If These Walls Could Speak, The Tales They Could Tell: Chapultepec Palace

As narrator, Vincent Price takes the role of the walls of Chapultepec Palace. It is a conceptual framework that fails miserably. The whole production is so reminiscent of 1950s style television that it may evoke a strong sense of nostalgia in older viewers. Speaking as the palace, Price describes the tragic rule of Mexico's Hapsburg emperor, Ferdinand Maximilian and his empress Charlotte or Carlota as she was known in Mexico. Maximilian was placed on the throne by French Emperor Napoleon III in 1864. He survived in an atmosphere of intrigue and rebellion until 1867 when Mexican President Benito Juarez regained control and executed the unfortunate Austrian. Carlota lost her sanity and had to be cared for until her death in 1927. The facts of this presentation are true, although the emphasis is more on the dramatic aspects rather than historical analysis. But the use of off-screen dialogue with the camera focused on portraits of the principle characters is stilted and lacking in action. (Worse, are the long views of empty Mexican landscape.) The producers deserve credit for trying to make history available in a low-priced format, but, in this case, patrons would be better served by reading a book about Maximilian and Carlota. Not recommended. (Carolyn Ferguson)