FEATURE FILMS
Cameron, Kenneth M. America on Film: Hollywood and American History. New York: Continuum, 1997. (791.43658 C182a)
IMDb: The Internet Movie Database: For information on some of the films listed below.
Österberg, Bertil O. Colonial America on Film and Television : A Filmography. Jefferson: McFarland, 2001.
Pitts, Michael R. Hollywood and American History: A Filmography of Over 250 Motion Pictures Depicting U.S. History. Jefferson: McFarland, 1984. (791.4309 P233h)
Taves, Brian. The Romance of Adventure: The Genre of Historical Adventure Movies. Jackson: U of Mississippi P, 1993. (791.43658 T234r)
Wetta, Frank, and Stephen J. Curley. "Early American Wars."Celluloid Wars: A Guide to Film and the American Experience of War. New York: Greenwood P, 1992. 55-61. (791.43658 W542c)
Adams Chronicles (1976)
New nation: 13-part PBS series, 6 on John Adams, 4 on John
Quincy Adams, and 1 each on Charles Francis Adams, Henry Adams, and Charles
Francis Adams II.
Aguirre: The Wrath of God
[Aguirre: Der Zorn Gottes] (German 1972)
Spanish exploration: Search for El Dorado in South America
unravels under the leadership of a mad conquistador. Dir. Werner
Herzog, with Klaus Kinski and Ruy Guerra. 94m.
Alexander Hamilton (1931)
New nation: Heroic biography. Focus on Hamilton in his
role as Secretary of the Treasury and especially in regard to his fight
to pass the Assumption Bill that would provide a basis for national prosperity
and world power. Dir. John Adolfi, with George Arliss and Doris Kenyon.
73m.
Allegheny Uprising (1939)
Pre-revolution (c. 1760): Pennsylvania settlers resist British
rule, especially guns getting into Indian hands. Dir. William
A. Seiter, with John Wayne, Claire Trevor, and George Sanders. 81m.
America (1924)
Revolutionary War, battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill:
Noble Minute Man and villainous British officer (bent on forming his own
empire in American with the aid of Joseph Brant and other Indians) pursue
daughter of a Tory, providing dramatic means of characterizing the warring
sides. Many patriotic scenes: Patrick Henry's speech, Paul Revere's
ride, signing the Declaration, surrender of Cornwallis, inauguration of
Washington. Dir. D. W. Griffith, with Neil Hamilton, Carol Dempster,
and Lionel Barrymore. 93m, 11 reels.
April Morning (1988)
Revolutionary War, battles of Lexington and Concord: Male
coming-of-age story based on Howard Fast's 1961 novel. Dir. Delbert
Mann, with Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Urich, and Susan Blakely. 100m.
Attack on Fort Boonesboro (1906)
Balboa [Balboa, Conquistador
of the Pacific] (1965)
Spanish exploration: Stirring adventures leading to the discovery
of the Pacific Ocean. Dir. E. L. Orietta, with Frank Latimore and
Pilar Casino. 87m.
Barbara Freitchie (1915) (1924)
Barbary Pirate (1949)
Mediterranean conflict (c. 1801-1805). Dir. Lew Landers, with
Donald Woods and Trudy Marshall. 64m.
The Battle Cry of Peace (1915)
The Battles of Chief Pontiac
(1952)
Pontiac's War (c. 1763): Hessian mercenary interferes with
attempts by British officer to arrange peace with Ottawa leader, Chief
Pontiac. Dir. Felix Feist, with Lex Barker, Lon Chaney, Jr.,
and Helen Westcott. 71m.
The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds
(1918)
New nation: The love affair between Alexander Hamilton and
Joy Reynolds. With Carlyle Blackwell [Blackwood?] and June Elvdige.
Before Yorktown (1911)
Benedict Arnold (1909)
Revolutionary War: From hero to traitor to exile.
Betsy Ross (1917)
The Birth of the Star-Spangled
Banner (1914)
War of 1812: Francis Scott Key. With Charles Sutton,
Ben Wilson, Joseph Girard. 2 reels.
The Black Robe (1991)
The Boston Tea Party (1908) (1915)
Brave Warrior (1952)
(1812?) Dir. Spencer G. Bennet, with Jon Hall, Jay Silverheels,
and Christine Larson. 73m.
