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The True Story of Hannibal, May 2004

"The True Story of Hannibal," a two-hour documentary by MPH Entertainment for the History Channel, follows the career of the greatest enemy Rome ever faced, the Carthaginian general and tactical genius Hannibal. Because of our past experience working on History Channel productions such as "Conquest," "Mail Call," and the "True Story of Alexander the Great," Legio VI Victrix was asked to provide manpower, equipment and expertise on Roman and Carthaginian battle tactics during the Second Punic War, ca. 218-202 BC. Once again, Legio VI was up to the task, crafting complete sets of Roman Republican and Carthaginian gear in record time. The shoot was one of the most creative, well-organized and professional productions we have yet been involved with, and we very much look forward to working with Producer/Writer Adam Hyman, director Mark Hufnail, photography director Dave Banks and the rest of the folks at MPH Entertainment on future projects.

Director of photography Dave Banks (left) and director Mark Hufnail confer on the next scene.

Trevor Magson (Varius Trajanus) takes a break amid a pile of newly-constructed Roman Republican shields. Legio VI undertook a crash program of building gear suited for a third century BC Roman army just for this shoot.

Dental hygeine was obviously not up to snuff in the Carthaginian camp...

Ron Glass and Devin portray Carthaginians.

Hannibal's loyal Punic guard. Clockwise from left, Gil Whitley, Dave Michaels, Ron Glass, Caius Man, and Devon -.

Romans of the Republic. From left, Ron Glass, Arik Greenberg, Doug Kihn.

Gil and Devin in Carthaginian guise.

Doug Kihn (aka Drusus Cincinnatus), portrays a picture-perfect Roman Republican triarius in chain mail and a Montefortino helmet.

Gil Whitley as a Carthaginian ranker...

...and as a Carthaginian cavalry commander, in Jafir-style helmet.

Trevor Magsen sets the downbeat for Mike and Devon on a little number called "Cannae Blues."

Three Romans take a little hike for the second unit while a Carthaginian heads off for his own lines.

Father and son: Dave Michaels (aka T. Flavius Crispus, foreground) portrays Publius Scipio the Elder; junior officer Richard Wilkinson plays the future Scipio Africanus.

Another view of the two Scipios. The beautiful crested Attic helmet is by Toni Feldon of Munich, Germany, and provided via Sword & Stone in Burbank, CA.

Hannibal, portrayed by Ben Maccabee, in all his buff Carthaginian glory. His scale hauberk weighed about 40 pounds!

Hannibal and Scipio square off for a little mano-et-mano action.

Doug Kihn and friend. Thanks, but I think I'll pass on that extreme makeover...

A few remnants of the battlefield at Cannae.

The price of glory: Roman dead (Mark Mulgrew and Mike Malin) strew the field at Cannae... or was it Trisemine...? Trebbia...?

Aftermath: A steaming pile of corpses gets the close-up treatment.

More steaming corpses.

Doug tries to rouse himself as Dave Banks calls a Carth over to finish him off.

A grimy group of Romans and Carthaginians prepares for the next shot.

The director and camera crew position combattants for a battle scene.