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Great History Movies (15 titles)

A mix of films that are acurate portrayals of the past or just great films that happen to be in a historical setting.

by: Luke Swan from Southampton

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Alexander

Panned by most critics on its release Olivier Stones "Alexander" based on the life of the great Macedonian King still has a lot in it to make it worth a look. Such as some great battle scenes and a risky exploration of Alexander's homosexual relationships.

Alexander on DVD (2004)
Starring: Val Kilmer, Anthony Hopkins, Jared Leto
Director: Oliver Stone
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
The true story of one of history's most luminous and influential leaders, Alexander the Great--a man who had conquered 90% of the known world by the age of twenty-seven. Alexander led his virtually invincible Greek and Macedonian armies through 22,000 miles of sieges and conquests in just eight ..read more »
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- 40
- from 46,331 members

Braveheart

Terrible inaccurate and boardering on being racist towards the English at times. Set in Scotland about 30 years before the hundred years war "Braveheart" is still a great piece of entertainment and will have you shouting "FFFFRRREEEEEDDDDDOOOOMMMM!" by the credits.

Braveheart on DVD (1995)
Starring: Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Sophie Marceau
Director: Mel Gibson
Certificate:
In the late 13th century, William Wallace returns to Scotland after living away from his homeland for many years. The king of Scotland has died without an heir and the king of England, a ruthless pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, has seized the throne. Wallace becomes the leader of a ramshackle ..read more »
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- 70
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Lawrence Of Arabia

Peter O'Toole unites the Arabs to fight the Turks during world war one. Now stop reading this and rent this classic.

Lawrence Of Arabia on DVD (1962)
Starring: , ,
Director: David Lean
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
This sweeping, highly literate historical epic covers the Allies' mideastern campaign during World War I as seen through the eyes of the enigmatic T. E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole, in the role that made him a star). After a prologue showing us Lawrence's ultimate fate, we flash back to Cairo in 1917. ..read more »
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- 80
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All Quiet On The Western Front

Some scenes (such as the training) may look dated now but this is a movie with a message as strong today as it was back in the 30's and remains one of the most powerful anti-war films you will ever see.

All Quiet On The Western Front on DVD (1930)
Starring: Louis Wolheim, John Wray, Lew Ayres
Director: Lewis Milestone
Certificate:
One of the most powerful anti-war statements ever put on film, this gut-wrenching story concerns a group of friends who join the Army during World War I and are assigned to the Western Front, where their fiery patriotism is quickly turned to horror and misery by the harsh realities of combat. ..read more »
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- 70
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Doctor Zhivago

Romantic epic with the Russian Revolution as it's backdrop. A truely beautiful film with some wonderful performances.

Doctor Zhivago on DVD (1965)
Starring: Geraldine Chaplin, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay
Director: David Lean
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Based on the Nobel Prize-winning novel by Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago covers the years prior to, during, and after the Russian Revolution, as seen through the eyes of poet/physician Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif). In the tradition of Russian novels, a multitude of characters and subplots intertwine ..read more »
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Ben Hur

Got 11 Oscars and deserved and unlike Titanic (1997) deserved every one of them. Forget the Christian theme to it this is a film that people of all religions can enjoy. Worth it just to see the famous chariot race. Charlton Heston's best film by a country mile.

Ben Hur on DVD (1959)
Starring: Martha Scott, Andre Morell, Jack Hawkins
Director: William Wyler
Certificate:
This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince ..read more »
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- 70
- from 8533 members

Downfall

See Hitler in his last day as he blames everyone but himself for losing the war. One of the best subtitled movies your likely to see.

Downfall on DVD (2004)
Starring: Heino Ferch, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Certificate:
In the dead of a November night in 1942, SS officers through the woods escort a group of young women to Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters in Eastern Prussia. They are candidates for the post of personal secretary to the Fuehrer. Among them is 22-year-old Traudl Junge, a fresh-faced girl from ..read more »
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- 80
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Gone with the Wind

Or how the south was lost. Very very long but still a darn good film. Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara are two chrarthers who will stay with you long after the Clarke Gabriel decides that he "doesn't give a damn".

Gone with the Wind on DVD (1939)
Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard
Director: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
Certificate:
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Epic romantic drama based on Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning novel set during the American Civil War. Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) often uses men to get what she wants, but is unable to get the one man she truly desires, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). She soon meets her match ..read more »
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- 80
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Henry V

Once more unto the breach dear friends! But make sure its not Olivier's 1944 propaganda film. This is by far the better version in that it doesn't cut the dirty details of war like the 1944 version does.

Henry V on DVD (1989)
Starring: Emma Thompson, Richard Briers, Judi Dench
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Certificate:
Kenneth Branagh's star-studded version of Shakespeare's play has a more intimate and equivocal approach to war than Laurence Olivier's 1944 classic. The young King (Branagh), his days of carousing behind him, is advised of his legal claim to the throne of France. He decides to invade with his small ..read more »
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- 70
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300

More a fantasy than history and is all the better for it. THIS IS SPARTA!

300 on DVD (2006)
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Andrew Pleavin
Director: Zack Snyder
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire ..read more »
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- 70
- from 77,463 members