http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/ The American Film Co. - Discussion Comments Feed - The Best American History Movies NEVER Made en-us Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:02:16 -0500 info@americanfilmco.com http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-710 The overthrow of the last Queen of Hawaii, Lililukolani would be wonderful to see come to life on the big screen. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:12:04 -0500 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-710 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-707 Stephen Decatur really showed us really cool stuff. The American Film Company experienced some much of different type of movies.Its itself a complete history . Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:11:42 -0500 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-707 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-706 There have been numerous movies made on the Alamo. The Goliad Massacre in my opinion is a more interesting story. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:11:00 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-706 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-698 One of the most fascinating stories in our country's history is the the story of the Hunley. The story has drama, intrigue, romance, etc. something for everyone. A movie was made on the topic before the Hunley was recovered. So much has been learned since the recovery and yet very little has been made known. I think a movie about the Hunley would be very interesting, exciting and educational. The legend of the gold coin; the crewmen that volunteered to man the Hunley after several other crews died in it; the design and construction beyond it's time; what caused it to sink the last time? Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:10:02 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-698 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-696 The gray ghost John Mosby and the Mosby Raiders. I don't think the confederates stood a chance in the war without him. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:10:14 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-696 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-694 There are so many powerful, compelling stories in our American history that would make fascinating movies. However, like "The Conspirator", they are expensive to make and there is not a huge audience for them. The solution is making American history a much more important part of our society, especially in schools. If schools, businesses, and government would emphasize the people and events that have made our country what it is, and would integrate our history in our every day lives, people's knowledge and appreciation would be greatly expanded. America can't be taken for granted and, most certainly, we must re-commit to its original vision at every opportunity. Movies are one of the most powerful mediums to convey what it took for us to get where we are. We must do everything we can to keep America's history in front of the people. These movies can't be made unless we get the support out there to see them. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:10:51 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-694 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-680 One movie that needs to see the light of day is the Barbary Wars: Stephen Decatur's heroic raid on the captured Philadelphia warship, and "General" William Eaton's ragtag army in Derna (Libya). There are two scripts out there for Eaton, neither of which have gone into production. There is also a horribly cheesy and inaccurate 1950's flick. Not sure if there is anything out there for Decatur. It's a shame that dozens of cities and streets are named after Decatur, and yet few Americans know why. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:10:26 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-680 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-679 I have always wanted to see a film about the Fly Girls. I'm not sure if it would work but a movie about Kent State would be fascinating in my opinion. I would also love to see to see a movie made about the Freedom Riders or the Greensboro sit ins. Jane Addams has always been interesting to me, as has Amiee Semple McPherson. The story of the Manhattan Project as told from Oppenheimer's point of view or one of the residents of Oak Ridge would be neat. Japanese internment during WWII could be a powerful topic for a movie. My friend, also a history teacher, believes the Scopes Monkey Trial would be an excellent topic. I like the idea of a movie about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. The Mayflower is an excellent topic as well. I would enjoy seeing a movie about the Sea Island experiments before the end of the Civil War. The Reconstruction Era is really interesting to me, whether it's Marshall Twitchell and the Freedmen's Bureau or Kate Stone and ruined plantations. A movie about the Exodusters might be interesting. I would like to see a really good Salem Witch Trials movie. The My Lai massacre would be riveting. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:10:34 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-679 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-644 More suggestions... The Cleveland Torso Murderer also known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run was a serial killer in Cleveland, Ohio who was never caught during the years of 1936-38. Most victims were never identified and their heads and limbs were normally chopped off and missing. The victims were working poor who lived in shantytowns. Mr. "Untouchable" himself Eliot Ness was the Public safety Director of Cleveland during the time and he led the manhunt unsucessfully stuck in a web of partizan local politics, his marriage falling apart, and the ultimate prohibation agent was starting to become a drunk. Failing to catch the serial killer was Ness's greatest failure, though he did find a man, a retired army doctor who he suspected of being the killer but did not have enough edvidence to bring him to trial. The Retired Army Doctor was related to Ness's political opponents and also checked himself into an insane asylum thus making him "Untoucheable" Ness and his family would be taunted by the insane doctor through the mail as late as the 1950's until Eliot Ness's untimely death by heart attack in 1954. John Wesley Hardin= With over 40 notches in his gun he is the deadliest gun in the Old West, a misunderstood Southerner from a good family gone wrong type. He has long been neglected in film and nobody has played him since Rock Hudson. Even the great "Wild" Bill Hicock allegedly backed down from fighting him allegedly. