One of my favourite documentary series was Walden on Heroes (and Walden on Villains). Half hour programmes of Bwian Walden talking to camera. Utterly fascinating programmes on the likes of Nelson Mandela, Muhamed Ali, Alexander the Great, John F Kennedy, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Nicolo Machiavelli and Stalin.
No recreations, no archive film, no special effects and utterly compelling.