Rules

The challenge runs from Memorial Day weekend through Independence Day.

Years ago, this challenge had its roots in the war and Westerns genres, so we continue to celebrate those today.

In a nutshell, here are the basics:

• Movies and TV content specifically about a historical figure, event or period are eligible.
• Tangential content (i.e., fantasy, time travel, movies merely set in a generic "past" where the time period is not emphasized as important) is to be excluded, except...
• Toward the end of the challenge, from dusk on 30 June until dawn on 1 July, you may watch Time Travel films to count double with your Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge list. However, the setting(s) must have already taken place, so you can't watch a movie set in the future that travels to a different point in the future.

Is TV Content Allowed?
Certainly! Just make sure that it's as consistent with the spirit of the challenge as the movies you might watch. We used to allow anything on The History Channel carte blanche but with the proliferation of reality TV shows there, try to remember that no matter how dangerous driving a semi across ice is, it isn't "historical"...yet!

Counting
Many of the films at the heart of this challenge have considerable run times, so even though there's always a sort of de facto goal of hitting 100 movies watched, it's not really expected here. We'd much rather you take this opportunity to finally see Lawrence of Arabia than to squeeze in two shorter films.

Since there are no prizes for this challenge, feel free to count using whichever method best suits you. The standard is that 2 TV broadcast hours or short films is equivalent to 1 movie. Some members prefer to count each episode or short as a single entry. Others tally their cumulative viewing time. Whatever floats your boat. It's your list!

Why Aren't Documentaries on the Checklist?
It's up to each participant to decide what mix of dramatizations and documentaries best suits him or her. If you want to watch documentaries exclusively, you're welcome to do that. If you don't want to watch any, that's fine, too. Some checkmarks will be easier to attain with docs, though!

Hey, What About...?
Travis was the original host, and his BA was earned in history, but even he hasn't seen every movie ever made and he doesn't have an encyclopedic knowledge of every historical figure, event and period. Regarding specific films, the suggestion--and this goes for any questions--is that you ask about a specific film in the discussion thread and see what feedback you get from others who have seen it. If you don't get anything helpful, the general rule of thumb is that if you feel that you have a sufficient reason to believe that it's an appropriate selection then go ahead and watch it. If it turns out not to really fit the nature of this challenge, still count it as a viewing but please share your thoughts with us.

Post your list in the list thread. Be as creative or as basic with your list as you want.

Here 's one of Travis' original checklists if you're so inclined:

Reserved

6/7
1. Bridgerton s3 ep1*

6/8
2. Hit Man (2025)*
3. Bridgerton s3 ep2*

6/9
4. Bridgerton s3 ep3*

6/10
5. Testament of Youth (2015)*

6/11
6. Bridgerton s3 ep4*

6/13
7. Bridgerton s3 ep5*

6/16
8. Brats*
9. Bridgerton s3 ep6*

6/18
10. Blackberry*
11. Bridgerton s3 ep7*

6/19
Spring Awakening, 5th Avenue Theatre

6/20
12. Bridgerton s3 ep8*

6/23
13. The Zone of Interest (2023)*

6/24
14. John and Jen*

6/25
15. Billy and Molly an Otter Love Story*

6/30
26. I Am Woman (2019)*

2024 Historical Appreciation Challenge

Blu-ray | DVD | Theater | TV/DVR | HD-DVD

☼ = First time viewing

June 1
01. Hidalgo (2004)☼
02. Kennedy - "Jack (1917-1940)" (2023)☼
03. Kennedy - "The World at War (1940-1946)" (2023)☼

June 2
04. Kennedy - "Into the Political Jungle (1946-1956)" (2023)☼
05. Kennedy - "The Kennedy Machine (1956-1960)" (2023)☼
06. Kennedy - "The Torch has Passed (January 1961-December 1961)" (2023)☼
07. Kennedy - "Crisis (January 1962-October 1962)" (2023)☼

June 3
08. Cry Blood, Apache (1970)☼
09. Kennedy - "The Brink of War (October, 1962-June, 1963)" (2023)☼
10. Kennedy - "A Legacy (June, 1963-November, 1963)" (2023)☼

June 4
11. Hell in the Pacific (1968)☼
12. Ancient Empires - "Alexander the Great" (2023)☼

June 5
13. The Old Man & the Gun (2018)☼
14. Ancient Empires - "Caesar" (2023)☼

June 6
15. The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959)☼
16. Ancient Empires - "Cleopatra" (2023)☼
17. Secrets of the Hells Angels - "Hell's Hitmen" (2024)☼