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:08:08 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-644 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-643 U.S. Cavalry movies used to be a healthy western sub-genre and today seems to be neglected even with straight to dvd low budget westerns. A Custer biopic is an always obvious. I bemoan the fact the version with Brad Pitt signed to play him fell through years ago. Ranald Mackenzie=A less obvious choice, like Custer he was a "boy general" hero of the Civil War that went west to fight Indians. His men called him "the Perpetual Punisher" and the Natives called him "Bad Hands" as his hands were disfigured from wounds in the Civil War. His ruthless victories, often a result from taking hostage family members of the native warriors, help crush Comanche resistance and he had a hand in the final defeat of the Cheyenne after the Custer Massacre. He would tragically go insane at the height of his glory and die under his sister's care back home in New York. A good biopic of someone hidden by Custer;s shadow. "Walkaheaps" is what Crazy Horse called them refering to the soldiers of the U.S. Infantry. Nearly one quarter of all engagements of the Indian wars involved the Infantry but they have sadly been ignored. About a half dozen situations they were involved in would make decent war/action films by my reckoning. The pursuit of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce to prevent them from fleeing to Canada would be a compelling story aswell. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:08:59 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-643 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-642 The Runaway Scrape is an interesting topic and it usually only gets passing mention in Alamo movies. I think the old tv miniseries "True Women" that starred Dana Dulaney and a young Angelina Jolie probably showed it the most. The Texian settlers fleeing before Santa Anna's divided approaching army is high drama. There is the scholarly question was Sam Houston fleeing back to the U.S. for protection or was he strategically evading the Mexican army until a decisive opportunity opened up, which eventually did at San Jacinto. The Goliad massacre also is overshadowed by the Alamo movies since Colonel Fannin was supposed to lead his men to reinforce the Alamo but instead they were surrounded and defeated in battle then executed. That is also a neglected part of the War of Texas Independance. Another option could be the New Orleans Greys which was a two company volunteer battalion raised in New Orleans to go help the Texians. Tehy fought bravely through the carnage of the Alamo, Goliad, ect and by the time of the final battle of San Jacinto there were only six left to take revenge on the Mexicans. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:08:19 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-642 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-641 All options are fantastic! However, as a Texan, there is one historical event that is often forgotten since it's so easily overshadowed by the Alamo. During the Texas Revolution, thousands of settlers evacuated their homes with their families to flee Santa Anna's campaign. They faced scouts, hostile indians, looters, flooded rivers, disease. Many died before they were able to return home. This event in particular fascinates me because I'm a descendant of some of those who endured it, especially my ancestor Frances Sutherland who also lost her teenage son at the Alamo. The ordeal is commonly known as The Runaway Scrape. I personally think it would make for an incredibly courageous story to tell on film. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:08:30 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-641 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-637 Presidents Theodore Roosevelt= needs more exposure I think, even if it is mainly about his daughter or something. The controversial progressive agenda, American exceptionalism, antitrust battles, ect. are issues still with us today making him extremely relevant, good or bad who is to say. Franklin & Elenor Roosevelt=has been done to death but not as much as a Kennedy's though in my opinion.. Harry Truman= I thought the old HBO movie with Gary Sinise was excellent but think "Give em Hell" Harry has more to offer. Andrew Jackson=(a subject I am most familiar and I do have a very detailed outline for a script oneday) A definite must do. He has been done before(most notibly by Charlton Heston) in two "Buccaneer" films (could always be 3 as it could use a remake) about the Pirate Jean Lafitte and the battle of New Orleans. Heston also returned to do him in a low budget film about the love story between Jackson and his wife and their bigamy controversy. My planned script is about his presidency with a few relevant flashbacks. He is a sickly, kindl grandfather figure often huffing on his pipe while coughing from lung problems and guzzling coffee who can turn ruthlessly evil at the drop of a hat, especially if you are an Indian, British, or disagree with him or his friends. He is very Shakespearean and there is lots of intrigue and backstabbing as part of the story yet he truimphs completely in the end. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:08:49 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-637 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-636 Civil War stuff, Raphael Semmes and the C.S.S. Alabama= Would lack action in my opinion as most of the prizes he took was from getting close then suprisingly running his Confederate Colors up thus most of his raiding was rather bloodless. Though his ship does definitely meet with a fiery end off the coast of France. I'd still watch it if it were made. Lt. Alphonso Cushing U.S.N (I looked into this one very closely by the way).