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The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

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Old 05-30-25 | 09:46 AM
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The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025


presents
The Sixteenth Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge




| Challenge starts on May 30 and ends at sunrise July 7 |

This is the 16th annual historical appreciation discussion thread.


| LIST THREAD |

| 2024 discussion thread |
| 2024 list thread
| 2023 discussion thread |
| 2023 list thread |
| 2022 discussion thread |
| 2022 list thread |
| 2021 discussion thread |
| 2021 list thread |
| 2020 discussion thread |
| 2020 list thread |
(lotsa stuff in between)2010 Discussion | 2010 Lists
2011 Discussion | 2011 Lists
2012 Discussion | 2012 Lists
2013 Discussion | 2013 Lists
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 Trravis' original checklists if you're so inclined:
Spoiler:
CHECKLIST

GENERAL
WHEN
Watch a film that takes place during five different centuries prior to the 20th Century (Note Century of setting):
--- Movie 1 (Century)
--- Movie 2 (Century)
--- Movie 3 (Century)
--- Movie 4 (Century)
--- Movie 5 (Century)

WHERE
Watch 5 movies about historical events of different countries (Note Country of setting).
--- Movie 1 (Country)
--- Movie 2 (Country)
--- Movie 3 (Country)
--- Movie 4 (Country)
--- Movie 5 (Country)

WHO _/10
Watch at least five of the ten following subcategories:

FOLKLORE & FAITH
--- Film about prehistory
--- Film about the mythology of Antiquity (i.e., Greek gods, dramatization of Homeric poems, etc.)
--- Film about religious history (based on either recorded historical events or fables arising from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc.)
--- Film about a folk hero
--- Film about either the Humanities (fine arts) or Sports figure/event

HEY, THEY WERE THERE, TOO!: A LOOK AT MARGINALIZED PEOPLES
(Focus on prominent figures from history and/or depictions of their minority group's oppression, etc.)
--- Film about Women's History
--- Film about Race Relations
--- Film about the LGBTQ Community
--- Film about Religious Minority
--- Film about Immigrants

TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY
--- Watch at least two movies about the same person/event where each movie is from a different perspective (1/2)
--- Watch at least two movies about the same person/event where each movie is from a different perspective (2/2)

WAR _/10
Watch at least five of the following ten War subcategories:

--- Anti-War film
--- Military Comedy
--- Prisoner of War/Escape film
--- Resistance Movement/Civilians film
--- Submarine film
--- War Spy
--- War film that was produced *during* that war
--- Film about war criminals
--- Film about veterans after the war (framing a "flashback" film doesn't count, so no Saving Private Ryan for this one)
--- Wartime propaganda film OR a film produced by the military

WESTERN _/10
Watch at least five of these ten Western subcategories:

--- The Union Pacific story. (The plot concerns construction of a railroad, a telegraph line, or some other type of modern technology or transportation.) Wagon train stories probably fall into this category.
--- The ranch story. (The plot concerns threats to the ranch from rustlers or large landowners attempting to force out the proper owners.)
--- The empire story. (The plot might involve building up a ranch empire or an oil empire from scratch, a classic rags-to-riches plot.)
--- The revenge story. (The plot often involves an elaborate chase and pursuit, but it may also include elements of the classic mystery story.)
--- The cavalry and Indian story. (The plot revolves around taming the wilderness for white settlers.)
--- The outlaw story. (The outlaw gangs dominate the action.)
--- The marshal story. (The lawman and his challenges drive the plot.)
--- "Export Western" - a Western not actually set in America. There have been numerous Westerns set in Australia, for instance. Samurai films could count for this, too, given the relationship between the two genres.
--- Western movie with a direct connection to a TV show, since Westerns were part of TV's golden age before the Space Generation
--- Neo-Western (i.e., a Western set in more contemporary times, to demonstrate the genre is still alive)

ZEITGEIST WILD CARDS
Because an argument can be made that some movies which fall outside the "obvious" scope of our challenge really are consistent with its spirit, you're permitted to watch and check off up to three optional movies of your choice.
--- Zeitgeist Wild Card #1
--- Zeitgeist Wild Card #2
--- Zeitgeist Wild Card #3

Last edited by davidh777; 05-30-25 at 09:54 AM.
Old 05-30-25 | 09:47 AM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Reserved
Old 05-30-25 | 11:45 AM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Think I'll participate this year. Don't know if I'll manage one a day, but at least one or two a week, for sure.
Old 05-30-25 | 06:13 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Does something like Deadwood count for this challenge?
Old 06-04-25 | 11:32 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Originally Posted by Fist of Doom Jr
Does something like Deadwood count for this challenge?
I'm not an authority, but I have counted all westerns and period pieces in the past.

