Rules

The challenge runs from May 30 (used to be Memorial Day weekend) through Independence Day weekend.

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

6/3
1. Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)*

6/4
2. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare*

6/5
3. The Three Musketeers part 1 (2023)*

6/6
4. Hitchcock (2012)*

6/11
5. The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020)

6/16
6. The Three Musketeers part 2 (2023)*
7. Love and mercy (2015)*

6/17
8. The Three Musketeers (2011)
Always… Patsy Cline, Taproot Theatre, Seattle, WA

6/19
9. Untold: The Fall of Favre*

6/21
10. Celtic Pride ep1*
11. Celtic Pride ep2*

6/26
Bye Bye Birdie, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA

6/27
12, Killers of the Flower Moin*

6/28
13. Adrienne (2021)*

6/29
14. Celtic Pride s1 ep3*
15. Celtic Pride s1 ep4*

First Watch - ¤

2025/05/31
01. The General,, Clyde Bruckman/Buster Keaton, 1926, Movie, Stream, US, B&W,

2025/06/01
02. A Southern Yankee,, Edward Sedgwick, 1948, Movie, Stream, US, B&W,

2025/06/06
03. Temple of the Red Lotus,, Hsu Tseng-Hung, 1965, Movie, Stream, HK, Color,

2025/06/14
04. The Twin Swords,, Hsu Tseng-Hung, 1965, Movie, Stream, HK, Color,

2025/06/15
05. The Sword and the Lute,, Hsu Tseng-Hung, 1967, Movie, Stream, HK, Color,

2025/06/30
06. Assassin's Creed,, Justin Kurzel, 2016, Movie, Stream, US, Color,

May 30
1. Land of the Pharaohs (1955)-TCM- The only redeeming aspect of this Howard Hawks misfire is a youing Joan Collins who plays the su;try and treacherous Princess Nelifer.
2. The Imitation Game (2014)--Benedict Cumberbatch leads a cast of terrific British actors as the tragic father of computer science, Alan Turing.

May 31
3. The Bandit Trail (1941)

June 1
4. Fellow Travelers Eps 1-2 (2023)
5. Fellow Travelers Eps 3-4(2023)
6. Fellow Travelers Eps 5-6 (2023)
7. Fellow Travelers Eps 7-8 (2023)

June 2
8. Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

June 4
9. The Naked Civil Servant (1975).

June 7
10. Good Night, and Good Luck (2025)

June 10
10. The Harvey Girls (1946)

June 13
10. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)-Apparently this story of Winston Churchill hiring a ragged band of badasses to destroy a ship that supplied the Atlantic ffleet of U-Boats during WWII wasn't declassified until the last decade.
11. Yellow Face (2025): Another live Broadway pro-shot, this time a slightly embellished depiction of David Henry Hwang's fighty against hiring white actor Jonathan Pryce to play an Asian role in Miss Saigon and its consequences.
12. Ennio (2021): An exhaustive and overlong biography of legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.

June 15.
13. The Alto Knights (2025):Barry Levinson has turned in a tired, by-the-numbers mob picture with the stunt casting of Robert De Niro as both lead characters. The story of the rivalry between 1950s mobsters Vito Genovese and Frank Costello would have been so much better if Scorsese had been in the director's seat.

June 16
14. Skin Game (1971): How do you make a comedy about the slave trade, especially in the heightened racial consciousness of the early 70s? Well, these guys did, and it's a comedy gem. Gossett and Garner have great screen chemistry.

June 19
15. Selma (2014)

June 22
16. Missing (1982)

June 24
17. The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022)

May 30

1. Blue Planet: Coasts - DVD

May 31

2. Daniel Boone: Ken-Tuk-E - FETV
3. Forensic Files: Funeral Services - DVR

June 5

4. Gunsmoke: Cheyennes - MeTV
5. Mysteries Of The Deep: Mysteries Of The Ancient Battle - Travel Channel
6. M*A*S*H: The Kids - MeTV

June 6

7. XPloration Awesome Planet: Earth's Views - Local Channel
8. Africa's Deadliest: Steal Or Die - Nat Geo Wild
9. Forensic Files: Brotherhoods - DVR
10. Forensic Files II: The Black Hole - HLN