= "Lincoln's Commando" a definite historical action hero, good looking, blonde, fearless known for his shore landing party raids and the blowing up a Confederate ironclad. His tragically young death in an insane asylum is also for good drama.....though he wasn't crazy he suffered from mind numbing pain from a spinal wound or a type of cancer around his pelvis leaving a young family behind. U.S. Grant= Definitely needs a bio pic (I have one outlined to write one day actually) The real issue though such a project would have to be made soon as I have it on very good sources should Ron Maxwell get to do "Last Full Measure" it will be the U.S. Grant show as is "Gods and Generals" was the "Stonewall" Jackson show. The H.B.O. miniseries in development (if still in the works) "To Appomattox" will feature U.S. Grant as the main character with Michael C Hall of "Dexter" fame as Grant. Well that is the last I heard. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:08:03 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-636 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-635 Back to Dred Scot my vote for casting is Delroy Lindo on a diet, I think he looks most like the real person. Burr/Hamilton Duel= Would be a very good subject all the brutal political infighting and personality quirks of all the major people of the time plus all of Burr's questionable involvements. This would be one of the top of my suggested list. Benedict Arnold= If some money was spent on it to show how his contributions led to the Patriot victory and the problems of financial burdens/debts recieved before his new wife helped influence him to change sides. The whiney A&E Aidan Quinn movie on the subject did not do it justice in my opinion as it failed to build his growing bitterness toward his superiors. George Rogers Clark= he is an interesting character often overlooked in the history books, after winning the Revolution on the Frontier, he is left with crushing debts, a drinking problem, and declining health. How sucky is having a stroke and falling into a fire place and burning your leg so bad that it has to eventually be amputated only to live pennyless on the charity of others with the ungratfule nation he helped build turns the other way. Lewis and Clark(on to George Rogers Clarke's brother)= Alot of going to do it, in development talk, but until someone actually MAKES it thus providing us all with hours of historic entertainment, talk is nothing. I agree and HBO miniseries would be best, Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:08:48 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-635 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-634 I am a historian and filmmaker who is trying to get his first feature into production (not historical though) and have read this thread with interest. I have a warchest of historical project ideas I have accumulated over the years, some I have accumulated a bibliography list for, others I have written full blown outline for a treatment or script, A few I am even planning to write as scripts amid some non-historical ideas. I am currently writing one called "The Bloodiest Day" about the Battle of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation which is about 40 pages in with George McClellan, Robert Toombs, Robert E Lee, and A. Lincoln as the central characters. The only other historical script I have written is an Ancient Egyptian biopic on the Pharoah Akhenaten which has won a couple insignificant regional screenwriting competitions. But anyways on to American history subjects for films already mentioned.. George Washington= Definitely,a psychological character study of him while he leads the rebels to victory in the Revolution though suffering defeat after defeat and warding off lots of backstabbing. If the actor does a good job and the film profitable perhaps he could return as Washington the President. Braddock's Defeat=Definitely there are not enough good black powder war movies around. Trail of Tears= Needs to be done in my opinion Dred Scott= Might be kinda tame how about slave revolts Nat Turner's rebellion or the Denmark Vesey Conspiracy. Mayflower= I'd watch it. John Henry=could be interesting Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:08:23 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-634 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-631 I have recently joined this site and I have already sent an idea to the company about a movie but I am going to post it here too. We need to make a war epic about George Washington during the American Revolution. Hollywood has made several movies about national heroes such as William Wallace and Joan of Arc, but never one about Washington. It is time we honored our national hero with a movie. I would greatly appreciate the support from other people on this website to encourage the making of this movie about Washington. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:08:35 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-631 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-630 I wish you all had a forum. I'm into genealogy/history & have several ideas. One of my ancestors was Frederick Stump. His son Fred Jr. was killed by America's first serial killers - the Harpe brothers (actually cousins). Another ancestor was Capt. Robert Benge - one of a few red-headed Cherokees. Mothers used to scare their children by saying if they didn't behave Capt Benge would get them. His sister Lucy married my very great grandpa Chief George Lowrey. Bob & Lucy's 1/2 bro was Sequoyah...writer of the Cherokee alphabet. Another relative was Lucy Ward - last beloved woman of the Cherokee Nation. This is just a few of the people in my tree. Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:08:55 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-630 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-626 Anything from the 18th century - or even better the Rev War. It is unreal what those Americans accomplished and we could all use a little reminder of the sacrifices that took place. I think the John Adams miniseries was a good start ... Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:08:46 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-626 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-622 Check out Death of an Empire by Robert Booth just release 8/16/11 for a story of the fall of Salem in the 1800's and the trial of the killers of Captain White a wealthy merchant. Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:08:36 -0400 http://www.theamericanfilmcompany.com/talk/discussion/the-best-american-history-movies-never-made/#comment-622