A.P. U.S. History
Mr. Barry
Movie Project
As a final project for the 4th quarter, we will research and analyze the accuracy of
Hollywood’s depiction of historical events or times through the movies. You MUST
work in pairs for this assignment. Each group is responsible for the following:
1) Select a movie (you have not viewed before) from the list provided about an event in
American history.
2) Watch the movie and take detailed notes about the period and the depiction of events.
3) Conduct research on the period and the events in the film.
4) Analyze the historical accuracy, or inaccuracy of the film.
5) Determine whether the film reflects the time period in which it was made (i.e.,
1920’s, 1960’s 1980’s etc.) and what message the film is trying to make.
6) Teach a 30-40 minute lesson to the class on the historical accuracy of the film.
Each group must turn in their research notes and a list of sources. Students will
prepare a lesson plan that will summarizes the lesson they plan they will teach to the
class.
Each pair of students will inform the class about the historical accuracy of the
film they selected to review and research. The lesson plan your group will prepare will
list clearly defined objectives (i.e., what you want the class to learn from your lesson).
You will use handouts and show clips from the film to achieve your objectives. Each
presentation should at least answer the following questions:
1) What events or time period does the film intend to depict?
2) Does the film accurately portray the event?
3) Does the film accurately portray the period?
4) What was the main message of the film?
5) Was that message influenced by era the film was made?
Each pair will have one day to present their lesson to the class. Presentations will
begin on Thursday 5/24/12. Each group must submit their research notes, list of
sources and their lesson plan the day before their presentation.
This project will count as a full test grade. The presentation will be worth 50
points, the lesson plan 25 points and the research and sources another 25 points.
Presentation Tips
- Have one person do all the presenting, the other person be responsible for
coordinating the clips, passing out the handouts etc.
- Do not go over the under/over the allotted time (30-40 min.)
- Do not make factual errors when discussing the film or the event
-
-
Be prepared to go on the day that has been chosen for presentation (ten points off
each student for every school day that the presentation is moved back)
Insure your handout is a single page and addresses the five points above.
When using clips, make sure that non-presenter knows where the clips are and are
ready to be shown as the presenter introduces. Be careful here, this is where
most groups lose points.
Do not use online media for clips, only DVD’s
Rehearse your presentation, once or twice. It is always very obvious when the
group has not rehearsed.
Have fun with the presentation. Students in the past have dressed up as characters
from their films, passed out treats etc.
Be prepared to answer questions about the film. Know your material!!!
Movie Selections (topics in parenthesis)
You must select a movie you and your partner have not seen before.
*Northwest Passage (French & Indian War)
*La Amistad (Slave trade)
Gettysburg (Civil War)
*The Horse Soldiers (Civil War)
*Sergeant York (WWI)
Eight Men Out (Black Sox Scandal)
Matewan (1920s labor movement)
Billy Bathgate (Dutch Schultz – Prohibition)
*Sea Biscuit (Great Depression)
Pride of the Yankees (Lou Gehrig/ Baseball)
Black Hawk Down (Somalia 1990’s)
*Saving Private Ryan (WWII – D-Day)
Patton (WWII)
Tuskegee Airmen (WWII – Civil Rights)
Good Night & Good Luck (McCarthyism)
Quiz Show (1950s TV Game shows)
*Right Stuff (Mercury Astronauts)
Thirteen Days (Cuban Missile Crisis)
Mississippi Burning (Civil Rights)
X (Malcom X – Civil rights)
Ali (Muhammad Ali – boxing – civil rights)
Nixon (Richard Nixon)
Heartbreak Ridge (Grenada 1983)
The Alamo (Texas independence)
Glory (Civil War)
Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid (1890s west)
Iron Jawed Angels (Women’s suffrage)
Rosewood (Racial tensions 1920s)
The Untouchables (Prohibition)
Bonnie & Clyde (Depression – crime)
Cinderella Man (Great Depression/Boxing)
Tora, Tora, Tora (WWII – Pearl Harbor)
*Band of Brothers (WWII – two episodes)
The Great Escape (WWII POW’s)
A Bridge Too Far (WWII)
Truman (Harry Truman – Politics)
Tucker: The Man and His Dreams (1950s)
Raging Bull (Boxing 1950’s & 60’s)
The
61 (Roger Maris’ 1961 Season)
JFK (John F. Kennedy’s assassination)
Path to War (LBJ & Vietnam)
Ray (Ray Charles – music – civil rights)
Apollo 13 (U.S. Space program)
All the President’s Men (Watergate)
*** If you and your partner which to select a movie NOT on the list, it must be personally
approved by Mr. Barry before any research or work is done. The parameters for selecting a
film are the following:
a) Film must be based on an historical event dealing directly with United States History.
