sign in sign up
<<
Home , David Strathairn, Djimon Hounsou, Edward James Olmos, Fredric March, Glynn Turman, Harold Russell

APUSH Movie List

The movie descriptions below are from .com. The descriptions and ratings are believed to be accurate. Make sure that you have your parents permission for view the movie that you have selected for your movie report.

www.moviemistakes.com www.filmsite.org

All Quiet on the Front (1930) Teenage German soldiers pass from idealism to despair in this deeply-felt movie version of 's anti-war novel. This Academy Award-winning film (including for Best Picture) was banned in countries going to war years after its release, and unlike most "message" films that date themselves almost immediately, director 's film has lost little of its original impact. Unrated.

All the President’s Men (1976) The film that launched a thousand journalism school students, All the President's Men chronicles how reporters Bob Woodward () and Carl Bernstein () brought down Richard M. Nixon. The duo connected a Washington, D.C., hotel break-in with a Nixon "dirty tricks" team assigned to discredit Democratic rivals. Director Alan J. Pakula ratchets up the tension (no small feat, as the outcome is assured). Rated PG.

Amistad (1997) directed this story about the 1839 revolt aboard Spanish slave ship and the uprising's tragic aftermath. An African-born slave () leads a mutiny against his brutal captors. Because the ship is in American waters, a U.S. court must decide the slaves' fate. In an eloquent courtroom speech, ex-president John Quincy Adams () argues for the Africans' freedom. Rated R.

The Atomic Cafe (1982) The Atomic Cafe recounts a defining period of history and serves as a chilling and often hilarious reminder of cold-war era paranoia in the , artfully presented through a collage of newsreel footage, government archives, military training films and fifties music. Not Rated.

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Winning seven (including Best Picture), this classic drama follows three World War II veterans as they return to small-town America. Homer (), Al () and Fred () are desolate as they try to come to terms with their experiences. Best Supporting Russell, a real veteran who lost his hands in the war, also won an Honorary Oscar "for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans." Unrated.

The Big Red One (1980) One of the great, unsung war films follows four comrades -- members of the 1st Infantry Division, aka -- from the invasion of North Africa onto Sicily, Normandy and to the liberation of the Nazi death camps. This autobiographical film from B-movie master (and 1st Infantry veteran) is alternately funny, absurd and deeply moving. , , Bobby Di Cicco, Kelly Ward and star. Rated R.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) Marine Ron Kovic ( in an Oscar-nominated performance) returns from Vietnam a quadraplegic. After months of hellish rehabilitation, he finds renewed purpose protesting the war he proudly fought. Born on the Fourth of July stands as the middle chapter in director 's Vietnam trilogy (preceded by Platoon and followed by Heaven & Earth). Rated R.

Casablanca (1942) As time goes by, this 1942 classic starring and (as Rick and Ilsa, star-crossed lovers who just aren't meant to be) only gets better. Of all the "gin joints" in Morocco, Ilsa, with husband Victor (Paul Henreid) in tow, had to walk into the one owned by Rick, a former beau she abandoned in Paris. War looms over them all, and in a much-discussed ending, Rick and Ilsa make heroic but heartbreaking choices. Rated PG.

Cinderella Man (2005) stars as pugilist Jim Braddock in this riveting biopic created by the Academy Award-winning team of producer , director and screenwriter . and searches for a soul mate. Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and (Hanks). Rated PG-13.

The Crucible (1996) Playwright 's parable of the anti-communist crusade (thinly veiled here as the Salem, Mass., witch trials of 1692) receives lush treatment in this 1996 film adaptation. After being spurned by her married lover (Daniel Day-Lewis), young Abigail Williams () stirs up a frenzy of hysteria and fear with accusations of witchcraft. (who won a BAFTA Award) and turn in strong supporting performances. Rated PG-13.

Dr. Strangelove (1964) In director 's blackly comedic send-up of the nuclear age, deranged American general Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) leads an attack against the Russians that sets the stage for Armageddon. In a series of virtuoso comic performances, plays an impotent U.S. president, a harried British captain and an ex-Nazi bomb maker. George C. Scott and also appear in this classic Oscar-nominated satire. Unrated.

