Mechanical Marvels: Clockwork Dreams

Documentary presented by Professor Simon Schaffer which charts the amazing and untold story of automata - extraordinary clockwork machines designed hundreds of years ago to mimic and recreate life. The film brings the past to life in vivid detail as we see how and why these masterpieces were built. Travelling around Europe, Simon uncovers the history of these machines and shows us some of the most spectacular examples, from an entire working automaton city to a small boy who can be programmed to write and even a device that can play chess. All the machines Simon visits show a level of technical sophistication and ambition that still amazes today.

Cast

Simon Schaffer

Himself - Presenter

Ilan Goodman

Jacques De Vaucanson

Laura Heath

Flute Player

Jonathan Betts

Himself - Senior Curator of Horology, Royal Observatory Greenwich