Classroom Hollywood
Some of the movies are too long to show in the classroom, but even showing clips from the films are enough to keep your students entertained, especially if you have the time to show clips for pure entertainment between the lessons. Some are good to assign along with outside reading.
Most of these are geared to the college classroom, but high school teachers might find some of them useful. My classes are always reading, paper, & debate heavy so keep that in mind if you're planing on using any of these, some don't work without the proper texts.
There's also a "showmanship" style to the way I handle my classes, comedy is huge, but I'm not above dressing the part, screaming & yelling, crying, kicking over trashcans, whatever is needed is usually done. I think if you're not willing to go over the top in your classroom, using a lot of movies will probably work against you.
Most of these are geared to the college classroom, but high school teachers might find some of them useful. My classes are always reading, paper, & debate heavy so keep that in mind if you're planing on using any of these, some don't work without the proper texts.
There's also a "showmanship" style to the way I handle my classes, comedy is huge, but I'm not above dressing the part, screaming & yelling, crying, kicking over trashcans, whatever is needed is usually done. I think if you're not willing to go over the top in your classroom, using a lot of movies will probably work against you.
List activity
2.6K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
35 titles
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsMel BrooksGregory HinesDom DeLuiseMel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes.Let's face it, 101 is your bread & butter, furthermore a lot of early history has too few documented facts to really teach. I like to use the first few sketches to bring us up-to-date before we get into the subjects that are not covered based on assumption & conjuncture. And, if you open with Mel Brooks, you get the "unexpected & unorthodox" label from your students & that is a priceless classroom tool. PS, wearing corduroy jackets with arm patches helps as well. Teaching is showmanship with a point, right?
- StarsAdrian PaulStan KirschJim ByrnesDuncan MacLeod is Immortal, and must live in modern society, concealing his true nature while fighting other Immortals.There's an episode in Season 5, "Archangel," maybe, where Methos proclaims, in an argument with Joe & Duncan, that thinking one man can change the world is the ultimate in human arrogance. I use it to start nearly every non 101 class I teach. Is he right in this argument? Then I use it again at the end of the class? Has their views changed? Why? Give examples. This is the high point of being able to assign papers rather than take tests, you can show a movie on the last day
- DirectorCosta-GavrasStarsJack LemmonSissy SpacekMelanie MayronWhen an idealistic American writer disappears during the Chilean coup d'état in September 1973, his wife and father try to find him.I always show it in class, along with assigning "A Nation of Enemies" to read. They make a good match. If you couple these with Kissinger's order to kill Charles Horman--to be read after the film--you'll actually get to physically see their world view change.
- CreatorGraham ChapmanEric IdleTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamThe original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.Yeah, yeah, it's pointless but the Philosophy Football match is great to watch directly before you're about to cover heavy philosophical lessons. I've always believed that good history teachers run heavy on the philosophies of the time as it illustrates how people thought & interpreted the world at the time.
- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsKeanu ReevesLaurence FishburneCarrie-Anne MossFreedom fighters Neo, Trinity and Morpheus continue to lead the revolt against the Machine Army, unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation.It looks like an odd choice, but you start with kung-fu for fun, then you use it to teach convergent philosophies in the Reformation, specifically Calvinism & predestination, then, if there's time left, you finish with more kung-fu, for more fun. Let's be honest, most 101 students want to be their as much as you do.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightHarry ShearerThe satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.There are far to many to list, but "The Simpsons" have covered just about every philosophical movement the thinkers of the world have generated. Clips make a great introduction to EVERY philosophical topic you will cover.
- DirectorPeter H. HuntStarsWilliam DanielsHoward Da SilvaKen HowardA musical retelling of the American Revolution's political struggle in the Continental Congress to declare independence.Two birds with one stone. 1) It's a great Representation of our Founding Fathers. 2) It teaches students that musicals are NOT as bad as they think. And I still get a kick out of it, so we'll watch the entire film in class.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsOrlando BloomEva GreenLiam NeesonBalian of Ibelin travels to Jerusalem during the Crusades of the 12th century, and there he finds himself as the defender of the city and its people.It's brilliant to illustrate the value of compromise & it makes the Dark Ages look cool.
