Inspired by True Events: An Illustrated Guide to More Than 500 History-Based Films - Hardcover

Niemi, Robert J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1610691970 ISBN 13: 9781610691970

Publisher: ABC-CLIO, 2013

Synopsis

An up-to-date and indispensable guide for film history buffs of all kind, this book surveys more than 500 major films based on true stories and historical subject matter.

When a film is described as "based on a true story" or "inspired by true events," exactly how "true" is it? Which "factual" elements of the story were distorted for dramatic purposes, and what was added or omitted? Inspired by True Events: An Illustrated Guide to More Than 500 History-Based Films, Second Edition concisely surveys a wide range of major films, docudramas, biopics, and documentaries based on real events, addressing subject areas including military history and war, political figures, sports, and art. This book provides an up-to-date and indispensable guide for all film history buffs, students and scholars of history, and fans of the cinema.

About this title

About the Author

Robert Niemi, PhD, is associate professor of English and codirector of the American Studies Program at St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT, USA.

Reviews

This text covers movies, documentaries, and television produced from 1894 to 2013 that are either based on or inspired by true events. The films chosen for this guide were specifically selected because there is an actual historical event told in the story—not just a historical setting. (The author notes he specifically avoided films based on ancient history because of unsubstantial information.) The first four chapters feature military history in film, arranged chronologically by event, starting with Mel Gibson’s Braveheart (1995), which depicts the Scottish Wars of Independence (1296–1314), and ending with Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, a film about the misson to kill Osama Bin Laden (2011). Subsequent chapters cover broad topics, rather than specific instances in history, including sports, music, art, business and labor, U.S. race relations, and crime. Although Niemi discusses major events and historically important people (e.g., the story of the 1980 U.S. hockey team at the Olympics, Babe Ruth), he also considers lesser-known topics, like mountaineering, Dr. Alfred Kinsey’s studies on sexual behavior, and the Amistad affair. Throughout the book, there are various images, both historical photos from newspapers and archives as well as film stills. The index is quite extensive and is helpful when looking for a particular person or topic that could be found in more than one film or genre. This guide would be most useful for students enrolled in film and television courses as well as those studying modern history and culture. Recommended for academic libraries. --Rachel Smith

Edition details

• Publisher: ABC-CLIO
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1610691970
• ISBN 13: 9781610691970
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 632