Extra Credit films for US History



Writing Assignment for US History films: Extra Credit or Required

1. WATCH the entire film. Taking notes may be helpful.

2. Title your paper with the name of the film.

3. Your paper should include three sections:

A. Complete summary: You should include enough detail to convince me that you watched and understood the entire film. This should be the longest section of your paper.

B. Personal Opinion: Explain what you liked or disliked and why. For example, explain what you enjoyed, how it made you feel, and if you would recommend it to a friend. It is okay to NOT like a film, just explain your reasons.

C. Historical Relevance and Accuracy: Be very specific and tell me what you actually learned from watching this film. You must do some “research” here in order to determine the historical accuracy of the film. Think about these questions (although you do NOT need to answer them specifically):

a. What was historical about this film?

b. Why would a history teacher ask you to watch it?

c. What was in the film that related to what we have discussed in class?

d. What about the film was accurate and what things about the film were not historically accurate?

4. Be sure to indicate and give sources when you have used facts or ideas that are not your own. All sources must be cited either in footnotes or in the body of the paper. You must include a bibliography that includes complete web addresses for any sources used.

5. Be sure that everything you write is your own words. DO NOT attempt to copy a film review or summary from an online source!

6. All extra credit is due on the date indicated. No extra credit will be accepted after this time.

*** please note:

Some more recent films are R-rated, usually for violence and language. These films are all optional and not required. PG-rated films will be available for each grading period.

2014

Extra Credit films for AP US History

UNIT ONE due: Friday, Sept. 12

Last of the Mohicans (1992)—three trappers protect a British Colonel's daughters in the midst of the French and Indian War

The New World (2005)—recent drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.

Amistad (1997)—highly acclaimed film by Stephen Spielberg telling the true story of a rebellion on a slave ship and the resulting political fight over the freedom of the Africans

1776 (1972)—A musical rendition of the Continental Congress and the decision to declare independence. If you don’t like the idea of Franklin and John Adams singing & dancing about independence, pick something else!

The Crossing (2000)—based on Washington’s dangerous move to cross the Delaware River and defeat a stronger group of German soldiers during the Revolutionary War

The Patriot (2000)—Mel Gibson fights the British in the Revolutionary War as a personal vendetta to avenge the death of his son.

Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)—The life and treason of America’s most famous traitor.

John Adams (2008)—HBO series on the life of John Adams. You may choose any TWO episodes.

UNIT TWO due: Tuesday, Dec. 2

The Alamo (2004)—Texans defend a Spanish Mission against a larger and more powerful Mexican army in order to gain their independence.

Andersonville (1996)—story of the most famous Civil War prison camp, located in Georgia

Glory (1989)—One of my FAVORITE films, based on the true story of the first black regiment fighting for the United States in the Civil War. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman

Gettysburg (1993)—the most famous, and deadly, three day battle of the Civil War

Gods and Generals (2003)—the first two years of the Civil War, focusing on the accomplishments of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee

Killing Lincoln (2013)—TV film, the suspenseful, eye-opening story of the events surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln.

Lincoln (2012)—critically acclaimed version of the last few months of Lincoln’s presidency and his fight to get the 13th Amendment passed through the House of Representatives.

UNIT THREE due Fri, Jan 30

Dances with Wolves (1990)—Kevin Costner epic about the US gov’t attempt to destroy the Plains Indians culture in the late 1800’s

Into the West (2005)—a well researched Steven Spielberg miniseries for TV. It is the story of the American West in the 19th century, told from the perspective of two families, one of white settlers and one of Native Americans. You may select TWO from episodes 4: Hell on Wheels, 5: Casualties of War, or 6: Ghost Dance.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee(2007)—Story of how American Indians were displaced as the U.S. expanded west.

Far and Away (1992)—Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise are Irish immigrants who experience the difficulties of immigrating to America and end up in the Oklahoma land rush.

The Rough Riders (1997)—based on the true story of T. Roosevelt & the Spanish-American War

Iron Jawed Angels (2004)—the true story of defiant young activists who put their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote. Starring Hillary Swank.

UNIT FOUR due: Friday, March 6

The Lost Battalion (2001)—fact-based war drama about an American battalion of over 500 men which gets trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest in October 1918 France during the closing weeks of World War I

Sergeant York—(1941) true story of a Tennessee sharpshooter drafted in WW1 despite his claim to be a pacifist, who ends up becoming a war hero. A Gary Cooper classic.

Flyboys—(2006) The adventures of the young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots. (James Franco)

Inherit the Wind—fact based story of “trial of the century” in Dayton, TN, when John Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution in school

Spirit of Saint Louis (1957)—old Jimmy Stewart classic about Charles Lindbergh’s first solo flight across the Atlantic

The Jazz Singer (1927)—the first “talkie”, or motion picture with sound. Plot involves the son of a Jewish Cantor who must defy his father in order to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz singer.

Warm Springs (2004)—the story of FDR’s struggle with polio and his connection with Warm Springs, GA. “The greatest challenge FDR faced was the one we never saw.”

