History: 92

The British epic historical drama film, The Bounty (1984), directed by Roger Donaldson, portrays the story of Commanding Lieutenant William Bligh and the loss of HMS Bounty to mutineers led by his friend Fletcher Christian. Admiral Hood presides over the court of inquiry as flashbacks take viewers on a journey from Portsmouth, England on 23 December 1787 to an expedition in Tahiti to gather breadfruit pods for transplantation in the Caribbean. Despite harsh weather making it impossible to round Cape Horn after 31 days, Bligh persists and chooses to sail the ship west instead. Along the way, he replaces Fryer with ...

The Duellists (1977), a British drama directed by Ridley Scott and produced by David Puttnam, is set in France during the Napoleonic Wars. It follows the intense rivalry of two officers, Bonapartist Gabriel Feraud and aristocratic Armand d’Hubert, as they engage in a series of duels over nearly two decades. The film, based on Joseph Conrad’s short story The Duel, delves into the political turmoil of early 19th-century France. Garnering critical acclaim at its debut, it won the award for Best Debut Film ...

Jesus of Nazareth (1977) is an epic film and television drama serial. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli and co-written by Anthony Burgess and Suso Cecchi d’Amico, it tells the story of Jesus’s birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. In the screenplay writing process, additional scenes were added for a more concise and dramatic presentation. Some characters, like Zerah, were also included for the same reason. Notably, Judas Iscariot is portrayed as initially well-intentioned but later manipulated by ...

Dario Argento’s comedy-drama film, The Five Days of Milan (1973), takes place in bustling Milan during the anti-Austrian revolt of 1848. It follows the story of two unlikely companions, petty criminal Cainazzo and baker Romulus, who become caught up in the turbulent events of the time. Amidst a cast of idealists and patriots, including aristocrats, opportunistic individuals, bloodthirsty adventurers, and traitors, Romulus stands out as someone who instinctively understands the people’s point of view. Reluctantly swept up in the chaos and injustice around them, Cainazzo and Romulus are witnesses to history.

The film, The Beguiled (1971), directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood, is a Southern Gothic psychological thriller set during the American Civil War. In rural Mississippi, young Amy discovers a gravely injured Union soldier named John McBurney. Despite initial plans to turn him over to Confederate soldiers, headmistress Martha Farnsworth decides to nurse him back to health within the gated enclosure of her all-girls school. John is confined to the music room and closely monitored. However, he catches the eye of Edwina, an inexperienced teacher, and Carol, a ...

The American epic religious film, The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), recounts the Biblical tale of Jesus from his birth in Nazareth to his Ascension. It was produced and directed by George Stevens. A group of wise men (Magi) travel from Asia to Jerusalem after seeing a bright star, hoping to find the prophesied newborn king. King Herod is alerted of their arrival and is told about a Messiah mentioned in prophecies. Remembering that Bethlehem is the predicted birthplace, Herod sends the Magi there to confirm the child’s existence but secretly sends guards to keep an eye on them. In Bethlehem, they find Mary and ...

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), the American legal drama film directed by Robert Mulligan and adapted by Horton Foote from Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, follows the story of young Scout Finch and her older brother Jem as they navigate their childhood in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Narrated by an adult Scout, the children live with their widowed father Atticus and their African-American housekeeper Calpurnia. One summer, the siblings and their friend Dill spend their days playing games and searching ...

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) is an epic American historical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Lewis Milestone. In 1787, Captain William Bligh leads the journey aboard the Bounty from Britain to Tahiti. The mission is to collect breadfruit saplings for transport to Jamaica in hopes of providing a cheap food source for slaves. However, the voyage starts off with trouble as some cheese goes missing. Seaman John Mills accuses Bligh of being the culprit and for showing disrespect towards his superior officer, Bligh has Mills violently whipped. His second-in-command, First Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, is ...

In the movie The Colossus of Rhodes (1961), directed and co-written by Sergio Leone, Greek warrior Darios pays a visit to his uncle Lissipu on the island of Rhodes in 280 BC. The island has recently completed a monumental statue of Apollo, guarding its harbor and planning an alliance with Phoenicia – a known enemy of Greece. During his stay, Darios flirts with the lovely Diala, daughter of the mastermind behind the statue, Carete. He also joins forces with a rebel group led by Peliocles, determined to overthrow Rhodes’ tyrannical ruler Serse. However, Serse’s right-hand man Thar also plots against him ...

Saint Joan (1957) is a historical drama film based on the 1923 play by George Bernard Shaw, centered around the life of Joan of Arc. In the year 1456, King Charles VII has recurring visions of Joan, his former army commander who was burned at the stake for heresy twenty-five years prior. In these dreams, he informs Joan that her case has been reviewed and her conviction overturned. Charles reminisces about how she first came into his life as a simple peasant girl at the age of seventeen and how she received divine messages from Saints Catherine and Margaret, foretelling her role in leading the French army against ...

The historical film, Tower of London (1939), was both directed and produced by Rowland V. Lee. Set in the 15th century, it follows Richard Duke of Gloucester as he eliminates those in line for the throne with the help of his executioner Mord. With each kill, he revels in removing a miniature figurine from a dollhouse representing his victims until he is the only one left. Upon the death of his brother King Edward IV, Richard becomes King of England as Richard III and must defeat Henry Tudor to maintain control.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), an American historical adventure drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, tells the story of William Bligh’s command of the Royal Naval merchant vessel HMS Bounty in 1787. As a brutal tyrant, Bligh is known for administering harsh punishments to any officers or crew members who lack discipline or defy his authority. After recruiting a new crew from a local pub, the Bounty sets sail from Portsmouth on a two-year voyage to transport breadfruit from the Polynesian islands to Jamaica. Fletcher Christian, the ship’s executive officer, is both strong and ...