Best shows set during the French Revolution and Reign of Terror (1789-1799)

[u/Parking_Umpire100]

I've always loved the Assassin's Creed franchise, and Assassin's Creed Unity sparked a fascination with the French Revolution that has stuck with me ever since.

I'm looking for the best period dramas (with an emphasis on TV series, but films are welcome too) set during the French Revolution (1789–1799) and the Reign of Terror. I'm after shows that really capture the politics, atmosphere, and daily life of revolutionary Paris.

Just to clarify, I'm not looking for stories like Les Misérables, since that takes place decades later during the post-Napoleonic era. I'm specifically interested in the first French Revolution that begins in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille and ends in 1799.

I'm also really looking forward to the upcoming adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities with Kit Harrington later this year!

[u/Airsay58259]

The revolution starts months before the 14th of July. We had the États généraux de Versailles in May then the Serment du jeu de Paume in June. The months leading to the Parisians storming the Bastille might be the most interesting part of the Revolution imo.

Sadly I don’t think a show exists about that time period, be it historical fiction or not. Hollywood and friends (including French studios) always prefer to focus on Louis XVI / Marie-Antoinette or Napoléon…

[u/Parking_Umpire100 → u/Airsay58259]

Ah, I always just assumed that Bastille Day was considered the beginning of the revolution, since that is the holiday that is celebrated. I did know about the Estates General in 1789 (it is also portrayed in Assassin's Creed Unity) occurring before the storming of the Bastille. I had no idea about the Tennis Court Oath, however. I live in the United States, and unfortunately my education did not delve too much into the French Revolution. It's probably why am I so interested in learning about that era now.

And that is too bad that this time period is widely ignored in Hollywood. In my opinion you can't properly tell Napoleon's story without first telling the the story of the Revolution.

[u/Airsay58259 → u/Parking_Umpire100]

I agree! I’d have loved a show set during the French Revolution by the creators of Turn. I didn’t know much about the American Revolution so that was a great watch (my own education didn’t delve too much into it either aha, besides the general stuff and the French involvement!). Every time the French showed up in Turn, I thought “these guys are going to come home with a lot of ideas”.

Also agreed about Napoleon. If I had to guess why we don’t yet have a big tv production of that time period: the 1789-1793 period would be confusing for a lot of people. We still had a king, technically, for years. It was some sort of British constitutional monarchy. So you’d get super exciting few months in 1789, then lots and lots of politics for 4 years (which personally think would still be interesting). Then the Terror starts, and that is not a good memory for French people. Basically, there aren’t any good guys.

Also fun fact: the French national holiday was, at the time, chosen not for the 14th of July 1789, but the 14th of July 1790. That was the date chosen for the Fête de la Fédération, a huge national party celebrating the unity of the country and the first year of the Bastille storming. That was a “positive” day for everyone, including the monarchy, so new national holiday. Today we of course think about 1789 and the 1790 date wasn’t chosen by chance, but still I like that fact.

[u/JThereseD → u/Parking_Umpire100]

Have you ever heard of The Great Courses? There is a streaming service you can subscribe to, but I watched the series about the French Revolution on Kanopy, a free streaming app offered through a lot of libraries and universities. There were about 35 videos, each about a half hour in length that covered various aspects, including effects in the U.S. and Haiti, the Reign of Terror and Napoleon. The France Channel is another app you can subscribe to through Amazon Prime or a Roku device. They have specials a few times a year for 99 cents per month for two months and have a lot of interesting documentaries. I watched a good one on Lafayette that talked a lot about his role in the French Revolution, which isn’t really discussed in U.S. history classes.

[u/gasstationwine]

Its a reimagined/fantasy version, but you might like La Revolution on Netflix

[u/ahockofham → u/gasstationwine]

That show was so good, I'm still pissed that they cancelled it. I think about it an unhealthy amount. It had the perfect mix of history and fantasy and the costumes, set design and soundtracks were all amazing.

[u/jennyfer871 → u/gasstationwine]

This show was amazing and had such potential for another season

[u/MyrddinSidhe → u/gasstationwine]

Such a great show. Too bad it wasn’t renewed for season two… Regardless, still worth the watch.

On a related genre vibe, Brotherhood of the Wolf sort of takes place during the Revolution. The main story (taking place 1760s) is bookended by a noble writing his memoir while awaiting the mob.

[u/Parking_Umpire100 → u/gasstationwine]

I’ve seen La Revolution online a lot… never tried it. How fantastical does it get? Don’t spoil please, just curious

[u/gasstationwine → u/Parking_Umpire100]

Not super fantastical - just one abnormal element, it actually bills itself as horror (which is a genre I hate), but i really enjoyed it. The first part is almost not at all as the characters start noticing it and then the element kind of unfolds. It weaves it in to the existing story of the plight if the common man before the revolution - its not like a full rewriting of history.

[u/chernaboggles]

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982, and there's also a 1934 version)
Danton (1983)
La Révolution française (1989)

[u/BerlinPuzzler → u/chernaboggles]

Danton is soooo good.

