Watch Movies on Fancast: Costume Dramas

By Chris-Rachael Oseland, Fancast Movies

If you love nothing more than women in corsets, men in formal coats, and enough bowing to throw your back out, Fancast has an extra special holiday treat for you. Save your DVD money and watch these epics here for free!

The Madness of King George

The King who lost Britain’s American colonies becomes an adorable sympathetic character in this beautifully lush period piece. You’re thrown into a world where the monarchy is struggling to maintain some semblance of power while the monarch himself struggles to maintain a little sanity. Modern doctors think George probably suffered from porphyria, but you get to watch medicine of the era struggle to come up with a diagnosis. Come for the costumes, stay for the touchingly well written characters and interesting glimpse at a chaotic time in British history.

*****

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

If you’ve ever wished pirate movies had less eyeliner and more actual seafaring, this is the movie for you. This lush ocean epic won two Oscars and the hearts of every woman who wanted to see Russell Crowe dressed as a noble sea captain. You get a harshly realistic feel for real life at sea in the 1800’s including the consequences of highborn boys under the age of 10 put in command of highly experienced middle-aged lower class sailors, horrific emergency medical practices, and the incredible slowness of life before cars, planes, and the internet. If you can’t get enough, check out the novels by Patrick O’Brian for more of Captain Aubrey’s adventures.

*****

Quills

This ridiculously star studded movie makes you sympathize with the Marquis de Sade. When Quills begins, Geoffrey Rush’s de Sade is a cheerful dirty old man living in the gilded cage of an insane asylum. Joaquin Phoenix plays a kindhearted Abbot who believes in positive rehabilitation therapy. He encourages his patients to let their demons out through painting, writing, and music. Michael Caine’s Dr. Royer-Collard is a foil to both de Sade and the Abbot. His modern scientific techniques to retrain behavior seem far more sadistic than de Sade’s sexual kinks. Since de Sade’s publications are scandalizing Napoleon himself, the good doctor is sent out to try and tame the old degenerate. The results aren’t pretty.

It’s gorgeous, well directed, and won a fistful of awards – but don’t leave it on if you have any kids in the house.

*****

Rob Roy

This gem of a film was overshadowed by the other Scottish Highland Epic that came out around the same time. Imagine if Braveheart had well-developed characters and a hell of a plot. Sure, you still have sexy men in Scottish period costumes, gorgeous highland scenery, evil British lords and noble Scottish underdogs – but unlike some films, Rob Roy also has an incredibly well written script.

The best thing about the movie is the incredible chemistry between Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange as a mature married couple. It’s the kind of thing that makes you think love really is for us all instead of only for photogenic young people. The second best has to be the breathtaking swordfight at the end. Try not to get snot on your screen from watching with your nose plastered to the action.