The dynamite bequest.

A series of 4 x 50 mins. programmes. "Part 1: The Dynamite Bequest" The Nobel Prizes are awarded through the bequest of Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) Prizewinners are judged to have produced work with beneficial applications to mankind. Life of Alfred Nobel; his invention of dynamite; his wide range of inventions; association with Ragnar Solness who became his executor and had to contend with strong objections from Swedes who wanted Prizes to be for Swedes only - A.N. had stipulated that they should be internationally distributed. A.N.'s association with Berthe von Sudener, peace activist. His belief that increased arms production would eliminate war. Organization of Nobel Prize; selection of candidates; secret ballot. Early Nobel Prizewinners include: Ibsen and Tolstoy - both considered for Nobel Prize for Lit., but rejected on moral grounds (Ibsens's themes were unacceptable to Nobel Committee and Tolstoy was too outspoken against state and religion) Rudyard Kipling - ideal prizewinner (patriot, Christian) The struggle between war and peace: A.N. purchased Bofors factory. 1912 film "Lay Down Your Arms" from novel by his friend Berthe von Sudener (who became Nobel Peace Prize winner) 1903 - 3 prizes for work on natural radiation. About 15 minutes on work of Pierre and Marie Curie with much archive film and views of the Curie laboratory preserved in Paris. Marconi Von Behring - prize for use of antibodies in combatting disease. Archive film, "Conquest of Diphtheria" R. Koch - prize for work on tuberculosis P. Erhlich - prize for work on immunity and for combatting syphilis Rentgen - the discoverer of X-rays. (CAT scanner at work and archive film of X-ray pictures, "Movements of Joints". Pavlov R.Ross - discovered that malaria was passed by the malaria mosquito. Archive film on elimination of mosquitoes.