I need to come up with a list of reasonably historically accurate or demonstrative films that cover American history after 1865. I'm creating an extra credit assignment for the class I TA in, but I'm drawing a blank. More specifically the movies should focus on political history, and focus even more on Post WWI through WWII, but that's an odd time, especially for movies, so I'm broadening it.
At the moment I'm thinking of 13 Days, maybe even Argo, despite its relative inaccuracies, because it nails the politics. Is like to do Game Change, but I'm afraid its too politically charged. Political documentaries are fair game too.
Looking forward to hearing suggestions.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
What about Malcolm X?
[ February 20, 2013, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: SteveRogers ]
Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
Roots II? Red Tails Grapes of Wrath All the President's Men
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Do they have to be theatrical feature-type movies?
The PBS American Experience series is on Netflix and has at least a couple episodes from that time period.
Posted by Aros (Member # 4873) on :
Good Night and Good Luck
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
Charlie Wilson's War Milk
Those are newer but around the same time as Argo.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
My problem is I haven't seen a lot of these.
Malcolm X is a great suggestions. I think that's going on the list.
I saw Charlie Wilson's War, but it was years ago and I don't really remember how accurate it was.
The PBS American Experience series is full of good stuff, though I'm not sure they'd all be able to access it. I'd need to make sure it's on YouTube, and that it's long and interesting enough.
I haven't seen any of the other suggestions.
Posted by C3PO the Dragon Slayer (Member # 10416) on :
The first ones that come to mind for me are pre-WWII, so they might not necessarily fit the bill, but I'd recommend some good oldies: Sergeant York, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and perhaps even Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Inherit the Wind could also be good, though I haven't seen that in forever. I can't vouch for their accuracy as I haven't watched them any time recently, but given when they were made you can go with both levels of analysis (what does the movie itself show and then what historical circumstances led to the making of the movie, etc etc).
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Forest Gump?
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Grapes of Wrath
Platoon
Do The Right Thing
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
To narrow it down, you could go with the American Experience offerings on Hulu free. I used to fall asleep to those when I was expecting.
Whoa, this was my 11k post? How weird I got obsessed with posting a 10 year landmark this morning.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Not sure if these are what your looking for.
Flags of Our Fathers/ Letter from... The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford. The Best Days of Our Lives
[ February 21, 2013, 01:15 AM: Message edited by: umberhulk ]
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dr Strangelove: The first ones that come to mind for me are pre-WWII, so they might not necessarily fit the bill, but I'd recommend some good oldies: Sergeant York, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and perhaps even Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Inherit the Wind could also be good, though I haven't seen that in forever. I can't vouch for their accuracy as I haven't watched them any time recently, but given when they were made you can go with both levels of analysis (what does the movie itself show and then what historical circumstances led to the making of the movie, etc etc).
Inherit the Wind isn't spot on, but it's a great discussion piece. It's one of those things where it might not correctly display what happened, but it's correctly representative of the times.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
quote:Originally posted by pooka: To narrow it down, you could go with the American Experience offerings on Hulu free. I used to fall asleep to those when I was expecting.
Whoa, this was my 11k post? How weird I got obsessed with posting a 10 year landmark this morning.
It's a wild pooka!
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
:delurks:
How about these - I've seen some (not all), but have heard from a few places that they've been relatively accurate.
- 13 Days - Apollo 13 - Blackhawk Down - All Quiet on the Western Front - Tora! Tora! Tora! - Valkyrie
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I don't think I've ever heard Valkyrie described as accurate.
Posted by John Stephen (Member # 12954) on :
If i have to suggest then one and only "Red Tails" is better of all other.
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Steve, I haven't seen Valkyrie myself - and don't know enough about the time period to personally know whether it's accurate or not.
However, several articles and reviews have ranked it very high overall on accuracy. The ones pointing out inaccuracies tend to focus on fairly small things - the wrong building used for a certain event, say, or the motivations behind certain actions being downplayed or changed. Some reviews have faulted its lack of completeness (leaving out important background details) rather than innacuracy (fabricating events or getting major plot elements wrong). Cruise even looks much like pictures of von Stauffenberg in profile.
I've even seen reviews noting that the adherence to actual events made it a dull film.
Again, though, I can only go on what I've read and heard, since I haven't seen the film and am by no means an expert in the history of Nazi Germany.
Posted by Sylphiae (Member # 12944) on :
Lone Star On the Waterfront East of Eden
Watched the first two in a post-1865 American history course.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
quote:Originally posted by FlyingCow: Steve, I haven't seen Valkyrie myself - and don't know enough about the time period to personally know whether it's accurate or not.
However, several articles and reviews have ranked it very high overall on accuracy. The ones pointing out inaccuracies tend to focus on fairly small things - the wrong building used for a certain event, say, or the motivations behind certain actions being downplayed or changed. Some reviews have faulted its lack of completeness (leaving out important background details) rather than innacuracy (fabricating events or getting major plot elements wrong). Cruise even looks much like pictures of von Stauffenberg in profile.
I've even seen reviews noting that the adherence to actual events made it a dull film.
Again, though, I can only go on what I've read and heard, since I haven't seen the film and am by no means an expert in the history of Nazi Germany.
Huh. I think I've only ever seen reviews questioning its accuracy but saying it was an entertaining film.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Thanks everyone. I got some great ideas from this thread. I ended up using a handful of PBS videos, as well as a few others mentioned here. Much appreciated.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
quote:Originally posted by SteveRogers:
quote:Originally posted by FlyingCow: Steve, I haven't seen Valkyrie myself - and don't know enough about the time period to personally know whether it's accurate or not.
However, several articles and reviews have ranked it very high overall on accuracy. The ones pointing out inaccuracies tend to focus on fairly small things - the wrong building used for a certain event, say, or the motivations behind certain actions being downplayed or changed. Some reviews have faulted its lack of completeness (leaving out important background details) rather than innacuracy (fabricating events or getting major plot elements wrong). Cruise even looks much like pictures of von Stauffenberg in profile.
I've even seen reviews noting that the adherence to actual events made it a dull film.
Again, though, I can only go on what I've read and heard, since I haven't seen the film and am by no means an expert in the history of Nazi Germany.
Huh. I think I've only ever seen reviews questioning its accuracy but saying it was an entertaining film.
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