The Great Siege: Malta 1565

In 1565, the Knights of St. John successfully defended Malta against the expansionist Ottoman Empire. The Great Siege: Malta 1565, hosted by Bob Ricards, spends nearly 90 minutes relating this event--occasionally, some viewers might feel, portraying the three-month siege in real time. The Ottoman Turks, at the order of the grand emperor Suleiman the Magnificent, mounted an attack on Malta in an effort to acquire a base to invade Italy, a failed campaign subsequently viewed by historians as the high-water mark of the empire's expansion. Combining elaborate re-enactments with historic artwork, maps, and artifacts to illustrate the siege, the program is told from a distinctly pro-Catholic point of view, with some anti-Moslem comments. In addition, since the production was underwritten in part by the Malta Tourist Authority and Air Malta, Ricards is placed around various scenic locations that don't always provide the best sound, and the segment where a cruise ship very obviously comes into the picture is a less-than-subtle reminder to tour Malta. Much too long for school or university classes, this is an optional purchase for public libraries. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)