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AMERICAN CITIZENRY
INSTITUTE

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Center for Research on Education, Government, and Citizenship.

For further information regarding American and related history and Governmental Affairs, please review the following films. These films can be bought or rented from Amazon.com, Netflix, or Blockbuster.

Saving Private Ryan. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, and Barry Pepper. DVD. Dreamworks Video, 1999.

Film Synopsis: 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. Director 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.

A Feature Film of Historial Significance.  But for the sacrifices that were made by these brave men, America would be different today!

The Patriot. Dir. Roland Emmerich. Perf. Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Issacs, and Chris Cooper. DVD. Sony Pictures, 2000.

Film Synopsis: Widower Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) 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 (Heath Ledger), Benjamin becomes a feared militia leader. But before he can defeat the British, he must win a battle within himself.

A Historical feature film of great import, the film depicts the life of ordinary citizens in a great struggle to overcome tyrannical rule in order to achieve freedom.

Glory. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perf. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, and Jihmi Kennedy. DVD. Sony Pictures, 1998.

Film Synopsis: Colonel Robert G. Shaw was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who volunteered to lead the first company of black soldiers. Shaw was forced to deal with the prejudices of both the enemy (who had orders to kill commanding officers of blacks), and of his own fellow officers.

An important feature film based on the letters of Colonel Robert G. Shaw depicting the grittiness of the civil war especially as to how it related on the issue of slavery and racism in the Union Army.

Schindler's List. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, and Jonathan Saqall. DVD. Universal Studios, 2004.

Film Synopsis: Director 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 (Liam Neeson) was exploiting cheap Jewish labor, but in the midst of WWII he became an unlikely humanitarian, losing his fortune by helping to save 1,100 Jews from Auschwitz.

This feature film is based on true accounts and serves to bare witness on the deprivation of freedom and on how one man made a difference.

Braveheart. Dir. Mel Gibson. Perf. Mel Gibson and Sophie Marceau. DVD. Paramount, 1995.

Film Synopsis: Enraged at the slaughter of Murron (Catherine McCormack) -- his new bride and childhood love -- legendary Scottish warrior William Wallace (Mel Gibson, who also directed the film) slays a platoon of the local English lord's soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against English rule. With vivid battle scenes and a heaping portion of legend, Gibson's epic won five Oscars, including Best Picture.

A full length feature film based on historical data depicts the spirit, the sacrifice, and the perseverance of freedom by one man as he leads a noble cause against tyranny.

The History Channel Presents: The American Revolution. Dir. Lisa Bourgoujian. Perf. Charles Durning and Kelsey Grammer. DVD. A&E Home Video, 1994. Film Synopsis: Kelsey Grammer and Michael Learned lend their voices to this comprehensive chronicle of the American Revolution. Actors read the words of important figures, battle reenactments depict Bunker Hill and other skirmishes, and events from Benedict Arnold's treasonous acts to the signing of the Declaration of Independence are told through period images, rare archival material and commentary by renowned historians.

The History Channel Presents: The War of 1812. Dir. Gary Foreman. Perf. Mark D. Hutter and Salley E. Bennett. DVD. A&E Home Video, 2004.

Film Synopsis: This absorbing series compiles an impressive roster of documentaries that illuminate the history-making 1812 battle between the United States and Great Britain, a war that at first appeared to be a lost cause. But with Andrew Jackson as America's leader, the country emerged victorious. Programs include "First Invasion: The War of 1812"; "The Battle of New Orleans"; and "The Ironclads." The disc also contains a detailed biography of Jackson.

The History Channel Presents: The Alamo. Dir. The History Channel. Perf. Dennis Quaid and Kenny Rogers. DVD. A&E Home Video, 2003.

Film Synopsis: On March 6, 1836, after a brutal 13-day siege, Mexican General Santa Anna and his 5,000-man army overwhelmed the few defenders of a broken-down Spanish mission in San Antonio called the Alamo. No quarter was given (and none was asked), and defenders such as Jim Bowie and frontiersman Davy Crockett passed into legend. This collection of History Channel and A&E presentations tries to separate the myth from the reality of that famous Texas battle.

Ben Franklin. Dir. Joshua Alper. Perf. Edward Herrmann and Maggie Lakis. DVD. A&E Home Video, 2005.

Film Synopsis: Benjamin Franklin was a true Renaissance man. An inventor, politician, writer and scientist, he comes alive in this riveting documentary narrated by actor Edward Herrmann that examines not only Franklin's achievements in the public arena but also the joys and sorrows he experienced in his personal life. Extras include the "Declaration of Independence" episode from the "Save Our History" program; a featurette on Franklin; and more.

Founding Fathers: The Men Who Shaped Our Nation. Perf. James Woods and Brian Dennehy. VHS. MPH Entertainment for the History Channel, 2000.

Film Synopsis: The men (and women) who shaped the formative years of the United State of America did so at great personal risk with little possibility of proportional personal reward. But the men's known political, religious and social beliefs are often only their legendary personas; in this series (originally aired on The History Channel), discover the remarkable, unseen private sides of the men who risked everything for the cause of American independence.

Ken Burn's Civil War. Dir. Ken Burns. Perf. Ken Burns. VHS. PBS Home Video, 2002.

Film Synopsis: This documentary masterpiece from Ken Burns depicts the strategies and action of famous Civil War battles, and relates the stories of generals, field soldiers, politicians, heroes and a beleaguered president. The Emmy-winning miniseries begins by looking at the factors that led to the firing on Fort Sumter, and covers specific notable battles, climaxing with Lee's surrender and Lincoln's assassination.

Dances With Wolves. Dir. Kevin Costner. Perf. Kevin Costner and Mary McDonnell. VHS. Orion, 1993.

Film Synopsis: Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) tries to commit suicide -- and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe. This special edition of Costner's Oscar-winning directorial debut features an extended cut of the film, an audio commentary from Costner, a behind-the-scenes featurette and more.

National Geographic: Inside American Power: The White House. Dir. John B. Bredar. Perf. Morgan Freeman. DVD. National Geographic Video, 1996.

Film Synopsis: Reigning as the only superpower in a post-Cold War world, the United States has managed to run its government with a veiled secrecy that extends even to the press briefings and State of the Union addresses. This feature from National Geographic will take you on an in-depth tour of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- The White House.

National Geographic: Ambassador: Inside the Embassy. Perf. Alex Chadwick. DVD. National Geographic Video, 2002.

Film Synopsis: From the National Geographic Explorer series, this documentary provides unprecedented access to American embassies in Japan, Pakistan and Guatemala. Go behind closed doors and learn about the remarkable men and women who have dedicated their lives to keeping America's diplomatic ties strong and doors open throughout the world.

National Geographic: Inside American Power: The Pentagon. Dir. Nancy LeBrun. Perf. Donald Rumsfeld and Richard B. Meyers. DVD. National Geographic Video, 2002.

Film Synopsis: The Pentagon is the military nerve center of the United States, reaching out to far-flung battlefields with information, technology and a culture that permeates more of America and the world than many realize. This film depicts the Pentagon's 58-year history, taking viewers into the restricted inner workings of the Pentagon, and includes coverage of the response following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.