June 7
18. The Great War - "Into Hell" (2024)☼
19. Expedition from Hell: The Lost Tapes - "Worst Expedition Ever?" (2024)☼

June 8
20. Battle of the Sexes (2017)☼
21. The Great War - "Over the Top" (2024)☼

June 9
22. History's Greatest Mysteries - "Who Killed King Tut?" (2024)☼
23. The Courier (2020)☼
24. Ghost Adventures - "Hotel Congress" (2024)☼

June 10
25. Monte Walsh (1970)☼
26. D-Day: The Unheard Tapes - "Part 1" (2024)☼
27. The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch - "Beaming Up" (2024)☼

June 11
28. The Burning of Atlanta (2020)☼
29. D-Day: The Unheard Tapes - "Part 2" (2024)☼

June 12
30. Suffragette (2015)☼
31. History's Greatest Mysteries - "The Hindenburg Disaster" (2024)☼
32. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Where Ark Thou?" (2024)☼

June 13
33. Wind River (2017)
34. The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch - "The Cone Zone" (2024)☼
35. Deadliest Catch - "The Twenty Season Toll" (2024)☼

June 14
36. Deadliest Catch - "King Crab Derby" (2024)☼
37. Ghost Adventures - "Belmont Ghost Town" (2024)☼

June 15
38. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "The Keys to Immortality" (2024)☼
39. Custer of the West (1967)☼
40. The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe - "Dangers from Space" (2024)☼

June 16
41. Any Gun Can Play (1967)☼
42. The Walk (2015)☼
43. The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe - "Search for the Next Frontier" (2024)☼

June 17
44. Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (2015)
45. The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe - "Alien Moons" (2024)☼
46. History's Greatest Mysteries - "The Search for Alexander the Great" (2024)☼

June 18
47. Dakota (1945)☼
48. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Crucifixion Relics" (2024)☼
49. The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch - "Graves Concern" (2024)☼

June 19
50. Deadliest Catch - "Bering Sea Gut Check" (2024)☼
51. Lone Survivor (2013)
52. Expedition Unknown - "Hunt for Alexander the Great" (2024)☼

June 21
53. Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)☼

June 24
54. The Great Train Robbery (1978)☼
55. The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe - "Secrets of the Sun" (2024)☼
56. History's Greatest Mysteries - "The Sinking of the Titanic" (2024)☼

June 25
57. The Bikeriders (2023)☼
58. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Apocalypse How?" (2024)☼

June 26
59. Deadliest Catch - "A Titan Among Men" (2024)☼
60. The War Wagon (1967)☼
61. The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch - "Spinning Out" (2024)☼

June 27
62. Air America (1990)☼
63. Expedition Unknown - "Alexander's Lost Tomb" (2024)☼

June 28
64. Alone - "Enter the Circle" (2024)☼
65. Alone - "Opportunity Cost" (2024)☼
66. Alone - "Fortune" (2024)☼

June 29
67. Hart's War (2002)☼
68. Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics (2024)☼

June 30
69. Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)☼

May 31

1. The Front Runner - Indieplex

June 1

2. Brian’s Song - DVR
3. Ancient Aliens: The Evidence - DVD

June 2

4. Martin Clunes Islands Of The Pacific: Micronesia - DVR
5. The Lone Ranger: Stage To Tushimingo - FETV
6. The Toys That Built America: Transforming Toy Invasion - DVR
7. Unearthed: Lost City Of The Mayan Queens - Science

June 4

8. The Mega-Brands That Built America: Suite Dreams: The Birth Of The Modern Hotel - DVR
9. Tombstone - AMC

June 5

10. Ancient Aliens: The Visitors - DVD

June 7

11. Ancient Aliens: The Mission - DVD
12. Ancient Aliens: Closer Encounters - DVD

June 8

13. Mackenna’s Gold - Cinevault Westerns
14. South Of Death Valley - Cinevault Westerns
15. IMAX: Born To Be Wild - Digital Copy
16. Africa: Kalahari - Digital Copy

June 9

17. Ancient Aliens: The Gods Of Greece - DVR
18. Raw Travel: Southern Louisiana Acadiana - Local Channel
19. Robin Of Sherwood: Robin Hood And The Sorcerer Pt 1 - YouTube
20. Ancient Aliens: Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet - DVR
21. Secrets Of The Hell’s Angels: Hell’s Agents - A&E

