Equipment and props, materials, maps and scripts are essential and decisive elements in historical films – in feature films as well as in documentaries. They are not merely illustrations and decorative elements, but play a supporting role themselves, create atmosphere and authenticity, convey information and are themselves narrative elements.

However, it is not only the historically correct selection of the relevant objects that is important, but also the precise knowledge of the materials, their characteristics and properties. Scenes can shine with the right equipment and a good choice of props and furnishings, just as they can be ruined by the wrong choice.

The early involvement of expert historical advice is essential. As early as the script development stage, when selecting the locations, interiors and finally the appropriate props and materials, sound research and precise knowledge of the everyday, social and mental history of the respective eras can help to generate an optimal and authentic set, which makes a decisive contribution to the success of a film.

A professionally sound historical method does not mean more, but less effort, work and costs with a significantly lower error rate and equally significantly better results.

Many film productions today work at a very high level. The equipment is very good and historically accurate, and yet in almost all films – both German and international – there are details that could be improved. The following examples are therefore merely intended to demonstrate and illustrate the immense difficulties and high level of complexity involved in the cinematic realization of material set in historical times. To this end, both successful realizations from individual films and examples from scenes where things could possibly have been done a little better are used.