On a whim, I watched The Eddy Duchin Story which I purchased during a Twilight Time sale, mostly because it stars Tyrone Power and KIm Novak. I'm not a huge fan of biopics about musicians, but this one mixed things up with some very effective melodrama. The ending scene is so sad and beautiful that I was in tears. Power is too old to play the character - especially in the early scenes - but you cannot deny his star power. Novak plays Duchin's first wife, and she's incredible. She's also distractingly beautiful in costumes designed by Jean Louis. I looked the film up on Wikipedia, and Eddy Duchin's son has criticized how much the script deviated from the facts of his parents' lives.
Old 06-04-25 | 11:50 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Deadwood is set in the 19th century and absolutely counts.
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Old 06-05-25 | 09:46 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Originally Posted by davidh777
Deadwood is set in the 19th century and absolutely counts.
Cool beans! I figured it qualified, but wanted to make sure before I started a list.
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Old 06-08-25 | 12:11 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Picking off a few things in my watch queue:

Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) is a gorgeously shot adaptation of a Thomas Hardy novel. Way back in my college days, I was really into Hardy, so I dug it, and it wasn't even as much of a downer as his later novels.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare started out as the kind of military caper I love, but the third act kinda lost steam. They spent a lot of time mowing down Nazis, which I'm always in favor of, but the objective changed, and that didn't work as well for me. However, it was based on a true story, so I guess I should blame history.

Hitchcock (2012) was a look at how Hitch (Anthony Hopkins) fought Paramount to film Psycho. I've seen a ton of Hitchcock films but didn't know some of this behind-the-scenes stuff.

I started the 2023 Three Musketeers. It looks good but I'm so familiar with the story. I'll keep watching but am not entranced.
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Old 06-18-25 | 08:21 AM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

I watched Ambush at Cimarron Pass yesterday. 1958. It features a young and upcoming actor named Clint Eastwood. It was strange watching this movie because at times Clint was referred to as " kid " or along those lines. This was strange because as of present times Clint is about 95 years old today. I bought this bluray a few years ago as a blind buy. It's not outstanding but it has presented me with multiple views that have not disappointed. I'm glad to have bought it.
Old 06-18-25 | 11:49 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Me watching Three Musketeers and all the swashbuckling, with occasional pistols: Hey, I didn't know they had firearms in the days of the musket... never mind.

After I watched the French 2023 version, I rewatched the 2011 Logan Lerman/Milla Jovovich steampunk one. Pretty silly. I then dipped into the most familiar one for me, Richard Lester's 1974 version with Michael York, Richard Chamberlain, Raquel Welch, etc. I have it on Vudu, but oddly the service doesn't offer the sequel.

I also watched the Brian Wilson biopic, Love and Mercy, which was pretty good. They use two different actors, including John Cusack, for two different phases of Wilson's life.
Old 06-19-25 | 06:31 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Originally Posted by davidh777
M

After I watched the French 2023 version, I rewatched the 2011 Logan Lerman/Milla Jovovich steampunk one. Pretty silly. I then dipped into the most familiar one for me, Richard Lester's 1974 version with Michael York, Richard Chamberlain, Raquel Welch, etc. I have it on Vudu, but oddly the service doesn't offer the sequel.
I have the 2023 version. It started out good on the first volume, then I thought it lacked a bit on the 2nd volume. The 1974 version with Michael York I really like. There's a new Critenton? (spelling), that was just released that I would like to buy. It has the sequel in with it. It's a bit expensive, but maybe some day.
Old 06-20-25 | 02:18 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Originally Posted by JOE29
I have the 2023 version. It started out good on the first volume, then I thought it lacked a bit on the 2nd volume. The 1974 version with Michael York I really like. There's a new Critenton? (spelling), that was just released that I would like to buy. It has the sequel in with it. It's a bit expensive, but maybe some day.
Hmm, I’ve been shopping for a gift for my dad, and I originally saw the Lester movies with my parents, so the Criterion is a great idea. Thanks!
Old 06-30-25 | 12:36 AM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Here's a non-exhaustive list of movies that meet the criteria for tonight's window of double count.
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.
  • Assassin's Creed (2016)
  • Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
  • Predestination (2014)
  • Retroactive (1997)
  • Tenet (2020)
  • Time After Time (1979)
  • Time Bandits (1981)
  • Time Cop (1994)
  • Totally Killer (2023)

Last edited by coyoteblue; 06-30-25 at 02:16 AM.
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Old 06-30-25 | 06:42 AM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

^ Piggybacking. As far as tv series, don't ignore The Time Tunnel. I'd say that at least 75% of the episodes were traveling to the past.
Old 06-30-25 | 08:56 AM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Originally Posted by davidh777
Hmm, I’ve been shopping for a gift for my dad, and I originally saw the Lester movies with my parents, so the Criterion is a great idea. Thanks!
Great. Glad that I could help.
Old 06-30-25 | 04:30 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

I saw a couple stage musicals that seemed appropriate. Always... Patsy Cline was a reenactment of an occasion where Cline met and befriended a fan. Mostly an excuse to sing Cline songs, but the story was funny too. The 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie isn't a period piece, but it really captures the zeitgeist of the '50s, with an Elvis figure, an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, landlines, and the shriners all playing a part.

Originally Posted by JOE29
Great. Glad that I could help.
I'll probably buy it for myself at some point
Old 07-04-25 | 06:43 PM
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Re: The 16th Annual Historical Appreciation *Discussion Thread* May 30-July 6, 2025

Originally Posted by davidh777
I saw a couple stage musicals that seemed appropriate. Always... Patsy Cline was a reenactment of an occasion where Cline met and befriended a fan. Mostly an excuse to sing Cline songs, but the story was funny too. The 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie isn't a period piece, but it really captures the zeitgeist of the '50s, with an Elvis figure, an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, landlines, and the shriners all playing a part.



I'll probably buy it for myself at some point
Good. It's well worth it.

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