June 13

22. Ancient Aliens: The Return - DVD
23. Ancient Aliens: Chariots, Gods and Beyond - DVD
24. Living With Lions - Curiosity Stream
25. Robin Of Sherwood: Robin Hood And The Sorcerer Pt 2 - YouTube

June 14

26. The Son Of Davy Crockett - Cinevault Westerns
27. Ancient Aliens: Mysterious Places - DVD

June 15

28. Ancient Aliens: Gods And Aliens - DVD

June 16

29. Ancient Aliens: Underwater Worlds - DVD
30. History’s Greatest Mysteries: Who Killed King Tut? - DVR
31. Flying Through Time: Aircraft Carriers & The Hellcat - Prime Video
32. Flying Through Time: F14 Tomcat - Prime Video

June 17

33. Most Interesting Jobs: Cowboys And Raiders - NFL Network

June 18

34. Flying Through Time: Giants - Prime Video
35. The Rifleman: The Raid - Filmrise Western

June 20

36. Europe From Above: Turkey - National Geographic Channel
37. Flying Through Time: Mustangs And Spitfires - Prime Video
38. Flying Through Time: The Boeing Company Pt 1 - Prime Video
39. Flying Through Time: The Boeing Company Pt 2 - Prime Video

June 22

40. Ancient Aliens: Underground Aliens - DVD
41. Rivers Above The Canopy - Curiosity Stream
42. Flying Through Time: Vertical Takeoff And Landing - Prime Video
43. Flying Through Time: The F-15 Eagle - Prime Video

June 23

44. Finding Your Roots With Henry L Gates: In The Blood - DVR
45. Flying Through Time: P47 Thunderbolt - Prime Video

June 24

46. Horrible Histories: Season 4 Episode 9 - BBC Kids

June 25

47. The Plane Facts: The Mustang & More - DVD
48. Jack Hanna's Into The Wild: Legendary Bison Of Catalina Island - Jack Hanna Channel
49. Warbirds In Review 2023: Piper L-4 Grasshopper “Rosie The Rocketer” - YouTube
50. The Plane Facts: The Goblin - DVD
51. The Plane Facts: Cargo & Commercial Planes - DVD
52. UFOs: Investigating The Unknown: Citizens Take Charge - DVR
53. Forensic Files: Web Of Seduction - HLN
54. Secrets Of The Lost Ark: The Doomsday Curse - DVR

June 26

55. The Plane Facts: Straight Up - DVD
56. The Joe: Red Wings And Joe Louis Arena - DVR
57. Santa Fe - Retroplex
58. Warbirds In Review 2023: Walt Ohlrich Tribute With North American SNJ 502 - YouTube

June 28

59. The Plane Facts: JATO Power - DVD
60. The Plane Facts: Trial And Aero - DVD
61. Ancient Aliens: The New UFO Hunters - DVR
62. Forensic Files: Walking Terror - HLN
63. Forensic Files: Trial By Fire - HLN

June 29

64. The Plane Facts: Great Explorers - DVD
64. The Plane Facts: Breakthroughs - DVD
65. D-Day: Last Words: Episode 1 - DVR
66. Earth: The Biography: Volcanoes - DVD
67. Earth: The Biography: Atmosphere - DVD
68. Earth: The Biography: Ice - DVD
69. Ancient Aliens: The Lost City Of Peru - DVR

June 30

70. Earth: The Biography: Oceans - DVD

July 2

71. Shark Superpower - National Geographic Channel

My Eleventh Historical Appreciation Challenge
*= first time watching

Potential Watch List:
Bridgerton - Season 1✓
Cable Girls - Season 1
Call The Midwife - Season 1 Rewatch
Call The Midwife - Season 2
Dickinson - Season 1

One Life
The Booksellers
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
The Janes
Resistance

June 1
1. Call the Midwife - Ep. 1.1
2. Call the Midwife - Ep. 1.2 "The Browne Incident"

June 5
3. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.1 "Diamond of the First Water" *
4. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.2 "Shock and Delight" *

June 7
5. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.3 "Art of the Swoon" *
6. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.4 "An Affair of Honor" *
7. Doctor Who - Ep. 1.2 "The Devil's Chord" *

June 26
8. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.5 "The Duke and I" *

June 27
9. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.6 "Swish" *
10. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.7 "Oceans Apart" *

June 28
11. Bridgerton - Ep. 1.8 "After the Rain" *

2010: 14 // 2011: 5.5
2012: 20.5 // 2013: 18.5
2014: 8 // 2015: 10
2016: 15 // 2017: 14.75
2018: 4 // 2022: 54ish
2023: 21