June 8

11. Forensic Files: Blanket Of Evidence - HLN

June 10

12. Forensic Files: Dancing With The Devil - HLN
13. Dogfights: MiG Alley - DVD
14. M*A*S*H: The Novocaine Mutiny - MeTV

June 11

15. Dogfights: Air Ambush - DVD

June 12

16. The Sons Of Katie Elder - DVR

June 15

17. Dogfights: Flying Tigers - DVD

June 16

18. 2001 EAA Airventure Oshkosh - EAA.org

June 18

19. American Titans: Vanderbilt vs Drew - AHC

June 21

20. Dogfights: Guadalcanal - DVD
21. Dogfights: Hell Over Hanoi - DVD

June 27

22. Dogfights: The Zero Killer - DVD
23. Dogfights: The Last Gunfighter - DVD

June 28

24. 2000 EAA Airventure DVD - EAA.org
25. Dogfights: Death Of The Japanese Navy - DVD

2025 Historical Appreciation Challenge

Blu-ray | DVD | TV/DVR | Theater

☼ = First time viewing

May 30
01. American Godfathers: The Five Families - "Death of the Old Rules" (2024)☼

May 31
02. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)☼
03. American Godfathers: The Five Families - "Rise of the New Dons" (2024)☼

June 1
04. Allied (2016)

June 2
05. Blue Steel (1934)☼
06. American Godfathers: The Five Families - "The Last Don" (2024)☼

June 3
07. Kill the Messenger (2014)☼
08. Thomas Jefferson - "A Revolutionary is Born (1743-1773)" (2025)☼
09. Thomas Jefferson - "Independence (1774-1776)" (2025)☼

June 4
10. Deepwater Horizon (2016)☼
11. Thomas Jefferson - "Jefferson at War (1777-1784)" (2025)☼
12. Thomas Jefferson - "Jefferson in Paris (1784-1795)" (2025)☼

June 5
13. Thomas Jefferson - "President Jefferson (1793-1809)" (2025)☼
14. Thomas Jefferson - "Jefferson's Legacy (1809-1826)" (2025)☼

June 6
15. Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster (2025)☼
16. The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd - "Curious Crimes" (2025)☼

June 7
17. Summer of Sam (1999)☼
18. Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny - "Dark Science" (2025)☼

June 8
19. Dead Man (1995)☼
20. Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny - "Deep Space" (2025)☼

June 9
21. Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)☼
22. Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny - "Spy Tech" (2025)☼

June 10
23. Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny - "Unholy Alliances" (2025)☼
24. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Of Biblical Proportions" (2025)☼

June 11
25. The Hornet's Nest (2014)☼
26. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Wrath of Gods" (2025)☼

June 12
27. The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)☼
28. The UnXplained - "Tales from Antarctica" (2025)☼
29. Yellowstone: 1923 - "1923" (2022)☼

June 13
30. Yellowstone: 1923 - "Nature's Empty Throne" (2022)☼
31. Yellowstone: 1923 - "The War Has Come Home" (2023)☼

June 14
32. Only the Brave (2017)☼
33. Yellowstone: 1923 - "War and Turquoise Tide" (2023)☼

June 15
34. Yellowstone: 1923 - "Ghosts of Zebrina" (2023)☼
35. Yellowstone: 1923 - "One Ocean Closer to Destiny" (2023)☼
36. 1917 (2019)

June 16
37. In Old California (1942)☼
38. Yellowstone: 1923 - "The Rule of Five Hundred" (2023)☼
39. Yellowstone: 1923 - "Nothing Left to Lose" (2023)☼

June 17
40. The Dawn Rider (1935)☼
41. The UnXplained - "Robot Revolution" (2025)☼
42. The Death Coast - "Beyond the Breakers" (2025)☼
43. The Death Coast - "The Sunken Legend" (2025)☼

June 18
44. Wake Island (1942)☼
45. The Death Coast - "Unfinished Business" (2025)☼

June 19
46. The Proof is Out There - "Alien Golden Orb, Yeti Caught on Tape, Las Vegas Close Encounter" (2025)☼
47. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Sacred Send-Offs" (2025)☼
48. Infinite Storm (2022)☼
49. Expedition Unknown - "Hitler's Amerikabomber" (2025)☼

June 20
50. The UnXplained - "Secret Societies" (2025)☼
51. The Proof is Out There - "Infrared UFO Attack, Human Bear & Underwater Crop Circles" (2025)☼

