Inspiring flicks

boulet · April 22, 2009, 09:31:45 AM

Pundit started a thread about a list of movies full of anachronisms somewhere on the internet. I'd rather spend time talking about movies that spark historical interest, even if they are more or less accurate. What movies made you interested about history bits that were completely off your radar ?

Silverlion · April 22, 2009, 09:49:30 AM

Strangely enough some movie I caught about Jesse James (completely ahistorical) made me research him and his life. I know they've turned a murderer and criminal into an outlaw hero of sorts, but this was so strange a deviation I had to look things up.

Then there is 1776 the musical. I'm rather fond of it; and it indirectly inspired my desire to mashup pulp and the revolutionary war, and investigate a time period I hadn't had interest in previously.

David R · April 22, 2009, 12:54:04 PM

Well there have been quite a few. But one of the earliest, was Breaker Morant : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/. Here's an oldish article on the film's themes : http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/okla/kershen22.htm

Regards,
David R

Drohem · April 22, 2009, 01:02:15 PM

Quote from: David R;298054Well there have been quite a few. But one of the earliest, was Breaker Morant : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/. Here's an oldish article on the film's themes : http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/okla/kershen22.htm

Regards,
David R

Well, that's interesting because this movie did the same for me. I became aware of Edward Woodward through his great TV series The Equalizer. I was flipping through the channels late one night and came across this movie. It motivated me to research the Boer War.

David R · April 22, 2009, 01:11:52 PM

Quote from: Drohem;298057Well, that's interesting because this movie did the same for me. I became aware of Edward Woodward through his great TV series The Equalizer. I was flipping through the channels late one night and came across this movie. It motivated me to research the Boer War.

The Equalizer was good but for the hard stuff and Woodward at his best, you should check out Callan : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061238/

Regards,
David R

Drohem · April 22, 2009, 01:15:19 PM

ohh... shiny! Well, this sucks, Netflix doesn't have it.

boulet · April 23, 2009, 12:54:30 PM

Capitaine Conan (no relationship with Sword & Sorcery) entertained me and made me aware that WWI had an eastern front too.

One Horse Town · April 23, 2009, 01:13:16 PM

Breaker Morant and Callan are both super cool.

Battle of Britain is my recommendation. Inspired me to look into the exiled Polish airforce who fought in it and ultimately to the utter butt-fucking they and their countrymen received from the allies after the war was over.

Joey2k · April 23, 2009, 01:29:32 PM

Walker

Although the movie was ridiculous, it was a chapter in the history of the Americas I had never heard of.

Drohem · April 23, 2009, 01:44:45 PM

Quote from: One Horse Town;298248Battle of Britain is my recommendation. Inspired me to look into the exiled Polish airforce who fought in it and ultimately to the utter butt-fucking they and their countrymen received from the allies after the war was over.

Being of Polish/Russian descent, this movie had the same effect on me as well. Poland got the shaft without lube before, during, and after WWII.

David R · April 23, 2009, 10:18:38 PM

Quote from: Technomancer;298252Walker

Although the movie was ridiculous, it was a chapter in the history of the Americas I had never heard of.

This film is brilliant. With Alec Cox, it's normally hit or miss, but this one....

Here's a documentary and old one which got me interested in a whole range of issues.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_County,_USA

Regards,
David R

Koltar · April 23, 2009, 11:30:11 PM

This one might seem a 'strange' recommendation: "They Drive By Night" . It was supposedly about truck drivers in the late 1930s. There are two ,ovie plots smashed together in this one - I slice of life about two brothers who are trying to be independent truck drivers...and a courtroom drama about a conniving wife thats trying to frame an honest man..

Whats nice about the film are the dozens of small details in the background and corners of the scenes and even the dialogue that are a window into what that part of society was like in 1939/1940.

IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0033149/

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Drive_by_Night

- Ed C.

Oh and the cast? How about this line up ?: George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, Humphrey Bogart, Gale Page, and Alan Hale (John Little , NOT 'Slipper', Skipper's Dad. )

Venosha · April 24, 2009, 11:43:12 AM

I'm going to jump in and say "Cry Freedom." I saw this movie when I was attending a Sociology class in high school. I was so inspired by the movie and class discussion, that I researched everything I could about Steve Biko and apartheid. The movie had such a profound affect on my life, that I finally separated my world views from my parents, shaping into the person I am today.

David R · April 24, 2009, 12:03:48 PM

Good one Ed.

I got interested (briefly) in Greek politics (60's) after watching Z :

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065234/

It's humour is pretty black.....

"Any resemblance to real events, to persons living or dead, is not accidental. It is DELIBERATE."

Regards,
David R

boulet · April 24, 2009, 12:27:07 PM

I really loved The Libertine (I'm fond of Johnny Depp in general). It managed to be both grim in its depiction of English Restauration, and delicate in the treatment of the characters. I have no idea if its historical accuracy but it sure made me curious about the civil war in England, Cromwell and the aftermath.