Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a police officer named Javert. Read More »
History
The Scarlet Empress (1934) Josef von Sternberg, Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe, Drama, History, Romance
Young Princess Sophia of Germany is taken to Russia to marry the half-wit Grand Duke Peter, son of the Empress. Read More »
The Dark Avenger / The Warriors (1955) Henry Levin, Errol Flynn, Joanne Dru, Peter Finch, Adventure, Drama, History
During the 14th century, the Hundred-Year War between France and England ends in a truce. The English army occupies French Aquitaine Read More »
Tower Of London (1939) Rowland V. Lee, Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Barbara O’Neil, Drama, History
In the 15th century Richard Duke of Gloucester, aided by his club-footed executioner Mord, eliminates those ahead of him in succession to the throne, then occupied by his brother King Edward IV of England. Read More »
They Came to Cordura (1959) Robert Rossen, Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, Adventure, Drama, History
After a cavalry charge during the 1916 U.S. “war against Pancho Villa,” unheroic awards officer Tom Thorn (who is obsessed with the nature of courage) recommends 4 men for the Medal of Honor. Read More »
Bayou Maharajah (2013) Lily Keber, James Booker, Joe Boyd, Douglas Brinkley, Documentary, History, Music
Bayou Maharajah explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker, the man Dr. John described as “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced.” Read More »
Gold is Where You Find It (1938) Michael Curtiz, George Brent, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, Drama, History, Romance
Colonel Ferris, a wealthy farmer in northern California, is strongly opposed to hydraulic mining, a new method developed during the gold rush of the 1870’s Read More »
Das Mädchen Johanna / Joan The Maid (1935) Gustav Ucicky, Angela Salloker, Gustaf Gründgens, Heinrich George, Biography, Drama, History
The story of Joan of Arc has been filmed so often that it need not be repeated here. This 1935 version obviously can’t quite compete with the masterworks Dreyer, Bresson, or Rivette derived from the same story, but it’s nevertheless a very effective film which focuses much more on the intrigues of the men around Joan than on the girl herself, who gets surprisingly little screentime. Read More »
Operator 13 (1934) Richard Boleslawski, Marion Davies, Gary Cooper, Jean Parker, Drama, History, Romance
Gail Loveless, a spy known as Operator 13 working for the Union and Federal cause during the Civil War, posing as a Confederate woman named Anne Claybourne, meets and falls in love with Confederate Captain Jack Galliard. Dusguised as an octoroom maid at a Confedarate military ball, she learns and relays secrets to the Union forces that are devastating to the Rebel cause. Assigned to the case to track down and kill the spy maid, Galliard learns she is also the woman he loves, but proceeds with his assignment. He captures her but is in danger of being captured himself as Federal forces are approaching. Gail/Anne saves him and they part to wait until peace comes to resume their romance.
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The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) Rudolph Maté, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, David Farrar, Adventure, History, Romance
In the days of King Henry IV, stalwart young Myles of Crisby Dale, and his sister Meg, have been raised as peasants, without any knowledge of their father’s true identity. Read More »