The Buccaneer (1938)
Dir. Cecil B. DeMille, with Frederic March and Franciska Gaal.
124m.
The Buccaneer (1958)
Dir. Anthony Quinn, with Yul Brynner, Charlton Heston, and Claire
Bloom. 121m.
War of 1812: French pirate Jean Lafitte helps Andrew Jackson
take New Orleans from the British.
Cabeza de Vaca (1991)
the california trail 1934
the californian 1937
Captain Blood (1935)
Captain Caution (1940)
War of 1812: Young girl allows patriot to use her dead father's
ship to fight the British. Dir. Richard Wallace, with Victor Mature
and Louise Platt. 84m.
Captain from Castile (1947)
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
(1908)
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
(1953)
Dir. Lew Landers, with Anthony Dexter and Jody Lawrence. 75m.
Virginia: Classic American favorite story of white man saved
from death by Indian girl.
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga (1911)
Cardigan (1922)
Revolutionary War, battles of Lexington and Concord. Plot
very similar to Griffith's America. Cardigan is the noble
Minute Man. Dir. John W. Noble, with William Collier and Betty Carpenter.
7 reels.
caribbean/ gold 1952
Christopher Columbus (1949)
The "Discovery": The familiar story, with heavy emphasis on
intrigues in the Spanish Court in order to make the voyage. Dir.
David MacDonald, with Frederic March and Florence Eldridge. 104m.
Christopher Columbus--The Discovery (1992)
cc cbs miniseries 1985
Clark's Capture of Kaskaskia (1911)
Columbus (1923)
The "Discovery": Isabella sells her jewels to finance the
voyage of a frustrated Columbus. Dir. Edwin L. Hollywood, with Fred
Eric, Paul McAllister, and Dolores Cassinelli. 5 reels.
The Coming of Columbus
(1912)
The "Discovery": With Kathlyn Williams.
Courageous Mr. Penn [Penn
of Pennsylvania] (1943)
Pennsylvania: Heroic biography of William Penn. Dir.
Lance Comfort, with Clifford Evans and Deborah Kerr. 78m.
The Courtship of Miles Standish
(1923)
New England: Re-creation of the Mayflower voyage with
focus on the romance of John Alden, Miles Standish, and Priscilla Mullins.
Dir. Frederick Sullivan, with Charles Ray, E. Alyn Warren, and Enid Bennett.
9 reels.
The Crucible (1996)
The Crucible (French, 1957)
Daniel Boone (1906)
Daniel Boone (1936)
Westering: Arguably America's most famous frontiersman.
Dir. David Howard, with George O'Brien, Heather Angel, and John Carradine.
77m.
Daniel Boone (1960)
Westering: 4-part ABC television series by Disney, with Dewey
Martin and Mala Powers, based on the book by John Bakeless.
Daniel Boone (1964-1970)
Westering: NBC television series with Fess Parker, Ed Ames,
and Patricia Blair.
Daniel Boone, Frontier Trail
Rider [released outside America] (1967)
Westering: Segments from the NBC 1964-70 television series
with Fess Parker, Ed Ames, and Patricia Blair.
Daniel Boone, Trailblazer (1956)
Daniel Boone, or Pioneer Days in America (1907)
The Death of Nathan Hale (1911)
The Declaration of Independence (1911)
The Deerslayer (1957)
(?) Dir. Kurt Neumann, with Lex Barker and Rita Moreno.
76m.
The Deerslayer (1978)
Dir. Richard Friedenberg, with Steve Forrest and Ned Romero.
98m.
The Devil's Disciple (1959)
Revolutionary War: Pacifist minister and cad he saves from
death eventually convert to fighting the British. Based on play by
George Bernard Shaw. Dir. Guy Hamilton, with Burt Lancaster, Kirk
Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and Janette Scott. 82m.
Drums Along the Mohawk
(1939)
Revolutionary War: Indian uprising prodded by a sinister Tory
on the Mohawk Valley frontier forces a young hard-working married couple
and other family-oriented common folk to fight to protect their freedom.
Dir. John Ford, with Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert. 103m.