June 23
52. Sitting Bull - "Nations Collide" (2025)☼
53. Sitting Bull - "Never Give In" (2025)☼

June 24
54. Kevin Costner's the West - "Fallen Timbers" (2025)☼

June 25
55. Kevin Costner's the West - "Coulter's Run" (2025)☼
56. Kevin Costner's the West - "Oregon Trails" (2025)☼
57. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Lost Sites" (2025)☼

June 26
58. Young Billy Young (1969)☼
59. Kevin Costner's the West - "Comancheria" (2025)☼

June 27
60. Kevin Costner's the West - "The Robin Hood of El Dorado" (2025)☼

June 28
61. 12 Strong (2018)☼
62. Kevin Costner's the West - "Bleeding Kansas" (2025)☼

June 29
63. The UnXplained - "Secrets of the Spies" (2025)☼
64. The Proof is Out There - "Bigfoot Train Sighting, Jesus and Aliens & Iceland's Loch Ness Monster" (2025)☼
65. Kevin Costner's the West - "The Fetterman Fight" (2025)☼
66. The Aftermath (2019)☼

June 30
67. Broken Arrow (1950)☼
68. Kevin Costner's the West - "Johnson County Wars" (2025)☼

July 1
69. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - "Most Powerful" (2025)☼

July 3
70. Expedition Unknown - "The Man Eating Lions of Kenya" (2025)☼

July 4
71. Expedition Unknown - "The Lost Grave of Buffalo Bill" (2025)☼

“Historians have a word for Germans who joined the Nazi party, not because they hated Jews, but out of a hope for restored patriotism, or a sense of economic anxiety, or a hope to preserve their religious values, or dislike of their opponents, or raw political opportunism, or convenience, or ignorance, or greed.

That word is "Nazi." Nobody cares about their motives anymore.

They joined what they joined. They lent their support and their moral approval. And, in so doing, they bound themselves to everything that came after. Who cares any more what particular knot they used in the binding?”1. The Bandit Trail (1941) 60 min.
2. Flaming Star (1960) 92 min.
3. The Invaders (1912) 41 min. (rewatch)
4. Rustlers (1949) 61 min.
5. Trail Guide (1952) 60 min.
6. The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) 99 min.
7. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: Standing Up in the Milky Way (2014) 46 min.
8. Arrowhead (1953) 105 min.
9. Pictures of Ghosts/Retratos Fantasmas (2023) 93 min.
10. The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived/Saat el Tahrir Dakkat, Barra ya Isti Mar (1974) 65 min.
11. The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On/Yuki yukite, shingun (1987) 121 min.
12. Destiny's Son/Kiru (1962) 71 min.
13. I'll Go to Santiago/Iré a Santiago (1964) 15 min.
14. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: Some of the Things That Molecules Do (2014) 45 min.
15. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: When Knowledge Conquered Fear (2014) 46 min.
16. Excursión a Vueltabajo (1965) 9 min.
17. Charro! (1969) 98 min.
18. Guanabacoa: Chronicle of My Family/Guanabacoa: Crónica de mi familia (1966) 14 min.
19. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: Hiding in the Light (2014) 46 min.
20. And... We Have Flavor/...y tenemos sabor (1967) 23 min.
21. Know Your Ally: Britain (1944) 42 min.
22. The Roaring West (1935) 282 min.
23. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: A Sky Full of Ghosts (2014) 46 min.
24. Emitaď (1971) 101 min.
25. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: Deeper, Deeper, Deeper Still (2014) 46 min.
26. On the Other Island/En la otra isla (1968) 41 min.
27. Lonely Are the Brave (1962) 107 min.
28. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: The Clean Room (2014) 44 min.
29. The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu/Autobiografia lui Nicolae Ceausescu (/2010) 188 min.
30. An Island for Miguel/Una isla para Miguel (1968) 20 min.
31. Outsiders/Ceddo (1977) 117 min.
32. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: Sisters of the Sun (2014) 43 min.
33. Woodstock (1970) 404 min.
34. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: The Electric Boy (2014) 43 min.
35. Memória do Cangaço (1965) 29 min.
36. Birago Diop, Storyteller/Birago Diop, conteur (1981) 29 min.
37. Local Power, Popular Power/Poder local, poder popular (1970) 10 min.
38. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth (2014) 44 min.
39. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: The Immortals (2014) 45 min.
40. The Sorrow and the Pity/Le chagrin et la pitié (1969) 249 min.
41. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: The World Set Free (2014) 42 min.
42. The Camp at Thiaroye/Camp de Thiaroye (1988) 153 min.
43. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey: Unafraid of the Dark (2014) 46 min.
44. Downfall/Der Untergang (2004) 155 min.
45. The Phantom Rider (1936) 285 min.

