US History at the Movies
These are films (and some tv movies and shows) showcasing elements of and people from American History. I'm sticking to ones that attempt to capture the history, rather than ones just set in a particular period. Surprise, surprise, there are a lot of war movies here.
List activity
1.4K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
- 122 titles
- DirectorsKing VidorJack ConwayW.S. Van DykeStarsSpencer TracyRobert YoungWalter BrennanLangdon Towne and Hunk Marriner join Major Rogers' Rangers as they wipe out an Indian village. They set out for Fort Wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected.Adaptation of the Kenneth Roberts novel, which features the historical Roger's Rangers, who served during the French and Indian War. The novel is an excellent piece of adventure and the film captures the highpoints. features Spencer Tracy as Rogers, with Robert Young as the idealistic hero.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsDaniel Day-LewisMadeleine StoweRussell MeansThree Mohican trappers agree to protect the daughters of a British Colonel in the midst of the French and Indian War.Michael Mann's adaptation of the James Fenimore Cooper novel. There have been other versions, but I prefer this one. Set on the frontier, during the French and Indian War. This really works to authentically portray the period and earns big points for using actual Native American actors in key roles, something missing from many versions.
- CreatorJohn WilderStarsAndrew StevensOlivia HusseyBarry SullivanThe illegitimate son of an English duke travels from France to claim his inheritance, infuriating his noble family. Forced to flee to America, he gets embroiled in the events preceding the Revolutionary War.First of the Kent Family Chronicles adaptations, set during the colonial period.
- DirectorJohn FordStarsClaudette ColbertHenry FondaEdna May OliverNewlyweds Gil and Lana Martin try to establish a farm in the Mohawk Valley but are menaced by Indians and Tories as the Revolutionary War begins.Set during the Revoulutionary War period and featuring Henry Fonda. One of the few films to really get into the dawn of the US.
- DirectorPeter H. HuntStarsWilliam DanielsHoward Da SilvaKen HowardA musical retelling of the American Revolution's political struggle in the Continental Congress to declare independence.Film version of the musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It's campy as heck, but has some good moments.
- DirectorRobert StevensonStarsHal StalmasterLuana PattenJeff YorkJohnny Tremain is drawn into the Revolutionary War, and becomes a patriot fighting to free the colonies from England. Along the way he learns about life and about himself.Disney film based on the Newberry Award-winning novel. Johnny is an apprentice silversmith, who is actually the lost child of a wealthy family. the film is kind of episodic, but Johnny is involved with the Sons of Liberty and aids Paul Revere, before joining the fighting at Lexington and Concord (I think it was the later; it's been a while since I've seen it).
- DirectorRobert HarmonStarsJeff DanielsRoger ReesSebastian RochéA dramatization of George Washington's perilous gamble of crossing the Delaware River and attacking the Hessian forces at Trenton.Jeff Daniels stars as George Washington, in this tale of the Crossing of the Delaware and the attack on the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton. It goes beyond the legend to get at both Washington the leader, and the politics that plagued the young Continental Army.
- StarsBarry BostwickPatty DukeDavid DukesThe early life and career of the American General and President through his participation in the Revolutionary War.Barry Bostwick stars as George Washington. The mini-series follows him from young(ish) man courting Martha, throught the Revolution and his Presidency. It tries to illustrate the true man (complete with infedelities) rather than the legend. Alexander Hamilton gets let off easy here, if you ask me.
- DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsMel GibsonHeath LedgerJoely RichardsonPeaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.This one pretty much chucked history out the window (Which is suprising, with a German director and Australian lead). First, Gibson's character doesn't own slaves, they are freemen who like working for him, in large numbers. Cornwallis is portrayed as an ineffectual fop, when he was an extremely experienced and capable general, as demonstarted in India. The film mixes elements of guerrilla fighters, like Frances Marion (and others) and drenches up the idea of Bandastre Tarleton as a butcher, which is a bit of an exaggeration (though he did have Patriot solders shot, though the Patriots retaliated by killing Loyalist prisoners). The film climaxes with what is essentially the Battle of the Cowpens, but misses some of the key strategy and leaves Daniel Morgan and his sharpshooters completely out of it.