Drums of Destiny (1937)
Westering: Conflict with Spanish and Indians in Florida in
1815. Dir. Ray Taylor, with Tom Keene and Edna Lawrence. 60m.
The Eagle of the Sea (1926)
War of 1812: About French pirate Jean Lafitte, the hero of
New Orleans. Dir. Frank Lloyd, with Ricardo Cortez and George Irving.
eric the conqueror fury of the vikings 1962
The Far Horizons (1955)
Westering: Re-creation of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Dir. Rudolph Mate, with Fred MacMurray, Charlton Heston, and Donna Reed.
108m.
The Flag of Freedom (1912)
Fort Ti (1953)
French and Indian War (1754-1763): British battle for Fort
Ticonderoga in 3-D. Dir. William Castle, with George Montgomery and
Joan Vohs. 73 m.
fortunes of captain blood 1950
1492: The Conquest of Paradise (1992)
Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox (1914)
The Frontiersman (1927)
Westering: Confrontation between Andrew Jackson and Tecumseh-led
Creeks in 1813. Dir. Reginald Barker, with Tim McCoy and Claire
Windsor. 5 reels.
General Marion, the Swamp Fox (1911)
Give Me Liberty (1974)
Revolutionary War: Peddler discovers freedom means different
things to different people. Originally a kind of bicenntial offering
as the first part of a television mini-series. Dir. Buzz Kulik, with
Robert Culp, Richard Kiley, and Fritz Weaver. 78m.
A Heart of a Hero (1916)
About Nathan Hale
A Heroine of '76 (1911)
New nation: Young girl saves Washington from assassination
but pays with her life. With Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley.
Hiawatha (1913) (1952)
How Washington Crossed the Delaware (1912)
The Howards of Virginia
(1940)
Revolutionary War: Howard marries the daughter of a wealthy
pro-British landowner but enters politics and joins the American army.
Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and many patriotic
scenes. Dir. Frank Lloyd, with Cary Grant and Martha Scott.
116m.
Hudson's Bay (1940)
?Dutch? exploration: Founding of the Hudson's Bay Fur Trading
Company in 1667. Dir. Irving Pichel, with Paul Muney and Gene Tierney.
95 m.
I, The Worst of All (1990)
Ikwe (1987)
In the Days of Daniel Boone
(1923)
Westering: 15 chapter serial with Jack Mower.
The Indian Uprising at Santa Fe (1912)
Iroquois Trail [Trail of
the Tomahawk] (1950)
French and Indian War (1754-1763): Battling for the St. Lawrence
seaway region. Central character is Hawkeye, and a writing credit
is given to James Fenimore Cooper. Dir. Phil Carlson, with George
Montgomery and Brenda Marshall. 85 m.
Jamestown (1923)
Virginia: Crisis with Spanish in 1612 causes kidnapping of
Pocahontas to insure Indian alliance. With Robert Gaillard, Dolores
Cassinelli, and Leslie Austin.
Janice Meredith (1925?
1924?)
Revolutionary War: British nobleman disguised as a servant
in America, falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy Tory who triggers
Paul Revere's ride. He becomes an aide to Washington, saves the kidnapped
maiden, and marries her at Washington's Mount Vernon. Such patriotic
scenes as Patrick Henry's speech, Valley Forge, Washington Crossing the
Delaware. Dir. E. Mason Hopper, with Marion Davies and Harrison Ford.
11 reels.
Jefferson in Paris (1995)
John Paul Jones (1959)
Revolutionary War: Heroic biography of our naval hero of "I
have not yet begun to fight" fame. Dir. John Farrow, with Robert
Stack and Bette Davis. 126m.
Johnny Tremaine (1957)
Revolutionary War: Disney story of young boy silversmith apprentice
who becomes a member of the Sons of Liberty and fights against the British
at the Boston Tea Party and Lexington. Dir. Robert Stevenson, with
Hal Stalmaster, Luana Patten, and Jeff York. 80m. (English
Dept.)
Knickerbocker Holiday (1944)
New York: Musical comedy about Peter Stuyvesant and New Amsterdam.
Dir. Harry Joe Brown, with Nelson Eddy and Charles Coburn. 85m.
Lafayette (1962)
Revolutionary War: The French nobleman who fought for the
American cause. Dir. Jean Dreville, with Michel le Royer, Jack Hawkins,
and Orson Welles. 158m.
The Last of the Buccaneers
(1950)
War of 1812: French pirate Jean Lafitte. Dir. Lew Landers,
with Paul Henreid and Jack Oakie. 79m.
