Historical Films

Spartacus is a 1960 American epic historical drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas in the title role, a slave who leads a rebellion against Rome and the events of the Third Servile War. Adapted by Dalton Trumbo from Howard Fast's 1951 novel of the same title, the film also stars Laurence Olivier as Roman general and politician Marcus Licinius Crassus, Charles Laughton as Sempronius Gracchus, Peter Ustinov as slave trader Lentulus Batiatus, and John Gavin as Julius Caesar. Jean Simmons played Spartacus' wife Varinia, a fictional character, and Tony Curtis played the fictional slave Antoninus.

The Robe is a 1953 American fictional Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that is responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. The film was released by 20th Century Fox and was the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope. Like other early CinemaScope films, The Robe was shot with Henri Chrétien's original Hypergonar anamorphic lenses. The film was directed by Henry Koster and produced by Frank Ross. The screenplay was adapted from Lloyd C. Douglas's 1942 novel by Gina Kaus, Albert Maltz, and Philip Dunne—although Maltz's place among the blacklisted Hollywood 10 led to his being denied his writing credit for many years. The score was composed by Alfred Newman, and the cinematography was by Leon Shamroy. The film stars Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature and Michael Rennie, and co-stars Jay Robinson, Dean Jagger, Torin Thatcher, Richard Boone, Betta St. John, Jeff Morrow, Ernest Thesiger, and others. "A sequel, Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), continues from where The Robe ends." Wikipedia

The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) is an Italian epic film directed by Sergio Leone, marking his debut as a credited director. Starring Rory Calhoun, the film is a fictional retelling of events on the island of Rhodes during the late third century BCE, a period before Roman control. Set against the backdrop of the towering Colossus of Rhodes, the story follows a war hero who becomes entangled in two separate conspiracies to overthrow a tyrannical king: one led by Rhodian patriots, the other by Phoenician agents. Unlike most films of the genre, which are typically set in classical Greece or Roman times, The Colossus of Rhodes is one of the few epics to take place during the Hellenistic era, a unique historical period after Alexander the Great's death but before the rise of the Roman Empire. This film is notable for being Leone’s least-known work and the only one of his films not featuring a score by Ennio Morricone.

El Cid - 1961 (HD) | Epic Movie: Starring Sophia Loren & Charlton Heston. El Cid is a 1961 epic historical drama film directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Samuel Bronston. The film is loosely based on the life of the 11th-century Castilian knight and warlord Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called "El Cid" (from the Arabic al-sidi, meaning "The Lord"). The film stars Charlton Heston in the title role and Sophia Loren as El Cid's wife Doña Jimena, spelled "Chimene" in the script and pronounced that way (shim-ain) in the film. The screenplay is credited to Fredric M. Frank, Philip Yordan and Ben Barzman, with uncredited contributions by Bernard Gordon.

The Alamo is a 1960 American epic historical war film about the 1836 Siege and Battle of the Alamo produced and directed by John Wayne and starring Wayne as Davy Crockett. The film also co-stars Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B. Travis, and features: Frankie Avalon, Patrick Wayne, Linda Cristal, Joan O'Brien, Chill Wills, Joseph Calleia, Ken Curtis, Ruben Padilla as Santa Anna, and Richard Boone as Sam Houston. Shot in 70 mm Todd-AO by William H. Clothier, it was released by United Artists.

The Birth of a Nation - 1915 (HD) | Controversial film. The Birth of a Nation, originally called The Clansman, is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play The Clansman. Griffith co-wrote the screenplay with Frank E. Woods and produced the film with Harry Aitken. The Birth of a Nation - 1915 (HD) | Controversial film. Caution The following movie doesn't represent our channel values, because contains stereotypes that were wrong when it was created and still being wrong today. Nevertheless, has been included in our portfolio to show the harmful impact that could produce the seventh art in that period. The mistakes of the past should be a lesson to learn, and cultivate a more inclusive future for all. The film shows how, even in 1915, the wounds of the Civil War in the United States were still healing, wounds that were then finally healed, paradoxically, by a nobel cause fighting a common enemy, during the First and Second World Wars...

Wings - 1927 (Gershwin | HD): Starring Clara Bow. Wings is a 1927 American silent and synchronized sound film known for winning the first Academy Award for Best Picture. Due to the general public's apathy towards silent films, the film was quickly re-released in 1928 with synchronized sound. While the sound version of the film has no audible dialogue, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects. The film stars Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and Richard Arlen. Rogers and Arlen portray World War I combat pilots in a romantic rivalry over a woman. It was produced by Lucien Hubbard, directed by William A. Wellman, and released by Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation. Gary Cooper appears in a small role, which helped launch his career in Hollywood. The film entered the public domain in the United States in 2023. Remastered and musically edited by Rueda Books & Arts.

The Four Feathers (HD) is a 1939 British Technicolor adventure film directed by Zoltan Korda, starring John Clements, Ralph Richardson, June Duprez, and C. Aubrey Smith. Set during the reign of Queen Victoria, it tells the story of a man accused of cowardice and his efforts to redeem his name. It is widely regarded as the best of the numerous film adaptations of the 1902 novel of the same name by A.E.W. Mason. "This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in 1902, before the cutoff of January 1, 1929. The longest-living author of this work died in 1948, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or less" Wikipedia Remastered by Rueda Books & Arts / Some inappropriate scenes for family audiences were removed.

Jesus of Nazareth (1977), directed by the legendary Franco Zeffirelli, is an epic television drama that brings to life the profound story of Jesus Christ, from his miraculous birth to his ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. Co-written by renowned authors Anthony Burgess and Suso Cecchi d'Amico, this monumental production features Robert Powell in an iconic portrayal of Jesus, surrounded by a stellar cast that includes Academy Award winners Anne Bancroft, Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Quinn, and many more. This cinematic masterpiece delves deep into the human and divine aspects of Christ’s life, presenting a nuanced Judas Iscariot, manipulated by the scheming Zerah, and the compassionate figures of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. While some miracles, like the transfiguration and the calming of the storm, are omitted, the film showcases powerful scenes such as the raising of Lazarus, the healing of Jairus’s daughter, and the feeding of the multitude. Premiered in 1977, Jesus of Nazareth captivated global audiences, earning widespread acclaim for its artistic vision, emotional depth, and Robert Powell’s extraordinary performance, which continues to resonate with viewers around the world. #history #religion #jesus #classicmovies