Access Heritage · Film & television
Bringing history to life, from the first research to the final detail on screen.
Explore the credits ↓
Historical knowledge. Practical experience.
Film companies around the world have drawn on our expertise in historical research, military costume and props. Our work with American, British, Canadian and French national museums informs the technical advice we bring to productions.
Historical consultation for costume, props and art departments.
Research, design and construction of period uniforms and costume details.
Historical reproductions and equipment that help establish a period on screen.
Selected productions
20th Century Fox: Master and Commander: Far Side of the World (starring Russell Crowe) - advised on costume, props, and other Art Department issues as well as researched and constructed a number of costume and prop items including weapons for this 1805 naval adventure.
Touchstone Pictures: Alamo - researched and constructed a number of costume and prop items for this famous 1836 story including hundreds of swords, bayonets and muskets, along with advising the props department on appropriate militaria for the time.
Columbia Tristar: The Patriot (starring Mel Gibson) - assisted costume design including constructing military costume headdress and supplied costume materials.
Disney Pictures: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (starring Johnny Deep) -
Disney Pictures: Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
Joint Canada/France Production: La Veuve de St-Pierre - historical research and consultation for this feature film which takes place in 1850.
Our company provided advice, and a number of costume items and props including weapons to Night at the Museum 2
Warner Bros. Pictures: The Phantom of the Opera - designed and produced principal uniform costumes and props for Bloomingdale's famous window display in New York that serviced in the promotion of the movie. The results were quite spectacular and images of our contributions graced the pages of a number of publications including Variety.
Further screen credits
Disney Pictures: Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End
Disney Pictures: Peter Pan and Wendy (working title 2021)
Research becomes storytelling
Public Broadcasting Corporation: The War that Made America - researched, designed and constructed numerous principal and other costuming items as well as hundreds of prop and set decorating items for this multi-million documentary on the French and Indian War.
History Channel (Cosgrove/Meurer Productions): George Washington the Warrior - technical advisor and historic consultant, costume and prop design, military training, and battle choreography. ln addition provided numerous heritage products such as muskets to this production. Filmed in Lithuania.
Columbia Tristar: The Crossing - award winning production -organized cannons, military props, historic military trainers, training of 200 extras as American Revolution soldiers, consultation. Interview with consult Robert Henderson featured in the Making of the Crossing
Galafilm: Quebec 1759 technical advisor for battle sequences and provided a portion of costumes and props.
HBO (Tom Hanks (Braintree) Production): John Adams - assisting the Arts department and providing various historic weapon props to this multimillion dollar production.
What the production said
“helped the producers make the leap from the historic text to realistic on-screen action.... down to the mannerisms particular to the time”
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: Canada: A People's History (a multi-million dollar project that was the most watched non-sporting Canadian television production to date and winner of numerous awards including best documentary) - production's principal consultants and technical advisors. Mr. Henderson's role in the production is recounted in a book by the Executive Director Mark Starowicz entitled Making History. Our activity on this multi-episode production included:
"Adventurers and Mystics" (Explorers) Episode (1540 to 1670) - organized extras; supplied military costumes and props.
"Claiming the Wilderness" (New France 1670-1755) Episode - organized extras; trained extras in 17th Century French drill; provided military costume; consulted on historical accuracy; identified film location; historic recreation direction; choreographed battle scenes "Battle for a Continent" (Seven Years War 1755-1763) Episode - researched and consulted on historical, naval and military content/accuracy; organized 120 extras skilled in using a musket; trained them in 1757 drill; choreographed battle scenes; performed role of military costume designers; organized military props such as cannons and flags; identified filming location; liaised with historic sites to provide props and film locations; provided weapons/ black powder safety supervision "A Question of Loyalties" (American Revolution/War of 1812) Episode - choreographed battle scenes; military music; performed role of military costume designers; handled military props such as cannons and flags; consulted on issues of historical authenticity; black powder/ weapons safety supervision
"Rebellion and Reform" (1830s, 1840s) Episode- organized and trained 50 extras in British drill of the 1830s; choreographed battle scenes; arranged military music; military costume design; provided a number of military props (swords, flags, accoutrements, shakos); black powder/weapons safety supervision; liaised with historic sites to provide props and film locations
Beyond the screen
Military costume, weapons and equipment for the Broadway production, presented at the Nederlander Theatre in New York.
Continue exploring
Meet our team, browse the screen credits and contributions, or learn more about our products and services.
See documentary production photographs and our past museum projects.
Explore the French and Indian War, War of 1812 and Napoleonic Wars collections for period context.
Continue your research in Military Heritage Magazine, The General’s Arms Collection and the Music Sound Clip Gallery, or return home.