Category Archives: Historical Film

Tournées French Film Festival at NIU

Posted on March 26, 2012 by briansandberg

The Tournées Festival: New French Films on Campus is once again at Northern Illinois University. The festival opened yesterday and will continue through Thursday evening. The Tournées Festival is organized by FACE, in partnership with the Cultural Services of the … Continue reading →

Posted in French History, Historical Film, Northern Illinois University | 1 Comment

Napoléon Restored (in Film)

Posted on March 19, 2012 by briansandberg

Abel Gance’s epic silent film Napoléon (1927) utilized a number of innovative filmmaking techniques and it has since become a classic work in the linked genres of historical film and war film. A new restored version of the film is … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Revolutions, Early Modern Europe, French History, French Revolution and Napoleon, Historical Film, History in the Media, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

Act of Valor: Entertainment or Propaganda?

Posted on February 25, 2012 by briansandberg

The new film, Act of Valor, depicts Navy SEALs in action against smugglers and terrorists. The film openly touts its active-duty SEALs who act as the protagonists in the film, alongside plenty of military hardware and vehicles. The filmmakers reportedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Film, History in the Media, Terrorism, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Historical Films at the Oscars

Posted on February 24, 2012 by briansandberg

Historical films are in the running for Oscars at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. Each year, films portraying historical subjects figure significantly in the Oscar nominations, but there seem to be an exceptionally large number of historical films this year. … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Film, History in the Media, War in Film | Leave a comment

Jay M. Winter on “Filming War”

Posted on December 21, 2011 by briansandberg

Historian Jay M. Winter has published an essay in Dædalus (Summer 2011) on “Filming War.” This article is part of a special issue of Dædalus devoted to “The Modern American Military,” including contributions by noted military historians Brian McAllister Linn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Film, History of Violence, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Why Leaders Lie

Posted on August 3, 2011 by briansandberg

John Mearsheimer, professor of political science at the University of Chicago, has published a new book on Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics. Worldview  interviewed Mearsheimer about the book yesterday on WBEZ. Students in HIST 390 … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical Film, Political Culture, War in Film | Leave a comment

America, France, and Revolutionary Film

Posted on July 25, 2011 by briansandberg

United States and French histories have been closely intertwined since the American and French Revolutions of the eighteenth century.  American and French identities have been constructed in part through the concepts of sister republics, Franco-American friendship, and military alliance. Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in French History, Historical Film, History in the Media | Leave a comment

150th Anniversary of First Bull Run

Posted on July 24, 2011 by briansandberg

The 150th anniversary of the American Civil War has begun, ensuring that every day over the next four years, there will be commemorations of each battle, skirmish, and political event of the war. Over 8,000 historical reenactors ventured out into … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Historical Film, History in the Media, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

54th Massachusetts Reenactors

Posted on July 24, 2011 by briansandberg

As the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War unfolds, historical reenactors are enthusiastically commemorating most of the major events of the war. African-Americans are apparently getting involved in Civil War historical reenactment in increasing numbers. One new group has … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Historical Film, History in the Media, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris

Posted on May 13, 2011 by briansandberg

Woody Allen’s new film Midnight in Paris is being screened at the Festival de Cannes in southern France. Midnight in Paris apparently offers a nostalgic appreciation of Paris with historic vignettes of famous Americans who were active in Parisian culture … Continue reading →

Posted in French History, Historical Film, History in the Media | Leave a comment