The Last of the Mohicans (1920)
Dir. Clarence Brown and Maurice Tournier, with Wallace Beery and
Barbara Bedford. 6 reels.
The Last of the Mohicans (1932)
serial
The Last of the Mohicans (1935)
Dir. George B. Seitz, with Randolph Scott and Binnie Barnes.
91 m.
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
French and Indian Wars (1754-1763):
Last of the Redmen (1947)
Another version of Last of the Mohicans. Dir. George
Sherman, with Jon Hall and Evelyn Ankers. 78m.
The Last Supper (1976)
Leather Stocking (1909)
French and Indian War (1754-1763): Loosely based on James
Fenimore Cooper. Dir. D. W. Griffith.
Life of Daniel Boone [Life and Battles of Daniel Boone] (1912)
The Light in the Forest (1958)
Little Old New York (1923)
with Marion Davies
Little Old New York (1940)
New York: Robert Fulton and the invention of the steamboat.
Dir. Henry King, with Alice Faye and Fred MacMurray. 100m.
The Magnificent Doll (1946)
War of 1812: Biopic on Dolly Madison. Love triangle
with James Madison and Aaron Burr. The Saving of Washington's
picture from the burning White House. Dir. Frank Borzage, with Ginger
Rogers and David Niven. 93m.
Maid of Salem (1937)
Salem witchcraft: Fun-loving girl accused of witchcraft is
saved from burning. Dir. Frank Lloyd, with Claudette Colbert and
Fred MacMurray. 85m.
A Man Called Horse (1970)
The Man Without a Country (1973) 1925
Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure
(1979)
New England: The story of the Pilgrim voyage on the Mayflower.
Dir. George Shaefer, with Anthony Hopkins and Richard Crenna. 100m.
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (1914) [Paul Revere's Ride (1917)]
The Minute Men (1911)
The Mission (1986)
Mohawk (1956)
(?) Dir. Kurt Neumann, with Scott Brady and Rita Gam.
79m.
Molly Pitcher (1911)
Mrs. George Washington (1909)
Mutiny (1952)
War of 1812? Dir. Edward Dmytryk, with Mark Stevens and Angela
Lansbury. 77m.
Nathan Hale (1907) (1913)
The Norsemen (1977)
With Lee Majors and Cornel Wilde
Northwest Passage (1940)
French and Indian War (1754-1763): Story of heroic Rogers
Rangers battling the Indians. Dir. King Vidor, with Spencer Tracy,
Robert Young, and Ruth Hussey. 125m.
Old Glory (1910)
Betsy Ross
Old Glory (1916)
Old Ironsides (1926)
Mediterranean conflict (c. 1801-1805): The story around the
U.
S. S. Constitution at the Battle of Tripoli. Dir. James Cruze,
with Esther Ralston and Wallace Beery. 8 reels? 11 reels?
Old Louisiana (1937)
Westering: On the eve of the Louisiana purchase, settlers
angered by Spanish rule. Dir. Irvin V. Willat, with Tom Keene and
Rita Hayworth. 60 m.
The Pathfinder (1952)
Dir. Sidney Salkow, with George Montgomery and Helena Carter.
78m.
The Plymouth Adventure
(1952)
New England: The Pilgrim voyage of the Mayflower.
Dir. Clarence Brown, with Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Leo Genn.
105 m.
Pocahontas (1908) (1995)
Pollyanna (1960) (sermon based on Jonathan Edwards)
quebec 1951
Quilombo (1986)
The Return of Daniel Boone [The Mayor's Nest] (1941)
Revolution (1985)
Revolutionary War, battle of Bunker Hill: "It's not my fight."
Reluctant colonist finds himself forced to participate in the war.
Unheroic history. Not an altogether pleasant picture of young "America."
Dir. Hugh Hudson, with Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland, and Natassja Kinski.
123m.
Roots (1977)
Rose of O'Salem Town (1910)
Salem Witchcraft: Dir. D. W. Griffith, with Arthur V. Johnson
and Dorothy West.
The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969)
Spanish exploration: The conquest of Peru in 1530, pitting
Pizarro against Incan leader Atahuallpa.
Sankofa (1993)
The Scarlet Coat (1955)
Revolutionary War: The story of Benedict Arnold's treason.