- DirectorAnthony HarveyStarsPeter O'TooleKatharine HepburnAnthony Hopkins1183 A.D.: King Henry II's three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won't commit to a choice. When he allows his imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine out for a Christmas visit, they all variously plot to force him into a decision.I like to use this for political struggles, in order to drive home the point that Aristocracy faced the same party problems as Republics.
- DirectorRoland JofféStarsPaul NewmanDwight SchultzBonnie BedeliaThis film reenacts the Manhattan Project, the secret WWII project, and the first atomic bombs designed, built, and tested in Los Alamos.The best movie about the atomic project out there, & short enough where you can watch the entire film.
- StarsScott GrimesDamian LewisRon LivingstonThe story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.It's shorter than "Schindler's List," and the episode where the soldiers liberate the camp is priceless.
- DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsDavid StrathairnGeorge ClooneyPatricia ClarksonBroadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.I assign "The Crucible" to read--don't bother showing them the movie, they will hate it as much as you do--then I show this film as a supporting piece to keep them entertained.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIvana BaqueroAriadna GilSergi LópezIn the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.Again, assigned with outside reading "The Battle for Spain," with the singular point that sometimes the losers get to write the history.
- DirectorRoger DonaldsonStarsKevin CostnerBruce GreenwoodShawn DriscollIn October 1962, the Kennedy administration struggles to contain the Cuban Missile Crisis.It's not hard to drive home the point that a nuclear holocaust is a bad thing, however, America's "Brinkmanship" Strategy of dealing with the USSR is as hard to teach as it is to believe. There are clips in here that show that strategy in all it's idiotic action.
- DirectorRichard BenjaminStarsKelsey GrammerCary ElwesViola DavisStory of a cover up in the military.I think it's funny, so we'll watch the entire film in class, but if you ever wanted to teach how bureaucracy works this is the movie to watch, and then open up the classroom for debate on the system in general & how to correct it's short comings.
- DirectorDennis HopperStarsPeter FondaDennis HopperJack NicholsonTwo bikers head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands, and along the way they meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap of which they had been unaware.I wasn't alive for it, but the Library of Congress listed it as a great way to understand the '70's so it works as an "assigned watching" item.
- DirectorWhit StillmanStarsTaylor NicholsChris EigemanTushka BergenAn American working in Barcelona, having sworn off beautiful women, is forced to be host to his playboy cousin in this witty comedy of good intentions and mixed signals.It's great for US Foreign Policy as viewed from the outside. Either clips in the classroom or watching accompanying Pierson's book.
- DirectorAndrew NiccolStarsNicolas CageEthan HawkeJared LetoAn arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent.Here you have "The Arms Trade," "Child Soldiers," "Blood Diamonds," "Post Colonial Africa," "Globalization," & "US Foreign Policy." Pick a point for your lesson & use this to drive it home.
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsJames WoodsJim BelushiMichael MurphyA burnt-out photojournalist becomes involved in a Central American revolution.Most of my non 101 classes deal with Latin America. I like to Assign this to watch with reading by Archbishop Romero & books dealing with The School of the Americas. Sometimes, for sick fun, I'll make them read Clinton's NAFTA bill, then we'll watch this, as a surprise, rather than discussing the reading.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsGerard ButlerLena HeadeyDavid WenhamIn the ancient battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. They face insurmountable odds when they are betrayed by a Spartan reject.Let's face it, re-teaching history to freshmen is an ugly necessity, ancient history doubly so, sometimes you just need to break the monotony in the classroom. They don't want to be there any more than you do. I just use clips & just for fun.
- DirectorLouis J. GasnierStarsDorothy ShortKenneth CraigLillian MilesCautionary tale that features a fictionalized take on marijuana use. A trio of drug dealers lead innocent teenagers to become addicted to "reefer" cigarettes by holding wild parties with jazz music.I'll threaten this movie on the first day, everyone thinks I'm joking, & then we'll watch it halfway through the semester when discussing propaganda. Or rather, we'll watch clips.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsTom CruiseTim RobbinsKelly McGillisAs students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.It's not something I show in the classroom, but I add this on the assigned viewing list for the "propaganda" topic.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsEwan McGregorRenée ZellwegerDavid Hyde PierceIn 1962 New York City, love blossoms between a playboy journalist and a feminist advice author.I do like musicals, I like showing them in class, I also liked "The Taming of the Shrew," so it makes sense to use this for teaching Women's Liberation, & it's a lot of fun.
