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Title: History Goes to the Movies : A Viewer's Guide to the Best (and Some of the Worst) Historical Films Ever Made by JOSEPH H. ROQUEMORE ISBN: 0-385-49678-8 Publisher: Main Street Books Pub. Date: 09 November, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.55 (11 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Nuggets
Comment: "History Goes to the Movies" is filled with historical nuggets, interesting episodes and facts from the past that most general readers would be very unlikely to ever read in another source. Hollywood movies, of course, overflow with political correctness, and it is refreshing indeed to read this gem of a book which over and over sets the record straight with facts, not polemics. Parents should keep this book handy. Most young people today read little history. Perhaps after viewing an historical movie our children will be motivated to pick up this well written book, read a few pages and learn something about the true historical context of the movie they just viewed.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent reference guide for movies and history
Comment: This has become one of my bedside books. I love not only the movie reviews themselves, but also the insightful summaries of the related historical events, sometimes rather obscure and difficult to find in mainstream history books.
I do disagree with Roquemore's judgement sometimes: for instance, he definitely did not do his homework as far as "Braveheart" is concerned, as I believe another reviewer has already noted. And I don't understand why he chose to review the 1934 "Cleopatra" rather than the far better known 1963 version - which is also better history, by the way, apart from the overly extravagant costumes and sets.
As for his supposed political biases: he obviously dislikes PC movies of the "Dances with Wolves" sort, and as far as the Spanish Civil War is concerned, he is skeptical of the Republic, which is very far from being pro-Franco. Finally, when reviewing Oliver Stone's "Nixon", he says something to the effect that, without exonerating Nixon, it is clear that everyone involved (including the press) behaved badly during the Watergate crisis - - this kind of thing.
As already mentioned, Roquemore tears to shreds Oliver Stone's movies (as far as their historical content is concerned) - rightly, in my opinion.
That is what leads some to regard his views as "right-wing". I consider this to be utter nonsense. Actually, I strongly suggest that those whose historical perception of the Kennedy - Nixon era has been formed by Stone's films would profit greatly by reading this book.
Rating: 5
Summary: Bring it to the video store
Comment: Believe the favorable reviews here; disregard the unfavorable. Roquemore's ratings don't trumpet one or the other sort of politics. Rather, the book focuses on historical accuracy-i.e., objective truth. Movies that are true to fact receive more stars than fictionalized "based ons." Yes, this penalizes Oliver Stone, but properly so.
That being said, Roquemore knows a good yarn when he sees it. For example, his review of Billy Wyler's "The Westerner" (three stars out of five) begins: "One of the finest westerns ever-and a hatful of hokum as historical biography." So Roquemore does acknowledge cases where history properly is sacrificed to drama.
One more point: Roquemore includes enough (lucid) historical background with each movie that the book is a great and informative read on its own.
My trips to the video store begin with a list from "History Goes to the Movies."
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Title: Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies (Henry Holt Reference Book) by Mark C. Carnes, Ted Mico, John Miller-Monzon, David Rubel ISBN: 0805037608 Publisher: Owl Books (NY) Pub. Date: 01 November, 1996 List Price(USD): $22.50 |
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Title: Reel V. Real: How Hollywood Turns Fact into Fiction by Frank Sanello ISBN: 0878332685 Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: History by Hollywood: The Use and Abuse of the American Past by Robert Brent Toplin ISBN: 0252065360 Publisher: University of Illinois Press Pub. Date: 01 July, 1996 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Reel History: In Defense of Hollywood (Cultureamerica) by Robert Brent Toplin ISBN: 0700612009 Publisher: University Press of Kansas Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Hollywood As Historian: American Film in a Cultural Context by Peter C. Rollins ISBN: 0813109515 Publisher: University Press of Kentucky Pub. Date: 01 June, 1997 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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