UNIT FIVE due: Friday, MARCH 13 ***ONE IS REQUIRED

Tora, Tora, Tora(1970)—Hollywood’s version of Pearl Harbor

Memphis Belle(1990)—depiction of life for American bombers

Patton(1970)—Academy Award winner about the irascible General

The Battle of the Bulge(1965)—account of Germany’s last offensive

The Best Years of Our Lives(1946)—celebrated film depicting the return of Am. soldiers from WWII

Schindler’s List(1993)—Spielberg’s classic on the holocaust. B/W and very disturbing. Inspiring story of one man making a difference against great odds

The Longest Day(1962)—all star cast in the epic story of the invasion of Normandy, D-Day

The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)—story of the first squadron of black combat fighters in WWII

Paradise Road(1997)—women held as POWs by the Japanese use music to keep their spirits alive

Come See the Paradise(1990)—drama about a family affected by the Japanese internment camps

Saving Private Ryan(1998)—recent, highly acclaimed film of the D-Day invasion and the effort to find and send home one American soldier. Very realistic battle scenes.

Windtalkers (2002)—two U.S. Marines in WWII are assigned to protect Navajo Marines who use their native language as an unbreakable radio cipher

Pearl Harbor (2001)—love and war: a love triangle set during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Your report should focus on the war, not the love!

Band of Brothers (2001)—HBO Miniseries based on the true story of Easy Company of the US Army Airborne division and their mission in WWII from the D-Day invasion to the end of the war in Germany. Produced by Tom Hanks. Very realistic and VERY GOOD. You should select any two episodes to watch (there are 10).

Saints and Soldiers (2003)—Five American soldiers fighting in Europe during WW II struggle to return to Allied territory after being separated from U.S. forces during the historic Malmedy Massacre. PG-13

Ike—Countdown to D-Day (2004)—depicts the tense 90 days leading up to the D-Day invasion and how Eisenhower, brilliantly orchestrated the most important military maneuver in modern history.

The Great Raid (2005)—Based on a true story, 500 American POW’s have been held in a Japanese prison camp for 3 years. A group of Rangers goes on a dangerous mission to try and save them.

Flags of Our Fathers (2006)—The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII. Each of the three must come to terms with the honors, exploitation, and grief that they face simply for being in a photograph. Pretty graphic. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)—The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the US and Imperial Japan during WW II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it. Also from Clint Eastwood.

American Pastime (2007)—the story of a family in a Japanese American internment camp and the prejudice they must endure. Tensions rise over a game of baseball.

UNIT SIX due: Friday, APRIL 17

The Right Stuff (1983)—story of the early Mercury program, America’s first manned spaceflights.

The Ernest Green Story (1993)--Senior who integrated Central High School

Long Walk Home (1990)--response to the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Mississippi Burning (1988)—3 students trying to register voters in Mississippi in the 1960's get murdered

Malcolm X (1992)--based on the autobiography of Malcolm X

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)--attempt to prosecute the murderer of Medgar Evers

Ruby Bridges (1998)--TV movie about a little black girl attempting to integrate a white school

Separate but Equal (1991)--TV movie about the events leading up to the Brown eka case

Four Little Girls (1997)--Spike Lee film about the four girls killed in the church bombing in Birmingham in 1963. Documentary.

Selma, Lord, Selma (1999)--story of a girl involved in the March from Selma, AL

Freedom Song (2000)—TV movie about the Civil Rights struggle in Mississippi. Focuses on the SNCC youth organization.

Rosa Parks (2002)—TV movie based on the woman who initiated the Montgomery bus boycott

42 (2013)—Excellent film about the career and character of Jackie Robinson

The Butler (2013)—An African-American's eyewitness accounts of notable events of the 20th century during his tenure as a White House butler.

Cesar Chavez (2014)—the life of American labor leader and civil rights leader César Chávez, who cofounded the United Farm Workers.

UNIT SEVEN due: Fri, MAY 17

Thirteen Days (2000)— true inside story of the intense Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world was as close as it ever has been to nuclear war, Oct. 1962. “a political thriller”

Apollo 13 (1995)—great film (Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon) telling the true story of the moon mission that almost ended in disaster

All the President’s Men (1976)—the investigate by two newspaper reporters that discovered the truth behind the Watergate scandal and brought down a president

We Were Soldiers (2002)—true story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War and the soldiers on both sides that fought it

Path to War (2002)—President Johnson’s administration is forced to abandon domestic programs due to American involvement in Vietnam. Thought provoking about how and why the US ended up fighting a war in Vietnam.

Frost/Nixon (2008)—A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon.

Recount (2008)—A story of the weeks after the 2000 U.S. presidential election and the subsequent recounts in Florida that made GW Bush the 43rd President of the US.

United 93 (2006)—A real time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot.

Flight 93 (2006)—TV movie that tells the story of the heroic passengers that took back their plane in an effort to stop a 9-11 terrorist attack.

World Trade Center (2006)—On September, 11th 2001, after the terrorist attack to the World Trade Center, the building collapses over the rescue team from the Port Authority Police Department. Two officers are found alive trapped under the wreckage while the rescue teams fight to save them.

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REMEMBER!

If you type your report,

it must meet the standard requirements for all

written work:

• One inch margins

• double spaced

• standard 12 pt. font!

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