- DirectorHarry KellerStarsLeslie NielsenJohn SuttonJoy PageThe Tories stage raids against their neighbors but leave standing the Videaux mansion, since Mary Videaux agrees to provide valuable information.Disney series about Frances Marion. It was more legend than fact.
- DirectorHugh HudsonStarsAl PacinoDonald SutherlandNastassja KinskiA trapper and his young son get pulled into the American revolution early as unwilling participants and remain involved through to the end.Al Pacino stars in this rather disjointed film about the American Revolution. Pacino was a bad choice, from a casting standpoint, based solely on ethnicity.
- StarsAndrew StevensDon JohnsonDoug McClurePhilip Kent takes part in the American Revolution and the newly formed Congress.Next chapter in the Kent Family Chronicles, moving the story to the revolution.
- DirectorAnthony QuinnStarsYul BrynnerClaire BloomCharles BoyerDuring the War of 1812, Louisiana buccaneer Jean Lafitte assists the Americans in defending New Orleans against the attacking British war fleet.Historical film about the pirate Jean Lafitte and his eventual involvement in the Battle of New Orleans, at the end (after the treaty was signed!) of the War of 1812. Charlton Heston plays Andrew Jackson, while Yul Brynner is Lafitte. It stretches the truth quite a bit, but gets right the fact that Lafitte was betrayed and his base was raided.
- StarsLeVar BurtonRobert ReedJohn AmosA dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.The saga of the family of Alex Hailey, from Africa to the post-Civil War. The book and the mini-series did much to illuminate the history of slavery to a mass audience and also stirred a desire to trace one's own family tree. Very well done and hugely popular.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDjimon HounsouMatthew McConaugheyAnthony HopkinsIn 1839, the revolt of Mende captives aboard a Spanish owned ship causes a major controversy in the United States when the ship is captured off the coast of Long Island. The courts must decide whether the Mende are slaves or legally free.Little known story of a slave ship, where the slaves revolted and took over the ship. The ended up in America, where they were seized as runaway slaves. John Quincy Adams pled their case before the Supreme Court.
- StarsFess ParkerPatricia BlairDarby HintonFrontier hero Daniel Boone conducts surveys and expeditions around Boonesborough, running into both friendly and hostile Indians, before, during, and even after the Revolutionary War.Fine tv series about the legendary frontiersman. I loved this series as a kid.
- StarsRandolph MantoothEdie AdamsNeville BrandThe sons and grandchildren of Philip Kent make a life for themselves in America.The Kents head westward in this third movie.
- DirectorJohn FordStarsHenry FondaAlice BradyMarjorie WeaverA fictionalized account of the early life of the American president as a young lawyer facing his greatest court case.Henry Fonda stars as Abe Lincoln, in this very popular chronicle of his younger days. It tends toward legend more than fact.
- DirectorJohn CromwellStarsRaymond MasseyGene LockhartRuth GordonHumble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.Raymond Massey is well cast as Abe Lincoln, chronicling his younger days as a shopkeeper and lawyer in Illinois.
- DirectorNorman FosterStarsFess ParkerBuddy EbsenBasil RuysdaelAmerican frontiersman Davy Crockett fights in the Creek Indian War, is elected to the U.S. Congress and fights for Texas at the Alamo.Disney's legendary movie about the frontier hero and congressman. It stretches the truth a lot, but spawned a huge fad in the 50s. Fess Parker does a pretty good job with it.
- DirectorJohn WayneStarsJohn WayneRichard WidmarkLaurence HarveyIn 1836, a small band of soldiers sacrifice their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.John Wayne's bloated film about the siege of the Alamo. History takes a back seat to the Duke.
- DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsDennis QuaidBilly Bob ThorntonEmilio EchevarríaBased on the 1836 standoff between a group of Texan and Tejano men, led by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas.This was an attempt at a more historically accurate look at the Alamo and the Texas Revolution.