Eight Men Out (1988) Adaptation of the 1919 major league baseball scandal involving the White Sox. A great sports drama that captures the disappointment of all associated with one of the worst occurrences in sports history. Rated PG.

El Norte (1983) Mayan Indian peasants, tired of being thought of as nothing more than "brazos fuertes" ("strong arms", i.e., manual laborers) and organizing in an effort to improve their lot in life, are discovered by the Guatemalan army. After the army destroys their village and family, a brother and sister, teenagers who just barely escaped the massacre, decide they must flee to "El Norte" ("the North", i.e., the USA). After receiving clandestine help from and humorous advice from a veteran immigrant on strategies for traveling through , they make their way by truck, bus and other means to , where they try to make a new life as young, uneducated, and illegal immigrants. Rating Unknown.

Failsafe (1964) Director transforms the doomsday scenario played for laughs in Dr. Strangelove into a taut thriller. When a computer glitch sends a bomber crew on a suicide , the U.S. president () agonizes over how to stop it. Will Fonda tell the Russians to shoot down the plane? Global thermonuclear war may hinge on his decision. Unrated.

Far and Away (1992) In Ron Howard's epic drama, two 19th century Irish immigrants make the journey to the United States together, but for very different reasons. Joseph Donelly (Tom Cruise) is a poor farmer who's lost everything, while Shannon Christie () is chafing against her privileged but stifling upbringing. Looking for land as they make their way west, they also find love as they endure a series of hardships that strengthens their relationship. Rated PG-13.

Freedom Song (2000) In this made-for-cable drama about the Civil Rights movement, unsung citizens risk their lives to bring change at the grassroots level. Set in a fictional Mississippi hamlet, the movie is based on eyewitness accounts of veteran activists who stood on history's frontlines and responded with and commitment to the challenge of equal rights for all Americans. The sterling cast includes , Glynn Turman and . Not Rated.

Forest Gump (1994) You'll never view the world the same way after seeing it through the eyes of Forrest Gump (), a simpleminded man who finds himself in the middle of nearly every major event of the and '70s. Along the way, he makes friends, changes lives and searches for a soul mate. Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Hanks). Rated PG-13.

Gangs of (2002) 's Oscar-nominated epic focuses on the rise of Irish and Italian gangs in New York in the mid-1800s. When the leader of the Dead Rabbits is assassinated, his son Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) seeks out the perpetrator, Bill "The Butcher" Poole (a magnificent Daniel Day-Lewis). Along the way he finds love with a street-smart thief (Cameron Diaz). Rated R.

Gettysburg (1993) The fiercest battle fought on American soil comes to the screen in a stunning production that painstakingly re-creates the events of three fateful days in July 1863. , , Martin Sheen and Richard Jordan play key roles in this magnificent epic (based on Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Killer Angels), which was filmed at actual battle locations and rigorously authenticated -- right down to the boots.. Rated PG.

Glory (1989) Loosely based on the letters of Col. Robert G. Shaw (Matthew Broderick), this Academy Award- winning follows the first group of African-Americans to serve in combat during the Civil War. The heroics of Shaw's Union Army regiment of black volunteers -- including fugitive slave Pvt. Trip (, in an Oscar-winning performance) and grave digger Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins () -- helps turn the tide of the war. Rated R.

Gods and Generals (2003) Director-producer Ron Maxwell mines America's history in this epic movie chronicling the Civil War's beginnings in 1861 to the tragic Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863 and the heroes who defended their honor on both fronts. is Gen. Robert E. Lee, who leads the Confederates; Jeff Daniels is Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Bowdoin College professor who fights for the Union army. Rated PG-13.

Good Night and Good Luck (2005) 's Oscar-nominated pits TV newsman Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) against Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his single-minded crusade to quell the red threat at home. Despite corporate pressure to back off, Murrow and his CBS staff are determined to examine the lies and fear tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his Communist witch-hunts. The impressive cast includes Robert Downey Jr., and Jeff Daniels. Rated PG.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940) Based on Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1939 novel, Grapes follows the Joad family's exodus from the Dustbowl to 's fruit harvest. Unrated.

