Sunday, October 01, 2006

Lucasfilm Ltd. Makes Documentary on Emperor Karl


According to the newsletter of the Blessed Karl of Austria League of Prayers for Peace Among the Nations, the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles DVDs are set to be released in 2007. The other bit of new news in here is that it says the discs will be made "available to schools." Anyways, the Emperor Karl episode of Young Indy was one of my favorites and I am really looking forward to these DVDS (George, if you are reading, please leave in the George Hall bookends. Thanks. You're the man.)

Here is the full text of the article:

Lucas Films in California is preparing for the release on DVD of the TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles." The release will be accompanied by documentaries on various historical figures from World War I featured in the fictional series. The second documentary in the series will be about Emperor Karl I of Austria. The studio is headed by the famed Hollywood director George Lucas.

H.I.R.H. Countess Maria Beatrix Arco and H.I.R.H. Archduke Simeon of Austria, both of whom are grandchildren of the Emperor, and Br. Nathan Cochran, O.S.B., the American/Canadian Delegate to the Presidium of the Emperor Karl League of Prayers, were interviewed on-camera in New York City as part of the documentary.

The interviews were part of the research for the documentary about Emperor Karl I, and will include information about the League of Prayers and about the Emperor's Beatification, which occurred in 2004. It will be about 30 minutes long, and be made available to schools.


"The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” was based on the Indiana Jones series of films produced by George Lucas Films. The TV series followed the Indiana Jones character, as a young boy and young man, during his early adventures as he encounters various historical figures.

During one episode of the series, the young Indiana Jones helps smuggle in and out of Austria two of Emperor KarlÂ’s brothers-in-law, Princes Sixtus and Felix, so that they could meet with him and take his peace proposals back to the French and English.

Although Indiana Jones’ involvement is fictionalized, the actual historical event happened and is called “The Sixtus Affair.” The Emperor wished to establish peace negotiations with the Entente Powers. The normal diplomatic channels had broken down, and although the princes were brothers of Empress Zita, they were also serving in the Belgian Army and had contacts at the highest levels in France and England. Because of their unique situation, the Emperor believed that they could best serve the interests of all sides in any peace negotiations.

The television episode portrays the dangers surrounding this bold move by the Emperor, as well as the many forces trying to thwart his efforts.

The documentary and series has a projected release date in 2007, and will be available on DVD.

1 comment:

Pat, Marcus & Alexis said...

I loved this series when it was a first run, and then again when I could pick it up on reruns.

I've often wished I'd picked up the DVDs when they were out there.