Potential List:
Qualifying movies from (2/22)
Rewatch American Dreams s.1
Rewatch Bridgerton s.1
Derry Girls s.1/s.2/s.3
Daisy Jones and the Six
M*A*S*H s.6

May 26th
1. Butterfly in the Sky (2022)*

June 1st
2. Derry Girls s.1 "Episode 1"*
3. Derry Girls s.1 "Episode 2"*
4. Derry Girls s.1 "Episode 3"*
5. Derry Girls s.1 "Episode 4"*
6. 5 Broken Cameras (2011)*

June 2nd
7. Daisy Jones and the Six "Track 1: Come and Get It"*

June 3rd
8. M*A*S*H s.6 "Fade Out, Fade In"*
9. M*A*S*H s.6 "Fallen Idol"*

June 7th
10. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)*
11. M*A*S*H s.6 "Last Laugh"*
12. M*A*S*H s.6 "War of Nerves"*
13. M*A*S*H s.6 "The Winchester Tapes"*

June 13th
14. Bridgerton s.1 "Diamond of the First Water"
15. Bridgerton s.1 "Shock and Delight"

June 14th
16. Bridgerton s.1 "Art of the Swoon"

June 18th
17. Bridgerton s.1 "An Affair of Honor"

June 19th
18. Bridgerton s.1 "The Duke and I"
19. Bridgerton s.1 "Swish"
20. Bridgerton s.1 "Oceans Apart"
21. Bridgerton s.1 "After the Rain"

June 21st
22. Bridgerton s.2 "Capital R Rake"*

June 22nd
23. Bridgerton s.2 "Off to the Races"*
24. Bridgerton s.2 "A Bee in Your Bonnet"*

June 25th
25. Bridgerton s.2 "Victory"*
26. Bridgerton s.2 "An Unthinkable Fate"*
27. Bridgerton s.2 "The Choice"*

June 27th
28. Bridgerton s.2 "Harmony"*

June 29th
29. Bridgerton s.2 "The Viscount Who Loved Me"*

July 1st
30. My Lady Jane s.1 "Who'll Be the Next in Line?"*
31. My Lady Jane s.1 "Wild Thing"*

Total: 15 (31)

15th Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge
Blue = First Time View / Red = Rewatch
2024-06-01
1. Jim Henson Idea Man (2014) Disney +
2024-06-02
2. The Search For Weng Weng (2016) tubi
3. Mystery Science Theater 3000 “Gunslinger” (1956/1993) Gizmoplex
2024-06-04
4. Madonna & The Breakfast Club (2019) tubi
2024-06-11
5. Creature Features “Cowgirls vs. Pterodactyls” (2021/2024) YouTube
6. Creature Features “Theseus And The Minotaur” (2017/2019) YouTube
2024-06-15
7. Quasi (2023) Hulu
2024-06-27
8. Calamity Jane’s Revenge (2015) tubi
9. Once Upon A Time In Tombstone (2020) tubi
10. Skin: A History Of Nudity In Movies (2020) tubi

June 2
1:

First-Time Viewing: 7 | Blu-Ray: | DVD: | Theatrical: | TV: 4 | Streaming: 5

June 1.
1. Final Account (2020)--Stream-A documentary featuring interviews with elderly Germans who had lived through the Nazi era.

June 2.
2. Sign of the Pagan (1954)-Stream--Jack Palance chews up the scenery as Attila the Hun in this grossly inaccurate yet entertaining Technicolor Douglas Sirk spectacular.
3. Tucker: The Man and His Dream--Stream---It's amazing that Preston Tucker's car was shot down by Detroit for including features like saftey belts and shatter-proof windshields that are standard today.

June 3.
4. Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution (2023)--TV:--Disco started as undergound gay club music and the for a few years dominared the music world until it crashed and burned.

June 4.
5. Bathtubs over Broadway (2018)--Stream--Bathtubs Over Broadway is an amusing documentary that follows a writer for David Letterman's show who, while tasked with finding obscure records for a recurring segment, discovered and became obsessed with industrial musicals - elaborate stage productions created for corporate events. Definitely recommended for fans of musical theater and American kitsch.

June 6
6. The Longest Day (1962)--Stream-80 years ago today, brave men laid down their lives to fight fascism.

June 11
7. Strange Testament (1941)--TV--A Passing Parade short about a New Orleans man whose tragic love affair during Mardi Gras created a legacy for poor girls from his parish.

June 12
8. Chaplin (1991)--TV--Robert Downy Jr. richly deserved his Oscar nomination for playing the complex man who created the Little Tramp.