The Green Berets (1968) Gung-ho Col. Mike Kirby () is leading his Green Berets on a mission to kidnap an enemy general during the . When a skeptical reporter accompanies them, the colonel and his team outline their reasons for participating in the war. Wayne co-directed this action-packed, hawkish film, which was surprisingly successful at the box office. The macho cast includes and . Rated G.

Guilty by Suspicion (1991) Suspected of Communist ties, movie director David () is told to name names in director Irwin Winkler's look at McCarthy-era . Once on top, Merrill finds that no one will hire him after he's blacklisted. The strain brings Merrill back together with his estranged wife (), but he must still appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee and respond to questions about his friend Bunny Baxter (George Wendt). Rated PG-13.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) and star as wealthy Californians who consider themselves progressive -- until their daughter brings home her black fiancé, . Produced in 1967, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner took on pointed subject matter (for its time). Watching Tracy's and Hepburn's characters struggle with prejudices they didn't know they had is a powerful metaphor for a society's long-overdue awakening. Unrated.

Heaven & Earth (1993) Fleeing the atrocities of the Viet Cong, Le Ly and her mother journey south to Saigon. Soon after, Le Ly becomes pregnant with her new master's child and begins selling her body to American soldiers to make ends meet. She then meets Steve Butler (), who convinces her to move back with him to the United States to start a better life. Rated R.

High Noon (1952) Retiring Marshall Will Kane () insists on defending his town from a gang of hooligans who are due on the noon train -- but he faces the task alone as the cowardly townspeople flee like rats from a sinking ship. Director creates an incredibly tense Western (rightly considered one of the true genre classics) that unfurls in real time -- as the clocks on the wall constantly remind us. Unrated.

In America (2002) Academy Award-winning director brings authenticity and to this heartwarming drama about an Irish family starting life anew in early- America. With their two daughters in tow, Johnny (Paddy Considine) and Sarah (Samantha Morton) leave Ireland and head to New York so Johnny can pursue an acting career. What follows is a series of adventures, both comical and terrifying, as they struggle to make the most of their new life. Rated PG-13.

Inherit the Wind (1960) Spencer Tracy (in one of his best roles) as lawyer Henry Drummond and Frederic March as Matthew Harrison Brady square off as opposing attorneys in this blistering courtroom drama about the famed "Scopes Monkey Trial," where a Tennessee teacher was taken to task for teaching Darwinism in the schoolroom. Song-and-dance man co-stars as newspaper reporter H.L. Mencken. Unrated.

Iron Jawed Angels (2004) From 1912 to 1920, a group of fiery young suffragettes led by Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O'Connor) band together to wheedle the United States into adapting a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. Along the way, they incur the wrath of President Woodrow Wilson (Bob Gunton) and anger other suffragette leaders ( and ). Directed by Katja von Garnier. Not Rated.

Jarhead (2005) Cpl. Anthony "Swoff" Swofford () endures the worst of war in this drama based on ex-Marine Anthony Swofford's biting memoirs about Operation Desert Storm. Swoff, his mercenary mentor, Troy (Peter Saarsgard), and the rest of the unit resort to cynicism and caustic humor in order to deal with the unbearable heat, dangerous missions and uncertain war. Oscar winner co-stars as Sgt. Sykes. Rated R.

JFK (1991) Oliver Stone's fascinating movie is part deconstruction, part re-creation and part history lesson all wrapped up in one. One of America's most enigmatic and mythical presidents, John F. Kennedy, is assassinated in Dallas, and a lone gunman, Lee Oswald, takes the fall. But was he acting alone when he shot JFK from the Book Depository? Rated R.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) Set against the backdrop of the American frontier, a story of war and romance unfolds as the battle for the colonies is underway. Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his adoptive Mohican brethren join a group of British soldiers in an effort to defeat the French and win control of the territories. The lovely daughter of a British officer (Madeleine Stowe) captures Hawkeye's heart as he continues to fight for the land in the name of his people. Rated R.

