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Curricula and Learning Links - Movies for Education

History Movies

Movies are an excellent supplement to education! Because directors and writers frequently change events and details to make a better story, you should always use movies as a secondary source of information. Select several different books on the topic as your major resource, and interview people who were actually there for some real insight.

We plan to add to this page with movies from more historical periods. Please share your favorite movies on our comment page. All movies are unrated or PG-13 and below, except for the ones noted as R-rated. When movies have been made multiple times, the recommended year is listed. These are family movies except where rating is noted, but please preview if you have concerns about appropriateness. Please consider getting a membership at Netflix or Blockbuster using HomeschoolChristian.com's links if you would like to rent these DVD's.

World History

India

Ghandi

China

The Inn of Sixth Happiness Fictionalized version of the life of missionary Gladys Alyard.

American Civil War or the War Between the States

Birth of A Nation A controversial movie about the Ku Klux Klan that concerns the condition of black Americans after the War.
Gone with the Wind Lengthy soap opera set during the War.
Little Women The March sisters grow up in the post-War era.
Friendly Persuasion A Quaker family is faced with the War coming to their farm.
Shenandoah A farmer who did not get involved in the War is pulled into it when his son is taken prisoner by the North.

World War I

Wings A silent movie that was the first winner of the Academy Award. Story about early aviation warfare.
All Quiet on Western Front (1930 version) The horrors of trench warfare.
Sergeant York World War I hero saves the lives of many of his fellow soldiers.
Dawn Patrol The beginning of aviation warfare.
The Big Parade Silent movie about WWI
What Price Glory James Cagney is an Army captain commanding a unit in France.
The African Queen Humphrey Bogart is a loner who decides to take a stand against a German ship patrolling African waters.
Yankee Doodle Dandy Terrific musical about George M. Cohan

1920's

Newsies
Cheaper by the Dozen the original!
Bells on Their Toes Sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen
The Great Gatsby
The Quiet Man
Chariots of Fire
Singing in the Rain About the advent of "talkie" movies.
Madame Curie The isolation of radium

Korea

Battle Hymn (1957 version) A soldier sets up an orphanage in Korea.

Vietnam

The Green Berets Army special forces soldiers go on difficult missions.
We Were Soldiers (R) Story of the first major battle the Americans fought in the Vietnam war.

World War II

Flying Tigers Story of the American mercenary pilots who helped China fight Japan in the years before Pearl Harbor
Tora, Tora, Tora Accurate movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many American and Japanese Navy (and other Armed Service) personnel were consulted on the making of this film. Highly recommended!
Up Periscope Submarine movie that was so accurate that the Navy used it as a training film.
The Longest Day Outstanding film about D-day, June 6, 1944.
Midway Dramatization of the Battle of Midway, the turning point in the Pacific Theater of WWII.
Battle of the Bulge This movie gives an idea of the shock and confusion that accompanied the Germans' last effort during WWII.
A Bridge Too Far The story of the failed attempt to capture several bridges to Germany.
Bataan The story of the defense and fall of the Philippines.
Is Paris Burning? (1966) Story of the departure of German occupiers from Paris in 1944.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo True story of the Doolittle Raid, a daring bombing raid over Japan.
A Walk in the Sun Realistic move about the 1943 invasion of Italy.
To Hell and Back Starring Audie Murphy as himself, this is the story of the most decorated American hero of WWII.
Command Decision Shows the struggles of command and how military decisions are affected by politics.
The Enemy Below Two experienced commanders, one of a U-boat and the other of an American destroyer, fight a battle that will mean death for one of the crews.
They Were Expendable American PT boats fight the Japanese in the defense of the Philippines in 1941-1942.
Desperate Journey A bomber crew shot down over Germany tries to escape pursuing Germans while doing as much sabotage as possible.
Objective, Burma! Soldiers parachute into Japanese-occupied Burma to blow up a radar station.
Battle of Britain British RAF and the Nazi Luftwaffe battle for air control over Britain
Stalag 17 Allied POW's have an informer in their midst. They deal with him, boredom, and escape plans
The Great Escape Allied POW's plan an escape from a German POW camp. Based on a true story
Victory at Sea A series of non-fiction programs made to encourage U.S. citizens during the war. See if you can pick out the propaganda statements.
Why We Fight Series by Frank Capra. See if you can pick out the propaganda statements in these also.
Walt Disney On the Front Lines Shows how propaganda in the cartoons increased morale on the homefront.
The Seabees of the Navy Not completely accurate about the founding of the Seabees, but still gives a good idea about its start.
Casablanca Concerns refugees from Europe trying to make their way to America via French-controlled Casablanca.
Patton Movie that shows the great WWII general's brilliance as well as his faults, including a large amount of cursing.
Schindler's List (R) Heartwrenching movie about the Holocaust.
Sound of Music Fictional film that gives an idea of the terror of the Nazis moving into Austria.
The Hiding Place The story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family, who hid Jews from the Nazis because they felt it was their Christian duty, and were sent to a death camp.

Homefront During the War

Mrs. Miniver English middle class family experiences life during World War II
Since You Went Away A family copes with shortages, rationing, and other worries at home
The Human Comedy One brother stays at home to support the family while the other goes to war

Cold War

Dr. Strangelove Suspenseful comedy about the danger of nuclear holocaust.
Fail-safe Due to a communication error, American planes are sent to drop nuclear bombs on Russia.
The Third Man Mystery set in post-WWII Vienna.

Invasion of Grenada

Heartbreak Ridge (R) A Marine takes his unit into Grenada to secure the release of Americans held hostage. (However, the Army Rangers were the group that actually were the ones who took the University Medical School.)

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