is sometimes meandering and repetitive. Nevertheless, many viewers will find this a welcome companion to Brown's book. DVD extras include the bonus program “Secret America,” which reveals further “secrets” about America's most potent symbols. Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)