Top Rated History Movies on Kanopy - Page 28

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective

1994

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective

1994
7
Documentary film focuses on the Civil Rights leader's many groundbreaking accomplishments. Footage covers Dr. King's war on poverty and his staunch opposition to the Vietnam War. Also included is his stirring "I Have a Dream" speech.
Militainment, Inc.: Militarism & Pop Culture

2007

Militainment, Inc.: Militarism & Pop Culture

2007
7.8
Militainment, Inc. offers a fascinating, disturbing, and timely glimpse into the militarization of American popular culture, examining how U.S. news coverage has come to resemble Hollywood film, video games, and "reality television" in its glamorization of war. Mobilizing an astonishing range of media examples - from news anchors' idolatry of military machinery to the impact of government propaganda on war reporting - the film asks: How has war taken its place in the culture as an entertainment spectacle? And how does presenting war as entertainment affect the ability of citizens to evaluate the necessity and real human costs of military action?
The Life and Death of King John

1984

The Life and Death of King John

1984
7
The reign of England's King John is threatened by Philip of France who demands that John's nephew Arthur be placed on the throne. Pragmatic and decisive, King John moves to plactate the French, but there are others who seek disputre his authority.
Libby, Montana

2004

Libby, Montana

2004
3.8
Nestled below the rugged peaks of the Northern Rockies and along the crystal-clear Kootenai River lies the small logging town of Libby, Montana - an ironic setting for a town where many hundreds of people are sick or have already died from asbestos exposure.
Henry VI Part 1

1983

Henry VI Part 1

1983
7.5
The life of King Henry the Sixth, in three parts.
The Dunera Boys

1985

The Dunera Boys

1985
6
At the start of WWII the British Government decided to arrest all Germans in the UK no matter how long they had been there. Among those arrested were many Jewish refugees and many who were fully assimilated. This film records the story of a group who were sent to a POW camp in Australia aboard the Dunera.
The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy

2006

The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy

2006
4.5
Explore America’s darkest period: President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma in 1838. Nearly a quarter of the Cherokee National died during the Trail of Tears, arriving in Indian Territory with few elders and even fewer children.
One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern

2005

One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern

2005
6.5
ONE BRIGHT SHINING MOMENT retraces George McGovern's bold presidential campaign of 1972 - a grassroots campaign that fought for peace and justice, and positioned ideas and people first. But what is remembered today as being the ultimate political defeat of the American Century may also have been its high watermark. The film poses this central question: what does the crushing electoral defeat of a man so well respected for his decency and intellect say about the electoral process, the American government, and more importantly, what does it say about the forces at work on the American people- then and now? Featuring interviews with the candidate himself, supporters and activists like Gore Vidal, Gloria Steinem, Warren Beatty, Howard Zinn, and music from Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Donovan, and Elvis Costello.
Proteus: A Nineteenth Century Vision

2004

Proteus: A Nineteenth Century Vision

2004
4
The animated documentary Proteus explores the nineteenth century's engagement with the undersea world through science, technology, painting, poetry and myth. The central figure of the film is biologist and artist Ernst Haeckel, who found in the depths of the sea an ecstatic and visionary fusion of science and art.
Flood in the Desert

2022

Flood in the Desert

2022
10
Explore the 1928 collapse of the St. Francis Dam, the second deadliest disaster in California history. A colossal engineering and human failure, the dam was built by William Mulholland, a self-taught engineer who ensured the growth of Los Angeles by bringing the city water via aqueduct. The catastrophe killed more than 400 people and destroyed millions of dollars of property.
Elton John: A Life in Song

2020

Elton John: A Life in Song

2020
10
Elton John's career has spanned decades, but his legacy is more than just his music. Reginald Dwight's early debut was in the band Bluesology - there he would meet lyricist Bernie Taupin whom he would go on to write over 30 albums with. After parting ways with the band and his birth name, the Rocketman was born.
Flying Supersonic

2018

Flying Supersonic

2018
8
Thundering across the sky on elegant white wings, the Concorde was an instant legend. But behind the glamour of jet setting at Mach 2 were stunning scientific innovations and political intrigue. Fifteen years after Concorde's final flight, this documentary takes you inside the historic international race to develop the first supersonic airliner. Hear stories from those inside the choreographed effort to design and build Concorde in two countries at once - and the crew members who flew her.
The Codebreaker

2021

The Codebreaker

2021
7
Discover the fascinating story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, the groundbreaking cryptanalyst who helped bring down gangsters and break up a Nazi spy ring in South America. Her work helped lay the foundation for modern codebreaking today.
Nazi Art Thieves

2017

Nazi Art Thieves

2017
7
This film examines the mechanisms of Nazi extortion during World War II, and is interspersed with current issues surrounding restitutions. It retraces the incredible stories of 3 major works having belonged to Jewish collectors. From their plundering by the Nazis to their final restitution: Man with a Guitar by Georges Braque, Herbstsonne by Egon Schiele and Sitting Woman by Henri Matisse.
Albert Einstein: Still a Revolutionary

2020

Albert Einstein: Still a Revolutionary

2020
6
Using a wealth of rarely-seen archival footage, correspondence, and new and illuminating interviews, Julia Newman makes the case that Albert Einstein's example of social and political activism is as important today as are his brilliant, groundbreaking theories.
Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip

2020

Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip

2020
10
The life and times of radio commentator and syndicated newspaper gossip columnist Walter Winchell, who reached an audience of 50 million at his peak.
Liberty & Slavery

2016

Liberty & Slavery

2016
5
America's Founding Fathers were yearning for a nation of individual liberty. But, the origins of America were overflowing with a deep-seated paradox. The Founding Fathers were rallying the colonists to liberty, while many were slave owners.
House of Life: A Jewish Cemetary in Prague

2008

House of Life: A Jewish Cemetary in Prague

2008
7
A deep dive documentary into the history of the Old Jewish Cemetery of Prague.
Man In The Arena

2020

Man In The Arena

2020
9
Man in the Arena is a feature-length documentary film exploring the life and accomplishments of media icon and political strategist Roger Ailes. Long before founding FOX News, Roger Ailes was an Emmy Award winning producer, director, documentarian, sought-after corporate consultant, and top political strategist. Many know of Ailes and his association with FOX, but few know how he got there, his work electing three presidents, or his pioneering mastery of television production and broadcasting.
Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution

2020

Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution

2020
8
A documentary chronicling the role of Black heroism in America's Revolutionary War.