Having criticized aspects of others’ selections, let me take a shot at picking films for a class in US history. Of course, it depends on what aspect of American history you want to examine. And all of these selections naturally would require some discussion with students over what is real and what is fantasy.
Starting with the discovery and early exploration period, I’d pick Captain From Castille (1948). Cesar Romero appears older and has many more Spaniards (men and women) with him than did the real Cortez, but the film provides an insight into the motivation of the conquistadores and their recruitment of other tribes to overthrow the Aztec.
On the other hand, if you were looking at British colonization, I’d suggest Plymouth Adventure (1952), a romanticized telling of the Mayflower adventure. For French colonization, Black Robe (1991).
Two good films about the French & Indian wars, Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) and the 1992 remake of The Last of the Mohicans (1992) The latter contains a lot of little unmentioned historical details that add a lot of color, like the Jesuit priest leading a choir of Indian children in serenading the French commander outside the beleaguered British fort.
There are surprisingly few good films about the American Revolution. The most historically accurate one I’ve seen is a 2000 A&E film The Crossing about the key battle for Trenton, with Jeff Daniels as an impressive George Washington. My other favorite Revolutionary War film is The Devil's Disciple (1959) with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, and Laurence Olivier, from George Bernard Shaw’s play. It accurately portrays the arrogance and ignorance of British officials that forced many reluctant American colonists to revolt and the British blunders that resulted in an American victory.
For the early Western movement, A Man Called Horse (1970) and Man in the Wilderness (1971), interestingly both starring Richard Harris, long before his Dumbledore days. Both are about as historically accurate as Hollywood can get. Across the Wide Missouri (1951) with Clark Gable as a mountain man is another good film. For a later view of the Indian Wars in the late 19th Century, The Searchers (1956) is about as good as it gets, although The Unforgiven (1960) with Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn, is a good account of the animosities and prejudices among settlers and Indians on the Texas plains. Little Big Man (1970) also gives a more-comic-than-historic overview of that general period.
As for depicting the Civil War, not too many films have done a good job of that. The Red Badge of Courage (1951) is probably the best movie ever to capture the confusion of battle, but it doesn’t tell you much about the cause and effects of the war. Glory (1989) depicts the white abolitionists’, freed blacks’ and exslaves’ contributions to the war but doesn’t touch on other aspects. Ironically, the lesser Band of Angels (1957) gives more background in its exploration of the same subject. Despite some glaring flaws, I think Gettysburg (1993) best depicts both the horror and the bravery of that war.
Now comes the tough subject: the emergence of the US as an economic and world power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Red River (1948) depicts the brief period of the cattle drives up from Texas, as does Cowboy (1958) with Jack Lemmon in an unusual role. The Westerner (1940), The Sea of Grass with Spencer Tracy (1947), and Shane (1953) explore the conflicts between cattlemen and sodbusters. Broken Lance (1954) pitted cattlemen against miners and bankers on a background of prejudice against Indians; The Sheepman (1958) gave us a tongue-in-cheek view of the cattleman-sheepman conflict (which was covered as well and in less time in some 1950s cartoons featuring “Droopy”). The end of the Old West: Monte Walsh (1970), although the 2003 remake with Tom Selleck wasn’t bad.
Development of the United States’ international power during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency is nicely depicted in The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Set a little later in the early 20th century, Boom Town (1940), with Tracy and Gable looks at the development of the oil industry. There are some flaws, but this remains the most accurate film Hollywood ever made about the oil industry.
Probably the best film about American enterprise and society in the period before and after our entry into World War I is East of Eden (1955).
As for World War I, Hell's Angels (1930), All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), and Gallipoli (1981).
The period between the world wars: Elmer Gantry (1960), and The Music Man (1962); yep, a musical but it captures Middle America small-town life in that period. Centering on the Great Depression: The Grapes of Wrath (1940), as good as it gets. Second choice, Dead End (1937)—depression, labor problems, rich vs. poor, slums, and the criminals they produced.
World War II: This is another subject that’s hard to teach accurately through movies: The film that I think best captures the horror, inhumanity, and futility of war is Yesterday's Enemy (1959), actually made in Britain and starring Stanley Baker. No one film does a good job at explaining the causes and aftermath of World War II, but several give good snapshots of particular moments. Ike - Countdown to D-Day (2004) gives a nice overview of the complications behind Allied efforts in the war. The Longest Day (1962) does a good job of following Cornelius Ryan’s book. The Battle of Britain (1969) and Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) give a good view of the early days of the war when an Allied victory was far from assured. The Victors (1963) demonstrates the tragic losses of even the winning side and suggests why World War II led to the cold war. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) best explains why that war had to be fought and won.
Post-war recovery: The Big Lift (1950) gives some insight into post-war European relief by the US. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) addresses the problems of returning veterans, including some who were horribly wounded. Gentleman's Agreement (1947) showed bigotry and hatred were not dead or restricted to foreign lands. Pressure Point (1962) was one of the best and earliest films about racial prejudice, with outstanding performances by Sidney Portier and Bobby Darin. .
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) explored the post-war corporate rat race in the US. So did How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967) via music and comedy.
As for political campaigns and the political process in the 20th century, you can’t top The Last Hurrah (1958) or Advise and Consent (1962).
Last edited by rufnek; 04-11-07 at 06:15 PM.
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