Coming in March: Leonard Nimoy, Legendary Lemurs, and True Crime Stories

March marks the fading of chilly scenes of winter and the bright promise of spring, and here at MagellanTV we have a broad variety of new documentary programming for your pleasure. 

We’re excited by the debuts of dozens of fascinating new documentaries exploring diverse topics ranging from true crime to nature to biography – and a whole lot more! So, check out some highlights below along with a complete list of new releases at the bottom of this article.

Eagles of Mercy – Now Available

Beginning in late 1943 and continuing till mid-1944, British, American, and French military planners collaborated on a plan that would turn the tide of the Second World War on its head and point the Allies toward eventual victory. The plan, which required the largest invasion by sea in all of history, depended heavily on the element of surprise. It was codenamed Operation Overlord; we remember it more than 75 years later simply as D-Day.

The fight to establish a beachhead on the coast of Normandy resulted in thousands of casualties. Fortunately, many skilled medics landed with the combat forces to care for the wounded. In the early hours of June 6, 1944, young medics Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore, members of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles,”  parachuted into France and soon found themselves trapped in a 12th century Norman church in the village of Angoville-au-Plain. Their mission was to provide first aid to wounded Americans while a savage battle raged between Allied and German forces.

Though their division was nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles,” the courageous medics are better referred to as “Eagles of Mercy,” because their mission was to save as many of their injured comrades as possible. Watch this fascinating and dramatic account of all that these men endured during the ultimately successful Operation Overlord.

Also, Check Out The Secret D-Day Disaster Revealed - Available Now!

How to Catch a Serial Killer – Now Available

On the evening of Saturday, March 19, 2011, Wiltshire Police Detective Superintendent Stephen Fulcher received a life-changing call that thrust him into a race against the clock to save missing 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan, who was last seen at a nightclub in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Steve knew from experience that he had only a small window of time to find Sian alive, but his hopes were quickly dashed when his investigation led him to Christopher Halliwell, a cabbie with sick obsessions.

Following the investigation as it developed hour-by-hour, Steve’s gripping inside story of the cat-and-mouse situation that ensued shows how he hunted down Halliwell – his number-one suspect – which led him to the discovery of Sian’s body and another victim, Becky Godden-Edwards, who had been missing since 2002. The murders shocked the nation, and Halliwell become one of the most despised men in Britain. Since then, he has been linked to several murders and disappearances and has been called “sick in the head” by an ex-cellmate for his unrelenting hatred of women.

Catching a Serial Killer is a thrilling, devastating, and absorbing look at a real-life murder case and one of the UK’s most prolific serial killers. Aficionados of true crime stories are sure to find this one engrossing and ultimately satisfying.

Also, Check Out Lady Killers with Martina Cole - Available Now!

The Solar Nation of Tokelau – Now Available

In the South Pacific Ocean lies a tropical archipelago that is home to three closely situated atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. Together these islands form Tokelau, a dependent territory of New Zealand located east of the island nation of Tuvalu and north of the Samoan Islands.

This film tells the story of these three lightly populated and remote atolls that together overcame their dependence on diesel generators to become the first 100 percent solar-powered nation or territory in the world. Tokelau’s success proves it’s possible to reduce fossil fuel use to a minimum. Ironically, though, the atolls are critically affected by the emissions of the rest of the world. In fact, Tokelau’s existence is threatened by sea-level rise, forcing the islanders to build sea walls to protect themselves from storm floods.

The Solar Nation of Tokelau provides a unique insight into the way of life on small atolls: the locals’ fishing and cooking traditions, culture and religion, political system, their use of the limited space and transport options, and their overall friendly and joyous nature.

Also, Check Out Eco-Eye with Duncan Stuart - Available Now! 

Remembering Leonard Nimoy – Now Available

Remembering Leonard Nimoy is a loving and very personal tribute to the life and career of the prolific actor and director, best known for playing Mr. Spock in the long-running science fiction TV and movie series Star Trek. This one-of-a-kind biographical documentary shares stories from Nimoy’s childhood and anecdotes from his early career in Hollywood.

Nimoy achieved much in his years in the entertainment industry. In addition to the role he was best known for, and which he played in various incarnations of Star Trek over five decades, Nimoy was an accomplished character actor in television and film. He also is known as a director, fine-art photographer, singer, and author of two autobiographies.

The film’s focus, though, is trained on Nimoy as a beloved star of a fan-driven show close to the hearts of its many followers. As the stoic, intellect-centered science officer and foil to the more emotionally driven Captain James Kirk, Spock personified Nimoy’s dignified approach to the role of a half-human, half-alien. Remembering Leonard Nimoy concludes with a segment devoted to Nimoy’s struggle with COPD, the disease he sought to raise awareness about prior to his death from it in 2015. 

Also, Check Out Becoming Cary Grant - Available Now!

Madagascar’s Legendary Lemurs – Coming March 31

Wonders of adaptation, lemurs are the only non-human primates to have blue eyes. They also possess the amazing ability to ingest the millipede’s toxic poison and the bamboo plant’s deadly cyanide. Madagascar’s Legendary Lemurs celebrates a charismatic ensemble of species still adapting and surviving in today’s changing world.

Lemurs are found only on the island of Madagascar. Nocturnal in nature, the 100 or so species of lemurs are chiefly found in trees. Their relatively hidden nature allows them to favor communications through scent and vocalizations rather than through the sense of sight.

Despite lemurs’ reluctance to be seen, the videographers of Madagascar’s Legendary Lemurs have done a remarkable job in tracking their complex social interactions, their care for their young, and their struggle to maintain their territory. Learn more about these exemplars of adaptive evolution in this accomplished documentary film.

Also, Check Out World of the Wild - Available Now!