*= first time viewing
blue= personal Blu-ray
purple= personal DVD
green= streaming
orange= theatrical
red= live streaming / other

1. The Cardinal (Sinclair Hill)*
   1936 / United Kingdom / 74 minutes / 16th Century / 6-1
   
   
2. Stagecoach (John Ford)
   1939 / United States / 96 minutes / Western / 6-3
   
   
3. The Eddy Duchin Story (George Sidney)*
   1956 / United States / 123 minutes / Biography / 6-4
   
   
4. Terror in a Texas Town (Joseph H. Lewis)*
   1958 / United States / 80 minutes / Western / 6-5
   
   
5. The Red Rider (Lew Landers)*
   1. Sentenced to Die / 2. A Leap for Life
   1934 / United States / 50 minutes / serial / Western / 6-7
   
   
6. The Last of the Mohicans (Michael Mann)*
   1992 / United States / 115 minutes / director's cut / French and Indian War / 6-8
   
   
7. Girl with a Pearl Earring (Peter Webber)
   2003 / United Kingdom / 100 minutes / 17th Century / 6-10
   
   
8. Hornblower: The Even Chance (Andrew Grieve)
   1998 / United Kingdom / 100 minutes / French Revolutionary Wars / 6-12
   
   
9. The Red Rider (Lew Landers)*
   3. The Night Attach / 4. A Treacherous Ambush
   1934 / United States / 50 minutes / serial / Western / 6-13
   
   
10. Newsies (Kenny Ortega)
    1992 / United States / 121 minutes / 19th Century / 6-14
    
    
11. Poirot: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Ross Devenish)
    1990 / United Kingdom / 103 minutes / borrowed BD / Period Piece / 6-15
    
    
12. Poirot: Death in the Clouds (Stephen Whittaker)*
    1992 / United Kingdom / 106 minutes / borrowed BD / Period Piece / 6-16
    
    
13. Poirot: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (Ross Devenish)*
    1992 / United Kingdom / 103 minutes / borrowed BD / Period Piece / 6-17
    
    
14. Poirot: The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (Peter Barber-Fleming)*
    1993 / United Kingdom / 53 minutes / borrowed BD / Period Piece / 6-18
    
    
15. The Red Rider (Lew Landers)*
    5. Trapped / 6. The Brink of Death
    1934 / United States / 50 minutes / serial / Western / 6-18
    
    
16. Lincoln (Steven Spielberg)
    2012 / United States / 150 minutes / 19th Century / 6-19
    
    
17. Amistad (Steven Spielberg)*
    1997 / United States / 155 minutes / Paramont+ / 19th Century / 6-19
    
    
18. The Red Rider (Lew Landers)*
    7. The Fatal Plunge / 8. The Stampede
    1934 / United States / 50 minutes / serial / Western / 6-20
    
    
19. The Red Rider (Lew Landers)*
    9. The Posse Rider / 10. The Avenging Trail
    1934 / United States / 50 minutes / serial / Western / 6-21
    
