Movies About 19th Century America

From Christopher Nolan, starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine
Rated PG-13

The Prestige is a 2006 psychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as two rival magicians in the late 19th century. The film follows their obsessive mission to outwit each other and create the ultimate illusion. As their rivalry intensifies, the two men resort to extreme and often dangerous methods to gain the upper hand. Along the way, they uncover secrets that threaten to ruin them both. In the end, however, only one of them will be able to pull off the ultimate trick and become the "Prestige."

From David Lynch, starring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud
Rated PG

The Elephant Man is a 1980 American biographical drama film directed by David Lynch and starring John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, and Anne Bancroft. The film is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, a severely deformed man in late 19th-century London. It follows Merrick's life from his time in a Victorian freak show to his move to London's prestigious Whitechapel hospital, and his eventual friendships with hospital staff, including his doctor, Frederick Treves. The film's narrative is driven by themes of prejudice, fear, and compassion and explores the power of friendship. The Elephant Man was critically acclaimed upon its release and received eight nominations at the 53rd Academy Awards, including a nomination for Best Picture, and won for Best Makeup.

From Luchino Visconti, starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale, Paolo Stoppa
Rated PG

The Leopard is a 1963 Italian epic film directed by Luchino Visconti and starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon. Set in Sicily in the 1860s, the film follows a wealthy aristocrat, the Prince of Salina, as he attempts to preserve his family's position in an ever-changing world. The film is noted for its lush cinematography, art direction, and costume design, as well as its exploration of themes including the erosion of traditional values, the rise of the bourgeoisie, and the inevitability of social and political upheaval. It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

From John Huston, starring Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, Saeed Jaffrey
Rated PG

The Man Who Would Be King is a 1975 British-American adventure film directed by John Huston. It tells the story of two British adventurers in the 19th century who travel to remote Kafiristan in search of fame and fortune. They set themselves up as rulers of the land, but soon their empire is threatened by war and betrayal. The story is based on a 1888 novella by Rudyard Kipling. The film stars Sean Connery and Michael Caine as the two adventurers, with Christopher Plummer as a local ruler and Saeed Jaffrey as a priest. The Man Who Would Be King is an exciting tale of ambition, greed, and loyalty that showcases Huston's trademark wit and incredible visuals.

From Edward Zwick, starring Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton
Rated R

The Last Samurai is an epic historical drama set in late 19th-century Japan. Set during the Meiji era, the film follows the story of Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), an American military advisor hired by the Japanese Emperor to train an army to fight the samurai rebels. Algren finds himself drawn to the samurai way of life and eventually joins forces with the rebels in a desperate struggle against the emperor's forces. Through his journey of self-discovery, Algren learns the value of honor and courage and discovers the power of his own inner strength. The film is a powerful examination of the clash between two cultures and the struggle to find meaning in a rapidly changing world.

From Cy Endfield, starring Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth
Rated Not Rated

Zulu is a classic British war drama directed by Cy Endfield and starring Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, and Jack Hawkins. Set in 1879, the film follows the true story of a 150-man British garrison stationed in South Africa, who bravely defends their small outpost against a force of 4,000 Zulu warriors. The British soldiers, led by Lieutenant John Chard (Baker) and Lt Gonville Bromhead (Caine), must use their limited resources to battle the vastly outnumbered enemy. With the odds stacked against them, bravery and courage ultimately win the day, as the British forces stand their ground and prove that courage will triumph over fear.

From Marc Forster, starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell
Rated PG

Finding Neverland is a 2004 biographical drama film about the playwright J. M. Barrie and his relationship with four young brothers and their widowed mother, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. The story plays out in Edwardian England and follows Barrie as he draws inspiration from the Llewelyn Davies family to create the play Peter Pan. The film explores the pressures of fame and the power of imagination as Barrie attempts to write the play and finds a second chance at both love and life. Along the way, he helps the family cope with the loss of the father and the pressures of society. Ultimately, Barrie is able to transform his life, as well as the lives of those around him, by finding his inner child and recognizing the importance of family and the value of dreams.

From Directors: Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky, starring János Derzsi, Erika Bók, Mihály Kormos, Ricsi
Rated Not Rated

The Turin Horse is an epic Hungarian drama directed by Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky. It follows the story of an elderly horse and its impoverished owner, a farmer living in a remote and isolated region of Hungary. The farmer and his daughter go about their daily routine of subsistence living, until a mysterious man visits and disrupts the family’s life. A relentless wind and a series of disasters bring the family to a breaking point, and the farmer decides to move away from the land he has worked for so many years. The film is a poetic meditation on the struggle of life and its inevitable end, as seen through the eyes of the horse and its owner.

From Toshiya Fujita, starring Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza
Rated Not Rated

Lady Snowblood is a 1973 Japanese action-revenge film directed by Toshiya Fujita. It follows a female warrior, Lady Snowblood (Meiko Kaji), who has been trained from birth to exact revenge on the four men who murdered her father and raped her mother. Armed with a deadly sword, Lady Snowblood travels across Japan in pursuit of her enemies and finds herself embroiled in the politics of the Meiji Restoration. The film is noted for its stylistic action scenes and vivid imagery, as well as its influence on subsequent films such as Kill Bill and Lady Vengeance.

From Jane Campion, starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin
Rated R

The Piano is a 1993 drama film directed by Jane Campion about a mute woman named Ada McGrath, played by Holly Hunter, who is sent to New Zealand in the late 19th century along with her daughter and her beloved piano. After her arrival, she is married off to a local man named Alisdair Stewart, played by Sam Neill. Despite their initial differences, Ada and Alisdair eventually form a passionate relationship, with Ada reluctantly teaching Alisdair how to play the piano. However, this relationship is threatened when a wealthy local man, George Baines, played by Harvey Keitel, takes a romantic interest in Ada and sets out to buy her and her piano from Alisdair. Ultimately, Ada must make a difficult decision between her newfound love and her beloved piano. The Piano is a powerful exploration of love and loss, filled with beautiful performances and an exquisite score.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jim Broadbent
Rated R

Gangs of New York is set in the mid-1800s in the Five Points area of New York City. The movie tells the story of a gang war between two powerful gangs, the Nativists and the Irish immigrants. Led by their respective bosses, "Priest" Vallon and William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting, both gangs fight for control of the area. The story centers around Priest's son Amsterdam, who returns to the Five Points to avenge his father's death. Along the way, Amsterdam must grapple with his own identity and the consequences of his actions. The movie also chronicles the changing social, political, and economic landscape of the city as the Civil War approaches.

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves
Rated R

From Gillian Armstrong, starring Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes
Rated PG

From Hsiao-Hsien Hou, starring Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Michiko Hada, Michelle Reis, Carina Lau
Rated Unrated

From Roman Polanski, starring Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson, John Collin
Rated PG

From John Madden, starring Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, Antony Sher
Rated PG

From Martin Scorsese, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder, Linda Faye Farkas
Rated PG

From Joel Schumacher, starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Peter Ho-Sun Chan, Wai-Man Yip, starring Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jinglei Xu
Rated R

From Michael Crichton, starring Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Lesley-Anne Down, Alan Webb
Rated PG

From Brian Gilbert, starring Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle
Rated R

From Michael Winterbottom, starring Christopher Eccleston, Kate Winslet, Liam Cunningham, Rachel Griffiths
Rated R

From Stephen Hopkins, starring Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, Tom Wilkinson, John Kani
Rated R

From Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes, starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane
Rated R

From Rodrigo García, starring Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Antonia Campbell-Hughes
Rated R