Malcolm X (1992) Director 's Oscar-nominated drama illuminates the life of civil rights leader Malcolm X (Denzel Washington), following him from his early days as a prison-bound gangster to his conversion to Islam, marriage to Betty Shabazz (Angela Bassett) and discovery of the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Mohammad (Al Freeman Jr.). When Malcolm turns his back on the Nation of Islam (following a pilgrimage to Mecca), he becomes a murder target. Rated PG-13.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) Some thrillers remain as suspenseful -- and timely -- as when they were first released. Raymond Shaw () is a hero with a lethal secret: He's been brainwashed into being a sleeper agent for the communist Chinese. With one phone call, the Reds can transform Shaw into a deadly assassin -- unless fellow veteran Bennett Marco () can stop them first! Rated PG-13.

The Manchurian Candidate (2004) In this remake of the 1962 political thriller, Capt. Bennett Marco (Denzel Washington) and Sgt. Raymond Shaw () are taken captive during the first Persian Gulf War and brainwashed so that they're programmed to rebel once they return home. Ten years later, as Shaw's mother () is busy helping her son in his bid for the presidency, Marco recalls the brainwashing. Can he get to Shaw before it's too late? Rated R.

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) After serving as an Army captain in World War II, Tom Rath () returns home a changed man. But 10 years later, with her eyes on a nicer house and a better life, his wife () is still longing for the go-getter she once knew. To make her happy, Tom takes a high-paying PR job with a Madison Avenue . But his memories of the past -- and his discomfort with the present -- make it difficult to embrace the future. Unrated.

M.A.S.H (1970) Director 's thinly veiled Vietnam War satire is indicative of when the spirit of the went mainstream, with Elliot Gould, and as Army doctors fighting military insanity and healing wounded soldiers during the Korean War. Featuring an Oscar-winning score and standout work from a huge ensemble cast (including Robert Duvall and Sally Kellerman), M*A*S*H is a masterpiece of '70s cinema. Rated R. (1987) Well-intentioned labor leader Joe Kenehan () arrives in Matewan, West Virginia, intending to unionize the men and women of this company town. But his efforts to organize the workers of the Stone Mountain Coal Company ignite a powder keg of racial hostility, corruption and betrayal -- and touch off one of the most violent incidents in the history of the Coal Wars of 1920-21. Rated PG-13.

Memphis Belle (1990) A U.S. bomber plane's crew is ordered to hit a heavily defended German city. Capt. Dearborn () leads his men into battle while their commander and a public relations officer () anxiously await the squad's return. Amid friction between the captain and his co- (Tate Donovan), a scandal erupts when it's learned that a medical officer has been dishonest. Based on the real-life World War II plane's final mission. Rated PG-13.

The Missiles of October (1973) A dramatic re-creation of the events of October 1962, which culminated in the Cuban Missile Crisis. This Golden Laurel award-winning dramatization is based on all available historical records. Not Rated.

Mississippi Burning (1988) When three civil rights workers disappear in 1964 Mississippi, two FBI agents ( and ) with wildly divergent styles resort to increasingly violent tactics to apprehend the culprit Ku Klux Klan. Crucial to the case is the testimony of a beautician (Frances McDormand) who's struggling to break free from the racist influence of her husband (Brad Dourif). Director 's fact-based drama received seven Oscar nominations. Rated R.

Modern Times (1936) The Little Tramp battles it out with technology, unemployment, jail, burglars, demanding customers and more in this classic film. He wins some and loses more and in the end walks undaunted into the sunrise. Known as Chaplin's last , Modern Times is actually anything but -- from the opening notes of the rich score to the first and last time the star's voice is heard, the film speaks with a clear, well-rounded voice that still resonates. Rated G.

My Family (1995) produced this sprawling immigrant saga that tells the stories of three generations of the Sanchez family as they migrate to California during the , weather the Depression and a world war and look to the future. Lured by the promise of the "American Dream," patriarch Jimmy Sanchez (Edward James Olmos) begins the saga by emigrating from revolutionary Mexico to East Los Angeles. Rated R.