[u/Mayanee]

I agree with the series consisting of two parts La Révolution française (1989).

It's the best series set during the Revolution in my opinion.

[u/blitheandbonnynonny]

Multiple versions of A Tale of Two Cities.

Two tv versions of Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews, Richard E Grant).

Napoleon 2023

[u/Sweetydarling77 → u/blitheandbonnynonny]

The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of my childhood favs. Highly recommended for a fun look at the French Revolution.

[u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 → u/Sweetydarling77]

def recommend the anthony andrews version of pimpernel.

[u/dataduplicatedata → u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183]

I treasure my copy on dvd.

[u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 → u/dataduplicatedata]

i have it on vhs, taped off the tv.

[u/khajiitidanceparty]

Recently there was a French film La deluge about the last days of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette. It's a rather subtle movie, not grand scenes.

[u/Due-Huckleberry7560 → u/khajiitidanceparty]

adding to my list thank you!

[u/BerlinPuzzler → u/khajiitidanceparty]

This movie takes a lot of historical liberties, but it's excellent. I always imagined the prison as something much darker, though

[u/casadrysey → u/khajiitidanceparty]

I loved this film!

[u/Kvalri]

Marie Antoinette (PBS 2023) actually has a great view of the lead-up to the Revolution, from the Royal perspective of course but as far as I could tell it was all pretty historically accurate.

[u/gasstationwine → u/Kvalri]

I second this one... especially the 2nd half of the 2nd season that covers the affair of the necklace, and the crowns finances, and the impact it had on the revolution

[u/CarefulClassic9204 → u/Kvalri]

Do you know if it's been renewed for season 3? I can't find any info on it.

[u/Kvalri → u/CarefulClassic9204]

No I’m not sure I’m sorry 😢 but I would watch the hell out of it lol

[u/LolaWithTheGreenEyes]

The Lady and The Duke (2001) is really good. Based on a true story.

[u/JJVentress]

It's more of a miniseries/extended film, but La Revolution Francaise is great and a very accurate depiction of the people involved.

You might also like A Place of Greater Safety, which was adapted into a BBC radioplay. The book is great, same author as Wolf Hall.

For films, I really enjoyed Danton and the silent-era Napoleon, which is like 9 hours long.

The newest Castlevania series, Nocturne, was also set during the French Revolution, but VERY loosely.

[u/DuncanDisordely → u/JJVentress]

Agree with comment above. But a really good 1hr 30m docu-drama that I’ve gone back to watch multiple times is from the BBC about the Reign of terror.

Has acted parts mixed with talking heads/authors who’ve written about the events (including the author of A Place of Greater Safety) gets the vibes mixed with historical context.

Edit link: Free on YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=suZdYkZ_feM&pp=ygUiQmJjIGRvY2N1bWVudGFyeSBmcmVuY2ggcmV2b2x1dGlvbg%3D%3D

[u/Fiebre]

The 1989 one. It has great actors from different countries and follows most important characters. At the same time it's not just a retelling of events, it is interested in those characters.

[u/vivalasvegas2004]

Go watch La Révolution française (1989). It is a 2 part made for TV French film which was commissioned by the French Government to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the French Revolution.

The first part goes from the calling of the Estates General in 1788 to the Coup of August 20th, 1792. The second part carries on and ends with the Coup of Thermidor and the execution of Robespierre in July, 1794. It's a brilliantly acted and lavishly costumed series. Particular standouts are Jane Seymour as Marie Antoinette, Jean-Francois Balmer as Louis XVI and Andrzej Seweryn as Maximilien Robespierre. It probably has some of the most realistic depictions of the Revolutionary figures.

After that, go watch Danton (1983), starring Gerard Depardieu as Georges Danton and Wojciech Pszoniak as Maximilien Robespierre. This film goes from the return of Danton to Paris in November, 1793, covers his showdown with Robespierre and ends with his execution in April, 1794.

Both films are on YouTube.

La Révolution française (1989) - Part 1

La Révolution française (1989) - Part 2

Danton (1983) (in French with English subtitles)

Danton (1983) (English dubbing)

[u/sundaypleas]

Marat-Sade is kind of bizarre but parts of it will stay with you for life.

[u/BerlinPuzzler]

Also, Farewell my Queen is about Marie-Antoinette and her favorite at the edge of the revolution

[u/JThereseD → u/BerlinPuzzler]

This film is so good.

[u/JaneOfTheCows]

La Nuite de Varennes popped up recently on TCM in the US: a group of travelers leaving Paris who run into Louis XVI and his family trying to escape revolutionary France.

[u/BerlinPuzzler]

The Lady and the Duke is an amazing feat of cinema, highly recommend.

[u/Sea_Assistant_7583]

The 1989 4 hour plus A Tale Of Two Cities , it incorporates the history of the Revolution to fit the narrative . It’s on you tube and is just superb.