Dir. John Sturges, with Cornel Wilde and Michael Wilding. 101m.
The Scarlet Letter (1926)
The Scarlet Letter (1985)
The Scarlet Letter (1995)
Scouting for Washington 1917
The Sea Hawk (1940)
The Seats of the Mighty (1914)
(Revolutionary War.) Dir. T. Hayes Hunter, with Lionel Barrymore
and Millicent Evans. 6 reels.
Seven Cities of Gold (1955)
California: Spanish commander and missionary Father Junipera
Serra clash on 1796 expedition to conquer California. Dir. Robert
D. Webb, with Anthony Quinn, Richard Egan, Michael Rennie, and Rita Moreno.
103m.
1776 (1972)
Revolutionary War, declaring independence: Musical rendition
of the politics of the first Congress. Franklin, Jefferson, et al.
Dir. Peter H. Hunt, with William Daniels, Ken Howard, David Ford, and Howard
Da Silva. 141m.
1776, or The Hessian Renegades (1909)
Griffith
The Spanish Main (1945)
The Spirit of Lafayette
(1919)
Revolutionary War: Tells the story of the French nobleman
who fought on the American side in the Revolutionary War and then sees
American soldiers in World War I repaying the debt.
The Spirit of '76 (1905)
Revolutionary War: Very short depiction of the trio of tattered
fifer and drummer.
The Spirit of '76 (1908)
The Spirit of '76 (1917)
Revolutionary War: Triumph of democracy over villainous monarchy.
Censored for anti-British slant. See Edward De Grazia and Robert
K. Newman, Banned Books (New York: Bowker, 1982).
Squanto (1994)
The Star Spangled Banner (1911) (1914)
War of 1812: Francis Scott Key
The Stars and Stripes
(1910)
Revolutionary War: The famous naval victory by John Paul Jones
on Bon Homme Richard.
1812?
The Stars and Stripes Forever
(1913) (1952)
War of 1812: Francis Scott Key
start the revolution without me 1970
the swamp fox 1959-60 disney mini
The Tempest (1979)
Three Sovereigns for Sarah (1985)
Tripoli (1950)
Mediterranean conflict (c. 1801-1805): U. S. Marines fighting
Barbary pirates. Dir. Will Price, with Maureen O'Hara and John Payne.
95m.
Unconquered (1947)
Pontiac's War: Virginia aristocrat vies for beautiful bond
servant with corrupt Indian gun-trader and saves Fort Pitt from attack.
Dir. Cecille B. DeMille, with Gary Cooper and Paulette Goddard. 146m.
The Viking (1929)
Norse exploration: Leif Ericson and the discovery of America.
Dir. Roy William Neill, with Donald Crisp and Pauline Starke. 9 reels.
Washington at Valley Forge (1908)
Washington at Valley Forge
(1914) [A Heroine of '76]
Revolutionary War. Dir. Francis Ford and Grace Cunard, with
Francis Ford and Grace Cunard. 4 reels.
Washington Under the American Flag (1909)
Washington Under the British Flag (1909)
When the Redskins Rode
(1951)
French and Indian War (1754-1763): British and French wrestle
for alliances with Indians around Williamsburg. Dir. Lew Landers,
with Jon Hall and Mary Castle. 78m.
The White Man's First Smoke; or Puritan Days in America (1907)
Winners of the Wilderness
(1927)
French and Indian War (1754-1763): Involves Chief Pontiac
and Braddock's defeat at Fort Duquesne in 1755. Dir. W. S. Van Dyke,
with Tim McCoy and Joan Crawford. 7 reels.
The Witch of Salem (1913)
Salem witchcraft: Puritan in love with a girl accused of witchcraft.
With Charles Ray.
A Witch of Salem Town (1915)
Salem witchcraft: Woman falsely accused. Dir. L. J.
Henderson, with Mary Fuller and Curtis Benton.
The Witches of Salem [Les
Sorcieres de Salem] (French 1956) [aka The Crucible, 1958]
Salem witchcraft: Based on Arthur Miller's play. Dir.
Raymond Rouleau, with Yves Montand and Simone Signoret. 145m.
With Daniel Boone Thru the Wilderness (1926)
Wolfe, or the Conquest of Quebec (1915)
yankee buccaneer 1952
Young Daniel Boone (1950)