The New World (2005) Set in 1607 at the founding of the Jamestown Settlement, Terrence Malick's epic adventure chronicles the extraordinary actions of explorer () and Native American princess Pocahontas (Q'Orianka Kilcher). As English settlers and Native Americans clash, Smith and Pocahontas find their worlds colliding and their hearts entwined, but ancestral loyalty may tear them apart. and co-star. Rated PG-13. Norma Rae (1979) In an Oscar-winning performance, is unforgettable as Norma Rae, the Southern millworker who revolutionizes a small town and discovers a power in herself she never knew she had. Under the guidance of a New York unionizer () and with increasing courage and determination, Norma Rae organizes her fellow factory workers to fight for better conditions and wages. Rated PG.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) Three convicts (George Clooney, and Tim Blake Nelson) break out of jail during the 1930s with an eye toward retrieving a cache of hidden money. Along the way, they fast-talk their way out of jams, sidestep alluring riverside sirens and record a hit country song. O Brother is a rollicking romp in the tradition of and 's "road" pictures. Rated PG- 13.

The Patriot (2000) Widower Benjamin Martin () wants nothing more than to live in peace and farm his land. But when a cruel British officer (Jason Isaacs) brings the American Revolution to Benjamin's door and threatens what he cherishes most, the former war hero is forced to take action. With the help of his son (), Benjamin becomes a feared militia leader. But before he can defeat the British, he must win a battle within himself. Rated R.

Patton (1970) Gen. George S. Patton (George C. Scott) earned the nickname "Blood and Guts" for his determination on the battlefield. This epic-scale production follows the commander as he guides his troops across Africa and Europe, illuminating a man whose life was defined by war. Director Franklin J. Schaffner's multiple Oscar winner is a character study masquerading as a World War II film, with astonishing combat scenes and reflection on Patton's inner life. Rated PG.

Pearl Harbor (2001) The is told through the eyes of pilots/friends Rafe () and Danny (Josh Hartnett). Before America enters the war, Rafe volunteers in Europe, where he gets shot down and is presumed dead. When he returns, he finds Danny in love with his ex (Kate Beckinsale). Through the turmoil of Pearl Harbor, the two try to resolve their differences. Rated PG-13.

Platoon (1986) A young, untested soldier () steps off a troop transport in Vietnam and quickly learns that the first casualty of war is innocence. Writer-director Oliver Stone put himself on the Hollywood map (and won several Academy Awards) with this autobiographical account of his own tumultuous tour of duty in Vietnam. Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe excel as battle- hardened sergeants who offer Sheen starkly differing role models. Rated R.

Pleasantville (1998) What happens when a brother (Tobey Maguire) and sister () time-travel to the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV with a perfect mom (Joan Allen) and dad (William H. Macy)? They find the "perfect" world has imperfections. This delicate fable with heart examines in a rich, thoughtful way our collective nostalgia for days of apple pie and peace that perhaps never existed. Rated PG-13.

Ragtime (1981) Director Milos Forman takes on E.L. Doctorow novel's about class, prejudice and politics in turn-of-the-century New York. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, it charts the course followed by Tateh (), a Jewish man who wants to be a filmmaker; the disintegration of a marriage between a white couple (James Olson and ); a love affair between a black pianist (Howard E. Rollins) and a young black woman; and more. Rated PG.

The Red Badge of Courage (1951) 's classic film adaptation of the 1895 Stephen Crane novel, set against the backdrop of the , ponders the feelings of anxiety and finally outright fear in a boy preparing for battle. Henry (Audie Murphy) begins losing his illusions of heroism during his first skirmish, and after witnessing his friend's death and receiving an accidental wound from a retreating soldier, he comes to terms with the realities of warfare. Not Rated.

The Road to Wellville (1994) Based on T. Coraghessan Boyle's best-selling novel satirizing late-19th century health fads. Will and Eleanor Lightbody (Matthew Broderick and Bridget Fonda), guests at cereal mogul Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's (Anthony Hopkins) health spa, are forced to undergo an array of hilariously absurd medical treatments. Meanwhile, a con artist (John Cusack) and Kellogg's adopted son (Dana Carvey) plot to steal the doctor's coveted corn flake recipe. Rated R.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain Tom Hanks and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home. Steven Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski paint a harrowing picture of the price of war and heroism -- one that netted them Oscars for Best Director and Best Cinematography, respectively. Rated R.