    
20. Hundreds of Beavers (Mike Cheslik)*
    2022 / United States / 108 minutes / AmazonPrime / 19th Century / 6-21

Checklist

6/1-
(1) Hang'em High. (1968) Clint Eastwood. A former Marshall gets mis-identified as a murderer. Gets hung by a posse. Comes back as the new Marshall to seek revenge on the posse. 9/10
(2) Man in the Wilderness. ( 1971 ) Richard Harris. Zac Bass, leading an expedition team pulling a boat over land gets left for dead after he is attacked by a bear. 6/10)
6/2-
(3) Midway. Buddy Harrelson. After the Paerl Harbor attack by the Japanese, the Americans seek revenge during WWII. 8/10
6/3
(4) I will fight no more forever. James Whitmore. The plight of Chief Joseph and the New Perce. Could even use a blu-ray upgrade 8/10
6/4
(5) Arrowhead- (1953) Charlton Heston. A calvary scout comes back to the fort to battle an Indian chief prophet. 8/10
6/6-
(6) The Longest Day. Red Buttons. The Allied invasion at Normandy vs the Germans during WWII. 9/10
6/7-
(7) MASH- (1970) Donald Sutherland. The goings on at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. 7/10
6/8
(8) Darkest Hour. Gary Oldham. Cronicles the times of Winston Churchill during his time in WWII. 10/10
(9) The Horse Soldiers. (1959) John Wayne. A Calvary troop takes on a pair of women into their troop after they are caught spying for the Confederates. 6/10
6/9
(10) Twilight Zone- the 40 Fathom Grave. Simon Oakland. A Naval vessel investigates eerie messages coming from a sunken vessel below sea level. 9/10
6/10
(11) Custer of the West. Robert Shaw. Another version of the Custer story. Not too bad here. 7/10
6/11
(12) King Richard and the Crusades. Rex Harrison. Terrible movie centering around Muslim vs. Crusaders. Early 1950's era movie.. 2/10.
06/13
(13) Broken Arrow ( 1950 ) Jimmy Stewart. An Army scout decides to take it upon himself to start peace talks with the Apaches. 9/10
06/14
(14) The Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Gwenivere saga. older version. Not bad. 7/10
(15) Tomahawk. Yvonne DeCarlo. An army scout intervenes for the Sioux Indians and Red Cloud vs the US Calvary. 8/10
(16) Ironclad. Paul Giamanti. King John harasses the men who signed the Magna Carta and the siege of Rochester Castle 10/10
06/16
(17) McHales Navy. Ernest Borgnine. Season 2. a) Binghamton wants a transfer but he must account for all of the stolen / missing supplies in his outfit. And you can guess who was taking them. b) The Navy makes all commanders take new naval maneuvers or risk being transferred for new training. But Binghamton doesn't want to tell McHale so he can be shipped out when he fails. 8/10
06/17
(18) Ambush at Cimarron Pass. (1958) Clint Eastwood. A calvary troop runs into a hostile group of Confederate soldiers while keeping rifles away from the Apaches. 8/10
06/18
(19) Patton. (1970) George C. Scott. The military career of General Patton as he drives his way through WWII vs the Germans. And sometimes his own country. 10/10.
06/19
(20) She wore a Yellow Ribbon. John Wayne. An aging, retiring Captain leads his troop on his last few days in the Military. 9/10
(21) War Arrow- Jeff Chandler. A Calvary Major goes to a fort to get the local Seminole Indians to fight against the raiding Kiowas. 8/10
06/21
(22) The Warlords.. Jet Li. 3 brothers battle over leadership of an Asian army during 1860's China. 8/10
06/22
(23) The Man who shot Liberty Valance. Jimmy Stewart. A newly graduated lawyer moves out west to help tame a western town that needs it badly. 9/10
(24) The Founder. Michael Keaton. Ray Crock, a traveling salesman, puts his two cents into a hamburger restaurant company called McDonalds. 9/10
06/24
(25) The White Buffalo. Charles Bronson. Wild Bill goes out west to hunt a white buffalo that is haunting his dreams. 9/10
(26) Stalag 17. William Holden. There's a stool pigeon inside the barracks at Stalag 17. It's up to the remaining gang to find out who it is. 10/10.
06/26
(27) The Last of the Mohicans. (1992) Daniel Day Lewis. A family of frontier men escorts two women and an English officer to the fort after an ambush. 9/10
(28) The Making of The last of the Mohicans. Acts 1,2,3,.
06/27
(29) To Hell and Back. Audie Murphy. Covers the childhood up to his Military career. 9/10
06/28
(30) Waterloo. (1970) Rod Steiger. The saga of Napoleon and France in the War of 1812. Covers his regime after his exile to the battle of Waterloo. Which was fantastic. 10/10
06/29
(31) 300 Spartans. Richard Egan. Sparta volunteers to hold the pass at Thermopile to fight the Persians. 9/10
(32) High Noon. Gary Cooper. A retiring Marshall comes back to town to defeat a gunslinger that he had earlier sent to prison. 9/10
07/1
(33) Fatima. In 1917, three children from Portugal, see the woman of the rosary. As to the skeptical townspeople who didn't believe. 9/10
07/02
(34) Drum Beat. Alan Ladd. A man is hired to be a peace advocate for the United States vs. the Modoc Nation and his nemesis Capitan Jack ( Charles Bronson). This has become a favorite of mine over the years. 8/10
07/03
(35) The Outlaw Josey Wales. (1976) Clint Eastwood. A family man loses his wife and son when they are murdered by the " Red Legs " and seeks revenge. 8/10
07/04
(36) Rio Conchos. Jim Brown. (1964) A small team of US Calvary and former Confederates run a wagon load of gun powder to entice Gun runners. 8/10
07/05
(37) The Comancheros. John Wayne. A Texas Ranger recruits an outlaw to join his ranks. 7/10
07/06
(38) Geronimo- An American Legend. (1993) Wes Studi. The campaign of Geronimo vs the US Calvary. 9/10
(39) Ulzanas Raid. (1972) Burt Lancaster. Ulzana leads a small band of renegade Apache Indians throughout Arizona. While being hunted by a small Calvary troop being scouted by a scout named McIntosh. ( Lancaster ) Slow moving at times but still good. 8/10