June 13
9. The Flag of Humanity (1941)--TV--The not exactly accurate story of Clara Barton founding the American Red Cross.

A bit late to the party, but my list goes here.

July 6
1. Tolkien (2019) The early life of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings.

July 7
2. 1883 (2021/23) Prequel series to Yellowstone telling the tale of a pilgrim caravan on the way to Oregon led by the ever gruff Sam Elliot and the nearly as gruff Tim McGraw. Episodes: River / The Crossing

July 8
3. 1883 (2023) Episodes: The Fangs of Freedom / Boring the Devil

July 9
4. 1883 (2023) Episodes: Lightning Yellow Hair / The Weep of Surrender

July 10
5. 1883 (2023) Episodes: Racing Clouds / This Is Not Your Heaven

July 11
6. Amy (1982) A woman at a school for deaf and blind children hopes to teach the deaf to speak. A Disney film that surprisingly I had never heard of. The movie is set in the 1910's.

July 12
7. Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier (1955) Set in the 1800's.

July 13
8. Mary Shelley (2017) The troubled story of the young Mary Godwin (later Shelley), author of Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus.

July 14
9. Cuba (1979) Set in pre-Fidel Castro Cuba, Sean Connery is an anti-terrorist agent hired by local generals to stop the eminent uprising of communism.

1. Masters of the Air - Part 1
2. Masters of the Air - Part 2
3. Masters of the Air - Part 3
4. Masters of the Air - Part 4
5. Masters of the Air - Part 5
6. Masters of the Air - Part 6
7. Masters of the Air - Part 7
8. Masters of the Air - Part 8
9. Masters of the Air - Part 9
10. The Bloody Hundredth (2024)
11. The Pacific - Guadalcanal/Leckie
12. The Pacific - Basilone
13. The Pacific - Melbourne
14. Bridgerton - Diamond of the First Water
15. The Pacific - Gloucester/Pavuvu/Banika
16. The Pacific - Peleliu Landing
17. The Pacific - Peleliu Airfield
18. The Pacific - Peleliu Hills
19. The Pacific - Iwo Jima
20. The Pacific - Okinawa
21. The Pacific - Home

1. Tomahawk (1951) * 81 min. (Western, Wyoming Territory, mid-1860s)
2. Derry Girls: Episode #1.1 (2018) * 23 min. (Derry City, Northern Ireland, 1990s)
3. Derry Girls: Episode #1.2 (2018) * 23 min. (Derry City, Northern Ireland, 1990s)
4. J'ai été au bal (1989) * 83 min. (Documentary about Cajun & zydeco music)
5. Screen Directors Playhouse: The Brush Roper (1955) * 26 min. (Western, contemporary American West)
6. Glimpses of Florida (1941) * 9 min. (Travel documentary)
7. Alaska Lifeboat (1956) * 21 min. (Documentary about medical services in a remote town)
8. The Lady of the Dugout (1918) * 64 min. (Western, Oklahoma Territory, mid-1890s)
9. In the Valley of the Rhine (1953) 8 min. (Travel documentary)
10. Iron Monkey (1993) * 86 min. (China, mid-19th century)
11. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 1: A Lone Hand (1933) * 21 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
12. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 2: The Stampede (1933) * 21 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
13. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 3: Trapped (1933) * 20 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
19. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 4: The Man of Mystery (1933) * 19 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
20. Sierra (1950) * 83 min. (Western, Arizona Territory, 1880)
21. Les filles d'Olfa (2023) * 107 min. (Documentary about Islamic fundamentalism enabling ISIS recruitment in Tunisia, 2011-present)
22. Drunken Master/Jui kuen (1978) * 111 min. (China, mid-19th century)
23. Red Ball Express (1952, World War II, France, July 1944) * 83 min.
24. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 5: Riding for Life (1933) * 20 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
25. Cherry Blossom Time in Japan (1936) * 8 min. (Travel documentary)
26. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 6: Blazing Prairies (1933) * 21 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
27. Gordon of Ghost City: Chapter 7: Entombed in the Tunnel(1933) * 20 min. (Western, American West, 19th century)
28. Drunken Master II/Jui kuen II (1994) * 102 min. (China, mid-19th century)
29. Once Upon a Time in China/Wong Fei-Hung (1991) 134 min. (China, mid-19th century)
30. Go for Broke! (5/4/1951) * 91 min. (World War II, Mississippi, Italy & France, 1943-1944)
31. Oppenheimer (2023) * 180 min. (Biography, 1925-1963)


*First time viewing

Here