b) The main characters in the film are based on real people, not composites of people
from the period.
c) Historical dramas (Gone with the Wind, Pearl Harbor & The Grapes of Wrath etc.)
that are based on novels are not acceptable.
d) Movie is available in DVD format.
A.P. U.S. History
Mr. Barry
Practice Assignment – Beginning on 5/12/11 each A.P. class will watch the film, The
Untouchables
By Tuesday (5/17) students will research the period (1920s Prohibition Chicago).
Students should focus their research on the following questions:
-
The date the film was made and if the film was based on a book.
Whether the film is a “period piece” or was there a deeper message from the
director?
Does the film accurately depict the events described with respect two the main
characters, Al Capone and Elliot Ness?
Does the film accurately depict the group of Treasury Agents known as the
Untouchables?
Does the film accurately depict the court trial?
Does the film accurately depict the reason Ness was sent to Chicago?
Does the film accurately depict the reason Capone was sent to jail and which
government agency was responsible?
This homework assignment is due on Monday 5/16.
On Thursday 5/12 we will begin watching the film. As students watch the film they
should:
-
Prepare notes about the people & events.
Determine if the film captures the period of history?
Determine the message of the film (What was the director trying to say?)
Did the era it was made impact the message of the film?
This will count as a class assignment grade for each student.
Name_____________________________
Indicate by circling, the movies you have seen completely.
Northwest Passage
Heartbreak Ridge
La Amistad
The Alamo
Gettysburg
Glory
The Horse Soldiers
Nixon
Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid
Sergeant York
Iron Jawed Angels
Eight Men Out
Rosewood
Billy Bathgate
Bonnie & Clyde
Sea Biscuit
Pride of the Yankees
Tora, Tora, Tora
Black Hawk Down
Band of Brothers
Saving Private Ryan
Patton
A Bridge Too Far
Good Night & Good Luck
Raging Bull
Thirteen Days
JFK
Ray
All the President’s Men
The Untouchables
Cinderella Man
The Great Escape
Tuskegee Airmen
Truman
Tucker: The Man and His Dreams
Quiz Show
X
Matewan
The Right Stuff
Mississippi Burning
Ali
61
Path to War
Apollo 13 (U.S. Space program)
A.P. U.S. History
Mr. Barry
Practice Assignment – Beginning on 5/15/06 each A.P. class will select a movie from the
following 10 movies:
Eight Men Out (Black Sox Scandal)
The Untouchables (Prohibition)
Quiz Show (1950s TV Game shows)
The Right Stuff (Mercury Astronauts)
Mississippi Burning (Civil Rights)
Matewan (1920s Labor Movement)
Patton (WWII)
Raging Bull (Boxing 1950’s & 60’s)
Path to War (LBJ & Vietnam)
All the President’s Men (Watergate)
*** If a student from either class has asked to use one of these films for their film
assignment, then it will no longer be an option for this exercise.
On Wednesday (5/16) we will go the library to conduct research on the period we are
going to watch in the film. Students should research:
the film for the date it was made, if the film was based on a book and other
information about the director or writers..
whether the film a “period piece” or was there a deeper message from the
director?
the time period or event, what really happened and does the film accurately depict
that?
On Thursday 5/17 we will begin watching the film. As students watch the film they
should:
-
Prepare notes about the people & events.
Determine if the film captures the period of history?
Determine the message of the film (What was the director trying to say?)
Did the era it was made impact the message of the film?
This will count as a class assignment grade for each student.