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 // 2024: 15

June 1st
1. The Waltons s.1 "The Foundling"* (Another show I just watched random episodes of as a child so counting all as NTM)

My list goes here:

June 2
1. 1618 (2021) 1618 / Portugal / Based on the persecution of jews in Portugal the early 17th century.

June 3
2. The Buddy Holly Story (1978) 1950's / United States / Biopic of pioneer rock and roller Buddy Holly.

June 4
3. ELVIS (2022) 1950's-1977 / United States / The rise and death of the King of Rock and Roll. Makes an emphasis on his relationship with his manager Tom "The Colonel" Parker.

June 5
4. House of David (2025) 1000 BC / Israel / Episodes: A Shepherd and a King / Deep Calls to Deep

June 6
5. House of David (2025) 1000 BC / Israel / Episodes: The Anointing / The Song of Moses

June 7
6. House of David (2025) 1000 BC / Israel / Episodes: The Wolf and the Lion / Giants Awakened

June 8
7. House of David (2025) 1000 BC / Israel / Episodes: David and Goliath, parts 1 & 2

June 9
8. Jeanne La Pucelle I, Les Batailles (Jean The Maid I: The Battles) (1994) Early 1400's / France - French mini-series that's slow at times but pretty much the last word on the subject. Light on the battles and heavy on exposition and dialogue. Sandrine Bonnaire is Jeanne D'Arc and she plays the role with much humanity and realism.

June 10
9. Jeanne La Pucelle II, Les Prisons (Jean The Maid II: The Prisons) (1994) Early 1400's / France

June 11
10. Joan Of Arc - Part 1 (1999) Early 1400's / France - American TV mini-series that's quite pedestrian. I mean, Doogie Howser as the King of France? Leelee Sobiesky barely fills the role, with none of the gravitas required. Peter O'Toole and Jacqueline Bisset also star and are just around to pick up the check.

June 12
11. Joan Of Arc - Part 2 (1999) Early 1400's / France

June 13
12. The Passion of Joan Of Arc (1928) Early 1431 / France - Outstanding silent film about the trial of Joan of Arc leading up to her death by pyre. Incredibly powerful film with an amazing performance by Maria Falconetti as Joan. Hits you in the gut several times. Makes all other versions seem banal in comparison.

After my lackluster showing in my favorite challenge, I don't know how I'll do here, but I'll give it a shot.

​​​​​​The Sixteenth Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge
Blue = First Time View
Red = Rewatch

2025-06-04
Starting off (late) with a genuine classic I haven’t seen in decades:
1. Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) tubi
Then watched its okay follow up:
2. Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) tubi
It was much better than I remembered, but still second best of the two.

