Topic: American Civil War

Direction Buster Keaton · Clyde Bruckman

Cast Buster Keaton · Marion Mack · Glen Cavender · Jim Farley

Synopsis The General (1926) follows the adventures of Johnny Gray, a dedicated engineer for the Western and Atlantic Flyer, who has a deep affection for his locomotive, "The General," and his sweetheart, Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War begins, Johnny is...

Direction Sergio Leone

Cast Clint Eastwood · Lee Van Cleef · Eli Wallach · Aldo Giuffrè

Synopsis The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) begins with the introduction of Tuco (Eli Wallach), a notorious outlaw known as "The Ugly," who escapes through a window after eliminating his pursuers. Next, we meet Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef),...

Direction Ken Burns

Cast David McCullough · Shelby Foote · Sam Waterston · Jason Robards

Synopsis The Civil War (TV Miniseries) (1990) is a critically praised television series that chronicles the journey of the American Civil War, beginning with the abolitionist movement and continuing through pivotal battles, culminating in the assassination of President Lincoln and the...

Direction Victor Fleming · George Cukor · Sam Wood

Cast Vivien Leigh · Clark Gable · Olivia de Havilland · Leslie Howard

Synopsis Gone With the Wind (1939) unfolds the tale of Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh), a privileged Southern lady who harbors a secret affection for Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). When she discovers that Ashley is betrothed to Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland),...

Direction William Wyler

Cast Bette Davis · Henry Fonda · George Brent · Margaret Lindsay

Synopsis Jezebel (1938) unfolds in the vibrant yet tumultuous backdrop of pre-Civil War New Orleans in the 1850s. The narrative revolves around Julie Marsden, a captivating and independent Southern belle who embarks on a journey of personal redemption. Julie, known for...

Direction John Ford

Cast John Wayne · William Holden · Constance Towers · Althea Gibson

Synopsis The Horse Soldiers (1959) follows a Union Cavalry unit dispatched on a covert mission deep into Confederate territory. Their objective is to dismantle a critical rail and supply hub. Accompanying them is a physician whose presence immediately creates tension with...

Direction Clint Eastwood

Cast Clint Eastwood · Chief Dan George · Sondra Locke · John Vernon

Synopsis The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) commences with the devastation of Missouri farmer Josey Wales' (Eastwood) home and family by Union soldiers, prompting him to join the Confederate forces in pursuit of vengeance. After years of conflict, Josey declines to surrender...

Direction Raoul Walsh

Cast Errol Flynn · Olivia de Havilland · Arthur Kennedy · Charley Grapewin

Synopsis They Died with their Boots On (1941) chronicles the journey of George Armstrong Custer (Errol Flynn), beginning with his time at West Point and his courtship of Elizabeth Bacon (Olivia de Havilland). The narrative spans the American Civil War and...

Direction Robert Enrico

Cast Roger Jacquet · Anne Cornaly · Anker Larsen · Stéphane Fey

Synopsis The Twilight Zone: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (TV) (1964) unfolds during the American Civil War in 1862, focusing on Peyton Farquhar, a Confederate soldier sentenced to death by Union forces. As he stands on the brink of execution,...

Direction D.W. Griffith

Cast Lillian Gish · Mae Marsh · Henry B. Walthall · Miriam Cooper

Synopsis The Birth of a Nation (1915) is renowned for being the most successful and artistically innovative film of its era, yet it has also ignited controversy, protests, and division since its initial release. The narrative unfolds through the lens of...

Direction Don Siegel

Cast Clint Eastwood · Geraldine Page · Elizabeth Hartman · Jo Ann Harris

Synopsis The Beguiled (1971) centers around a tale of intrigue and desire set during the American Civil War. The story unfolds as a wounded Union soldier, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, finds refuge in a secluded Southern girls' school. The young women...

Direction Robert Enrico

Cast Roger Jacquet · Anne Cornaly · Anker Larsen · Stéphane Fey

Synopsis An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (S) (1962) unfolds during the tumultuous period of the Civil War, where a civilian from the South is on the brink of execution for his alleged involvement in sabotaging a crucial railway bridge. As...

Direction King Vidor

Cast Margaret Sullavan · Walter Connolly · Randolph Scott · Janet Beecher

Synopsis So Red the Rose (1935) is a poignant Civil War romance directed by King Vidor, featuring Margaret Sullavan as a Southern aristocrat who oversees a plantation. Her tranquil life is disrupted by the turmoil of the American Civil War. Throughout...

Direction Richard T. Heffron

Cast Patrick Swayze · James Read · Lesley-Anne Down · Wendy Kilbourne

Synopsis North and South (TV Series) (1985) is a captivating television miniseries that aired across 1985, 1986, and 1994, comprising 15 episodes. Adapted from John Jakes' bestselling novel, the narrative revolves around the enduring friendship between two young men, George Hazard...

Direction Leslie Greif · Kevin Reynolds

Cast Kevin Costner · Bill Paxton · Tom Berenger · Jena Malone

Synopsis Hatfields & McCoys (TV Miniseries) (2012) delves into the intense and prolonged conflict between two prominent families residing along the border of West Virginia and Kentucky in the aftermath of the Civil War. This gripping miniseries offers a vivid portrayal...

Direction David Maloney

Cast Patrick Troughton · Frazer Hines · Wendy Padbury · Jane Sherwin

Synopsis Doctor Who: The War Games (TV) (1969) is an epic ten-part journey marking the conclusion of the Second Doctor's era, featuring the debut of the Time Lords. The Doctor, accompanied by Jamie and Zoe, mistakenly believes they have returned to...

Direction Edward Zwick

Cast Matthew Broderick · Denzel Washington · Cary Elwes · Morgan Freeman

Synopsis Glory (1989) chronicles the valor of a group of Civil War soldiers frequently overlooked by history—the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, a unit of free black men who battled to secure freedom for their enslaved brethren. Inspired by the historical novels...

Direction Henry Hathaway · John Ford · George Marshall · Richard Thorpe

Cast Carroll Baker · James Stewart · Debbie Reynolds · Gregory Peck

Synopsis How the West Was Won (1962) chronicles the dramatic journey of the Prescott and Rawlings families as they traverse the American frontier from the 1830s to the 1880s. Their odyssey begins with a voyage along the Erie Canal, followed by...

Direction John Sturges

Cast William Holden · Eleanor Parker · John Forsythe · William Demarest

Synopsis Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) follows the story of a stern Union captain who is infamous for his unyielding approach to managing the prisoners at his fort. His reputation is built on his ability to recapture every convict who attempts...

Direction John Ford

Cast Warner Baxter · Gloria Stuart · Joyce Kay · Claude Gillingwater

Synopsis The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) follows the tale of Dr. Samuel Mudd, a physician who finds himself unjustly incarcerated following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Mudd's life takes a dramatic turn when he innocently treats the...