Schindler’s List (1993) Steven Spielberg's Holocaust epic won seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and is an unforgettable testament to the possibility of human goodness. Greedy factory owner Oskar Schindler () was exploiting cheap Jewish labor, but in the midst of WWII became an unlikely humanitarian, losing his fortune by helping to save 1,100 Jews from Auschwitz. Rated R.

Separate but Equal (1991) The dazzling Sidney Poitier stars as the equally dazzling legal mind Thurgood Marshall in this made-for-TV film that garnered seven Emmy nominations. Dramatizing the NAACP, pre- Supreme Court fight that changed the face of education, the movie follows Marshall as he takes on John W. Davis () in Brown vs. Board of Education and battles to desegregate schools. Rated PG.

1776 (1972) 's Pultizer Prize-winning musical (starring much of the original Broadway cast) about the internecine congressional squabbling that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence makes a glorious transition to the big screen. is John Adams, is a statuesque Thomas Jefferson, and is hilarious as wit-cracker Ben Franklin. A very funny -- and poignant -- history lesson with a great score. Rated G.

The ‘70s (2000) Four friends, fresh from tragedy at Kent Sate, graduate from college and begin their adult lives during the turbulent 1970s. But Dexter (Guy Torry), Eileen (Vinessa Shaw), Byron (Brad Rowe) and Christie (Amy Smart) find their paths are heading in different directions -- toward the Black Panthers, the feminist movement, the Watergate Scandal and the Hustle. Directed by Peter Werner, this poignant television miniseries originally aired on NBC. Not Rated.

The ‘60s (1999) Two families struggle through the turbulent political and social events of the 1960s. Brian Herlihy (Jerry O'Connell) fights in Vietnam while brother Michael (Josh ) becomes involved in the civil rights movement and sister Katie (Julia Stiles) gets pregnant and moves to a commune. Meanwhile, Emmet Taylor (Leonard Roberts) becomes a member of the Black Panthers after his minister father (Charles S. Dutton) gets killed. Not Rated.

Solomon Northup’s Odyssey (1984) Based on the autobiography Twelve Years a Slave, this gripping drama tells the true story of Solomon Northup (Avery Brooks), a black man living in Washington, D.C., in the mid-19th century. Northup, born a free man, works as a carpenter and musician. But one day in 1841, he's kidnapped by a Louisiana slave owner and forced into . Northup spends a dozen years enduring harrowing hardships, while his family desperately searches for him. Not Rated.

Thirteen Days (2000) When a nuclear missile presence rapidly escalates in Cuba, President Kennedy () attempts to curb the threat with help from his aides (including ) and generals. After assessing the situation, they quickly realize the Soviets could launch offensive warheads at any moment. Based on historical events, Thirteen Days is a gripping reenactment of a time when the world's fate hung by a thread. Rated PG-13.

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) Named for the Japanese phrase that signals the start of an attack, Tora! Tora! Tora! tells both the American and Japanese versions of the infamous attack that catapulted the United States into World War II. The film reveals mistakes made by both governments, which added to the confusion and culminated in the harrowing bombing of Hawaii's Pearl Harbor. Spectacular battle scenes earned the film an Oscar for best special effects. Rated G.

A Tree Grows in (1945) Set in the early 1900s, 's first film centers on a poor Brooklyn family struggling not only to survive, but to improve their meager existence. Young Francie () worships her father, Johnny (), despite his alcoholism; mother Katie (Dorothy McGuire) holds the family together; and an impetuous aunt () keeps everyone on their toes. James Dunn and Peggy Ann Garner both won Oscars for their performances. Unrated.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1927) Depicting the realities of slavery while lamenting the passage of an idealized South, this 1927 movie adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's famed novel was one of the most expensive films of the silent era. James B. Lowe delivers a sensitive performance as Uncle Tom, while black and white bring to life the roles of Eliza, Eva and George. George Siegmann is chilling as the villainous Simon Legree. Unrated.

War Games (1983) After he cracks the security of an Air Force supercomputer, young hacker David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) accidentally tells it to start preparing a preemptive nuclear strike. Combining paranoia with adolescent adventure, director 's techno-thriller follows Lightman and girlfriend Jennifer (Ally Sheedy) as they travel across the country to try and warn the military of the impending launch. Rated PG.