2025-06-05
Next up: a lovely unreleased documentary about musical and comedy genius Neil Innes.
3. Neil Innes is The Seventh Python (2008) YouTube
And now another documentary about the other musical and comedy genius from The Bonzo Dog Band.
4. The Canyons Of His Mind Vivian Stanshall (2004) YouTube
I’m going to watch season 1 of Heroes Of Comedy:
5. Heroes Of Comedy Season 1 Episode 0 A Special Tribute To… Frankie Howard (1995-01-01) YouTube
6. Heroes Of Comedy Season 1 Episode 1 Tommy Cooper (1995-10-13) YouTube
7. Heroes Of Comedy Season 1 Episode 2 Joyce Grenfell (1995-10-20) YouTube
8. Heroes Of Comedy Season 1 Episode 3 Max Miller (1995-10-27) YouTube
Note: Max Miller was great. I enjoyed the clips of him, but the puppet thing miming to some of his records was too distracting and creepy to be able to enjoy those routines.
Note: I couldn't find Episode 4 Arthur Haynes or Episode 5 Terry-Thomas. I really wanted to see the Terry-Thomas one!

2025-06-07
9. The Lady In Red (1979) tubi
10. The Bonnie Parker Story (1958) tubi
11. Goodbye, Norma Jean (1976) tubi

2025-06-08
12. The Cotton Club Encore (1984/2019) tubi
13. I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2009) tubi
14. Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story Of Charlie's Angels (2004) tubi

2025-06-14
15. Vampira And Me (2012) tubi

2025-06-15
16. Jane (1982) YouTube
Note: All 5 episodes of season 1, edited together as a movie.
17. In Search Of All American Massacre: The Lost Texas Chainsaw Film (2023) tubi

2025-06-18
18. Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976) YouTube
Haven’t seen this in decades. I couldn’t find the 1951 version starring Julie Harris. Is it lost?

2025 Historical Appreciation Challenge

1. Deadwood S2, Ep. 1 "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part I"
2. Deadwood S2, Ep. 2 "A Lie Agreed Upon, Part II"
3. Deadwood S2, Ep. 3 "New Money"
4. Deadwood S2, Ep. 4 "Requiem for a Gleet"
5. Deadwood S2, Ep. 5 "Complications"
6. Deadwood S2, Ep. 6 "Something Very Expensive"
7. Deadwood S2, Ep. 7 "E.B. Was Left Out"
8. Pee Wee as Himself, Part 1 (2025)
9. Pee Wee as Himself, Part 2 (2025)
10. Deadwood S2, Ep. 8 "Childish Things"
11. Deadwood S2, Ep. 9 "Amalgamation and Capital"
12. Deadwood S2, Ep. 10 "Advances, None Miraculous"
13. Deadwood S3, Ep. 1 "Tell Your God to Ready for Blood"
14. Deadwood S3, Ep. 2 "I Am Not the Fine Man You Take Me For"
15. Deadwood S3, Ep. 3 "True Colors"
16. Lonesome Dove Ep. 1 "Leaving"
17. Deadwood S3, Ep. 4 "Full Faith and Credit"
18. Deadwood S3, Ep. 5 "A Two-Headed Beast"
19. Lonesome Dove Ep. 2 "On the Trail"
20. Deadwood S3, Ep. 6 "A Rich Find"
21. Deadwood S3, Ep. 7 "Unauthorized Cinnamon"
22. Deadwood S3, Ep. 8 "Leviathan Smiles"
23. Deadwood S3, Ep. 9 "Amateur Night"
24. Deadwood S3, Ep. 10 "A Constant Throb"
25. Lonesome Dove Ep. 3 "The Plains"
26. Lonesome Dove Ep. 3 "Return"
27. Deadwood S3, Ep. 11 "The Catbird Seat"
28. Deadwood S3, Ep. 12 "Tell Him Something Pretty"
29. Deadwood: The Movie (2019)

1. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 1
2. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 2
3. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 3
4. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 4
5. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 5
6. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 6
7. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 7
8. Call the Midwife - Season 14, Episode 8
9. National Geographic - Lost on Everest
10. The Great Everest Mystery: What Really Happened to George Mallory
11. Surviving Ohio State (2025)

June 2
Decective Kien: The Headless Horror (2025, 131 minutes) ★★★★★ Crisp scenic period mystery that had a lot of twists because there's a lot going on. The pastoral folk vibe here is where it's at. It's a breezy mystery that introduces element after element and largely works but sometimes gets into tiresome. It lures us in with a bait and switch gnarly drowned ghost vibe that has some ripe visuals and then sort of goes nowhere with that while all sorts of other stuff happens, teasing in some ways. The stuff that we dont expect along the way is fun - there's a rich disappearance mystery that deepens and deepens. The Detective Kien guy is (intentionally) derivative of people like Sherlock Holmes (and other asian Detective folk) and sometimes generic or an obnoxious know it all who maneuvers the plot with little too out of the blue hints like finding a piece of wool. It's not quite a whodunit; using detective kung fu more as a plot vehicle in ways we are along for the ride but sometimes cheap. Overall I enjoyed it and hope to see the sequel soon; it works as a period hang out thriller with beautiful scenery and a zig zagging mystery. [Set in 19th Century Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam]

