Si Versailles m'était conté

[montagnarde1793]

I've never actually seen the whole film, but judging by these youtube clips, I think Sacha Guitry must have been on crack.

Exhibit A:

I do not approve of the pear-headed king's taste in art. >:(

Exhibit B:

...Because I'm sure that Robespierre hung out with the royals, Lavoisier, and André Chénier all the time. Because that would make logical sense. And Robespierre is probably the only one at this gathering who actually supported the abolition of the death penalty, so WTF, really. Also, the actor playing him looks nothing like him.

Still, I kind of want to see it now....

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

So having less scientists per capita is supposed to give people more access to technology how? I'm afraid I missed that one.

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

Her argument is that scientists make technology too difficult for common people. And that in the US, the technology was made simpler and easy to use, so the inventors could patent and sell it easily. The argument seems very convincing and it could have worked like that for a couple of decades. However, in a long run, the US schools introduced "European" science programmes and brought loads of German, Russian etc. scientists, 'cause you cannot just dela witth the second industrial revolution knowing only the basic laws of mechanics. And that's the question she compeltely avoids.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

I see, so she wasn't referring to new technologies then. But you're right that there's no way that could have worked in the long run--it's not like the US would have been content to stay permanently at that level of technological development as Europe continued to move ahead.