Film as History
Project
Moviemakers have often attempted to accurately portray historical time periods and events. For
this project you will write a 5-7 page critical analysis of a selected historical film. In addition to
viewing the film you must also research the period, event, or topic, and include any historical
inaccuracies that may be found in the film. In order to find these inaccuracies you will also need to
do some research. Below is a list of criteria that needs to be addressed in your paper. Your paper
MUST include a works cited (MLA format) with a minimum of three references. To cite all
sources, go to www.citationmachine.net. Do not use any encyclopedias or “.com” websites. All
papers must be typed with the following standards: one inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman
font, numbered pages.
Due Date: April 5, 2012 (Papers will not be accepted after April 16, 2012. Late papers will receive a
deduction of 5 points for each day that it is late)
Outline of Paper
A. Title Page (not included in the required 5-7 pages)
Must include a title of your work in the center with picture underneath (be creative, don’t just
list the movie name). At the bottom of the page on separate lines: your name, the course, my name
and the date it is due.
B. Introduction (1 page)
1. Describe the time period being portrayed; identify the event or events going on in the United
States which are related to the film.
a. What is going on in the United States at this time?
b. How is the time period being depicted in the film?
c. What event(s) influenced the event or situation being portrayed in the film?
C. Body of Paper (4-5 pages)
1. Summarize the plot of the film.
2. Analyze and discuss the characters in the film.
a. Who are the main characters in the film?
b. How do they portray people at this time or the person that they represent?
3. Appraise the film; discuss and analyze 3 examples of historical accuracy or inaccuracy of the
film (this will take a good amount of research and should be most of your paper).
D. Submission of Paper
Once finished, you must submit your paper to turnitin.com. Any plagiarism score of higher
than 25% will be an automatic failure.
Turn-it-in
Go to turnitin.com. If you do not have one already, create your own account.
Click on add a class.
Click on US History A
CODE:
4785653
Password: cotter (case sensitive)
Click on US History B
CODE:
4785658
Password: cotter (case sensitive)
You will submit your project on this website ONLY!!
Movie Selections
The selection process will be discussed by your teacher.
Students will not be able to choose a movie already selected
by another student. Look for the movie soon, if you cannot
find it you may need to change your selection
The Gilded Age
America on the Road*
Out of the Depths*
All the King’s Men
Ragtime
The Molly Maguires
Immigration
Avalon
The Inheritance
Hester Street
The Godfather: Part II
Picture Bride
The Joy Luck Club
My Family
Far and Away
West Side Story
World War I
Sergeant York
The Court Martial of Bill Mitchell
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Big Parade
The Cardinal
Civilization
Farewell to Arms
Hearts of the World
Johnny Got His Gun
1918
Reds
Shoulder Arms
Wilson
Wings
‘20s and ‘30s
The Jazz Singer
Matewan
Inherit the Wind
The Spirit of St. Louis
Dillinger
The Great Ziegfield
Golddiggers of 1933
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
O Brother Where Art Thou?
The Great Gatsby
Sacco and Vanzetti
Untouchables
Scarface (the original not Pacino film)
Road to Perdition
Men of Honor
The Great Depression
Bound for Glory
The Grapes of Wrath
The Helping Hand*
Bonnie and Clyde
The Color Purple
Our Daily Bread
Places in the Heart
The Plow That Broke the Plains
The Sting
To Kill a Mockingbird
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry
Seabiscuit
Cinderella Man
World War II/Cold War
All My Sons
Casablanca
Come See the Paradise
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Saving Private Ryan
Post-War Hopes, Cold War Fears*
A Bridge Too Far
Air Force
Bataan
Destination Tokyo
Guadalcanal Diary
Patton
Stalag 17
The Battle of the Bulge
Band of Brothers (pick an episode)
The House on 92nd Street
Judgment at Nuremberg
The Longest Day
The Purple Heart
They Were Expendable
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo
Wake Island
Dr. Strangelove
Memphis Belle
Midway
Fail Safe
PT 109
To Hell and Back
Fat Man and Little Boy
Ike: The War Years
Mac Arthur
Twelve O’clock High
South Pacific
The Manchurian Candidate (Original)
Thin Red Line
On the Beach
The Russians are Coming!
Eleanor, First Lady of the World
The Front
Missiles of October
A League of their Own
Miracle
The Great Raid
The Great Escape
Rocky IV
Pearl Harbor
Flags of Our Fathers
‘50s and ‘60s
American Graffiti
Back to the Future
Four Friends
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Last Picture Show
Peggy Sue Got Married
Tucker: The Man and His Dreams
Ray
October Sky
The Korean War
The Bridges of Toko Ri
Pork Chop Hill
The Steel Helmet
Civil Rights Movement
A Raisin in the Sun
King: Montgomery to Memphis
Eyes on the Prize I
Eyes on the Prize II
Separate but Equal
To Kill a Mockingbird
Nothing but a Man
Change, Change*
Driving Miss Daisy
Malcolm X
King
Crisis at Central High
The Court of Jackie Robinson
The Long Walk Home
Glory Road
The Vietnam War/1970’s
Apocalypse Now
Born on the Fourth July
Coming Home
Full Metal Jacket
Good Morning Vietnam
A Yank in Vietnam
The Green Berets
Alice’s Restaurant
Apollo 13
We Were Soldiers
Getting Straight
Billy Jack
Summertree
Trial of the Cantonsville Nine
Rolling Thunder
Heaven and Earth
All the President’s Men
Nixon
The Boys in Company
The Deer Hunter
Who’ll Stop the Rain
Hair
Friendly Fire
A Rumor of War
The Big Chill
The Killing Fields
Alamo Bay
Platoon
Hamburger Hill
The Iron Triangle
Milk
Frost/Nixon
*- these selections are part of a 19-part series called “A Walk Through the 20th Century
with Bill Moyers.”
Name: __________________________________________
Grading Rubric
You will be graded on the following criteria.
Area of Analysis
Title Page
Points Possible
5
Introduction
15
Body of Paper
60
Grammar/Spelling
10
Works Cited (MLA Format)
10
Teacher’s Comments
Points Received
0