- DirectorOliver HirschbiegelStarsBruno GanzAlexandra Maria LaraUlrich MatthesTraudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.As a rule, for purely mechanical reasons, subtitles never appear in class room viewing. But "Downfall," will appear on the required watching list, people, especially 101 students tend to dehumanize Hitler to something otherworldly, it's necessary to drive home the point that Hilter was just a man like everyone else, otherwise he becomes unbelievable, & that harms the way people view history's monsters & allows them to believe that "it won't happen again."
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsWill FerrellChristina ApplegateSteve CarellIn the 1970s, an anchorman's stint as San Diego's top-rated newsreader is challenged when an ambitious newswoman becomes his co-anchor.It's only one clip, but it's brilliant for driving home points on women's liberation.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsLiam NeesonAidan QuinnJulia RobertsNeil Jordan's historical biopic of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, the man who led a guerrilla war against the UK, helped negotiate the creation of the Irish Free State, and led the National Army during the Irish Civil War.For historical reasons, I hate assigning Che's "Guerrilla Warfare," but it is a necessity, to counter it "Michael Collins," the movie & Tim Pat Coogan's book of the same name are on the "suggested" list. "The Field Guide of the IRA," is on the required reading list. If fate dictates that I must teach Guerrilla Warfare I want my students to know how to do it right. And Collins is a great example to counter what Che did wrong.
- DirectorJason ReitmanStarsAaron EckhartCameron BrightMaria BelloSatirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his 12-year old son.This is sometimes used. at least clips, to cover propaganda. "Reefer Madness" is better, the student's enjoy it more, but it all depends on the atmosphere your students bring to the classroom
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsHayden ChristensenNatalie PortmanEwan McGregorThree years into the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi pursues a new threat, while Anakin Skywalker is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot to rule the galaxy.I only use clips, but religion can be a touchy subject to cover, especially today, using bits and pieces of this allows you to cover religious fanaticism without directly pointing fingers at any religion, the student's will open up more if you don't directly name the religions, but refer to them as "Jedi" & "Sith," Was the initial persecution of the Sith what caused this uprising? Do you thing there was a crusade event in the Old Republic? It allows you to take politics out of history, at least for the moment.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonMaryam d'AboJeroen KrabbéJames Bond is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.Just like the below, here we see, in a few clips, the western world supporting the Taliban as they fight the soviets in Afghanistan.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsPierce BrosnanSean BeanIzabella ScorupcoYears after a friend and fellow 00 agent is killed on a joint mission, a secret space based weapons program known as "GoldenEye" is stolen. James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using the weapon.There are a few clips with 006 that allows you to illustrate how terrorist states are made generations after colonial actions. To be used with "The Living Daylights," & in the same lesson.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMatthew ModineR. Lee ErmeyVincent D'OnofrioA pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue."visit interesting countries, meet interesting people, & kill them." The movie falls apart after boot camp, but there quotes in this that make a brilliant point about both sides of the Vietnam debate.
- DirectorRoger SpottiswoodeStarsMatthew ModineAlan AldaPatrick BauchauThe story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic, and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it.I've never taught a lesson on AIDS, but I have taught a lot of politics in my history classroom & this film has clips that do a great job of showing your students how AIDS was ignored in the 80s, for political reasons based on prejudice.
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsKevin CostnerGary OldmanJack LemmonNew Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison discovers there's more to the Kennedy assassination than the official story.Relax, I don't even touch the "Who killed Kennedy" debate, but I will use the Donald Sutherland clip to introduce US involvement to my Latin American History classes, my US Foreign Policy, & my Problems in History classes.
- DirectorNorman JewisonStarsEmily LloydBruce WillisJoan AllenA young girl whose father died in the Vietnam War becomes determined to find out more about him and his experiences.It's on a suggested watching list, along with & above "Rambo: First Blood," with the intent of giving a better understanding of what Vietnam Vets had to deal with upon returning to the United States.
- DirectorOliver StoneStarsTom CruiseBryan LarkinRaymond J. BarryThe biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country for which he fought.I start with pro War in Vietnam clips, followed by a classroom debate, then switch it to anti-war clips followed by a debate. Either way things get heated & you will be shocked at the amount of students that still believe in their heart-of-hearts that the US won the War in Vietnam.
Of course "America's Longest War," is the best book to assign to read, no matter what side you're on.