When we think of the best Hollywood has to offer from American history, the filmmakers range from D.W. Griffith to Ron Howard. Movies that are "based on" (or more often these days, "inspired by") true stories are often picked apart by historians and critics alike when they stray too far from the truth...

As we at the American Film Company have endeavored to turn American history into movies, I've been struck by how many amazing true stories have not been given the green light...