June 9
The Ritual (2025, 98 minutes) ★✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩ Subpar low production stuff with a routine plot - brace yourself for the docudrama. The historical basis here is probably fascinating but either doesnt come across or has been usurped by more intense fictional horror tropes into generalities. Exorcism films today really need to do something different to break the mold but Ritual seems to make a case that it is the mold. The acting here is pretty bad despite the names involved and it's blandly shot in a plain room. Al Pacino is a legend but not a good fit for a exorcist priest role due to type or age; he has an intense gaze but maybe plays it too casual. Dan Stevens can be formatible himself but I think it is the script that requires he give hammy looks and awkward wooden appearance to convey institutional formality or doubt; but it's not very engaging. The horrors are weak stuff without a lot of gore or imagery but a sparse stage like economy; it seems more focused on the limp character acting than visuals - some shots even have soft focus blurred backgrounds to emphasize the actors. It proceeds in the most predictable way, offers little of surprise, and is overly safe even for things that might be considered factual. [Based on 1920s exorcism documents]
Big Deal (2025, 104 minutes) ★★★★★1⁄2✩✩✩✩ Financial thriller about a dirty hostile takeover. Everyone here is a jerk to a point it feels satirical but cartoonishly shallow. There is a little heart under the surface with a few ambiguous turns, some charismatic characters, and a few preachy work life balance moments. "There are plenty of law firms that would gladly be our puppet." This seems more minded to entertain or paint financial complexities in broad strokes than to present a precise financial documentary autopsy to a point it makes some of the details seem suspicious. Its possible South Korea is so different from other systems the mechanics in the film feel a little off in America, and the film comments on ethics differences several times. Overall a decent time with some dramatic turns and a high brow enough financial plot. [Financial Crisis era]

June 13
The Unholy Trinity (2024, 95 minutes) ★★★★★★✩✩✩✩ Glorious Western with a clever after the fact intergenerational heist fallout. Pierce Brosnan steals the show as a sheriff who is cartoonish and cliche but earnest enough to be cool with game 'man in white' vibes. It gets more action oriented with siege elements and shootouts but for a while a lot is an echo of past violence and character. This helps muddy the intentions of the people in the film (are they now who others said they were) and doesn't waste too much time 'establishing character' because they come somewhat with biographies set. It's well shot but occassionally some production element looks less immersive. It's a film that balances grit with heart in an accessible way. [Western set in 1870s Montana]

June 15
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2024, 95 minutes) ★★★★★★★✩✩✩ An optimistic hurrah for humanity told in fantasy. Championing honor in the underworld and beyond with an epically magical near fairy tale approach to some grim stuff with a mean sleazy premise. As tasteless as the basis is it delivers a relatively wholesome bootstraps tale told lightly with some jest and not much smuttiness. It might even be a little too idealistic to a point it's tale of empowered prostitutes might seem unrealistic but it's the right kind of challenging. Im a sucker for the sort of epic pageantry here but it's mean when it wants to be and too easy other times - the ironic tragedy is rich but sometimes fake. Burdens are resolved less convincingly in the spirit of hero worship rather than relatable toil. Gangubai is a spirited girlboss who is fun to root for (she pulled this off only because she is awesome; not because the solution made sense). Sometimes it felt like the film shortchanged itself on dramatic chops and stopped shy of fearlessness by substituting charisma and magic for documentary minded realities of it's worthy premise. It seems like there is a kernel of basis for the movie that might seem biopic and I might have liked more hard reality to shine through. We are left without anything but the fluffiest feel good spin on whoring and rights issues, fist pumping pomp that works but it's told without a lot of depth of character and the counterpoints are cartooned away by exaggerations. Overall a fun time with a devilishly subversive premise and a lot of cool vintage whimsy. [Set in 1944 India]

June 24
1. Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything (2025)
2. Music by John Williams (2024)

Will post my meager entries when I find my notes