Films about civil war typically explore the human cost and societal impact of internal conflicts within a country. These films often delve into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the struggle for justice amid the chaos of war.
“Glory”, 1989
Director: Edward Zwick
This film follows the story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first African-American units in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It portrays the bravery and challenges faced by the soldiers as they fight for their freedom and equality.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Jihmi Kennedy, Andre Braugher, John Finn, Donovan Leitch Jr., JD Cullum, Alan North, Bob Gunton, Cliff De Young, Christian Baskous, RonReaco Lee, Jay O. Sanders, Richard Riehle, Daniel Jenkins, Michael Guess, Abdul Salaam El Razzac, Peter Michael Goetz, Pete Munro, Benji Wilhoite, Ethan Phillips, Mark A. Levy, Randell Haynes, Afemo Omilami, Keith Noble, Dan Biggers, Marc Gowan, Raymond Godshall Jr., Bob Minor, Joan Riordan, Saundra Dunson-Franks, Mark A. Jones, Peter Grandfield, Mark Margolis, Paul Desmond, Tom Barrington, Michael Fowler, Richard «Dub» Wright, Joseph Alex, Jane Alexander, Mario Biazzo, Frank Blair, Carla Brothers, Thomas Callahan, Bill Chemerka, Sheila Cochran, Gary O. Crane, Tony Freeman;
Production year: 1989;
Genre: war, biography, history, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 122 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Glory” on the website imdb.com
“Cold Mountain”, 2003
Director: Anthony Minghella
Set during the American Civil War, this film tells the love story of a Confederate soldier and a woman who struggles to survive on her farm in North Carolina. It captures the harsh realities of war and the longing for reunion amidst the chaos.
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Kathy Baker, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi, Donald Sutherland, Eileen Atkins, Charlie Hunnam, James Gammon, Jack White, Ethan Suplee, Jena Malone, Melora Walters, Lucas Black, Taryn Manning, Tom Aldredge, James Rebhorn, Emily Deschanel, Robin Mullins, Ben Allison, Trey Howell, Alex Hassell, Jay Tavare, William Boyer, Christopher Fennell, Erik Smith, Cillian Murphy, Richard Brake, Sean Gleeson, Rasool Jahan, Hank Stone, Mark Jeffrey Miller, Afemo Omilami, Chet Dixon, Jamie Lee, Jen Apgar, Katherine Durio, Martin Pemberton, Leonard Woodcock, William Roberts, Dean Whitworth, Kristen Nicole LaPrade, David Abrams, Christopher Blackmore, Silvian Duica, Bo Fuller;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: drama, melodrama, adventure, war;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 148 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Cold Mountain” on the website imdb.com
“Gone with the Wind”, 1939
Director: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
This classic film is set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and follows the tumultuous romantic entanglements of its characters amid the war's devastation and aftermath.
Starring: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Oscar Polk, Hattie McDaniel, Everett Brown, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O'Neil, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, George Reeves, Fred Crane, Butterfly McQueen, Victor Jory, Howard Hickman, Alicia Rhett, Rand Brooks, Carroll Nye, Laura Hope Crews, Eddie «Rochester» Anderson, Harry Davenport, Leona Roberts, Jane Darwell, Ona Munson, Paul Hurst, Isabel Jewell, Cammie King Conlon, Eric Linden, J.M. Kerrigan, Ward Bond, Jackie Moran, Cliff Edwards, Lillian Kemble-Cooper, Yakima Canutt, Marcella Martin, Louis Jean Heydt, Mickey Kuhn, Olin Howland, Irving Bacon, Robert Elliott, William Bakewell, Mary Anderson, John Albright, Eric Alden, John Arledge, Roscoe Ates, Trevor Bardette, Dorothy Barrett, Janet Barrett;
Production year: 1939;
Genre: melodrama, history, drama, war;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 222 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “Gone with the Wind” on the website imdb.com
“Lincoln”, 2012
Director: Steven Spielberg
Focused on the political struggle to pass the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery in the United States, this film offers a glimpse into President Abraham Lincoln's efforts to navigate the Civil War and push for legislative change.
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce McGill, Tim Blake Nelson, Joseph Cross, Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Peter McRobbie, Gulliver McGrath, Gloria Reuben, Jeremy Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Boris McGiver, David Costabile, Stephen Spinella, Walton Goggins, David Warshofsky, Colman Domingo, David Oyelowo, Lukas Haas, Dane DeHaan, Carlos Thompson, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Byron Jennings, Julie White, Charmaine White, Ralph D. Edlow, Grainger Hines, Richard Topol, Walter Smith, Dakin Matthews, James «Ike» Eichling, Wayne Duvall, Bill Raymond, Michael Stanton Kennedy, Ford Flannagan, Robert Ayers, Robert Peters, John Moon, Kevin Lawrence O'Donnell, Jamie Horton, Joe Dellinger;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 150 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Lincoln” on the website imdb.com
“Gettysburg”, 1993
Director: Ron Maxwell
This film chronicles the Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal moment in the American Civil War, and provides a detailed portrayal of the events that unfolded during the conflict.
Starring: Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, Stephen Lang, Richard Jordan, Andrew Prine, Cooper Huckabee, Patrick Gorman, Bo Brinkman, James Lancaster, William Morgan Sheppard, Kieran Mulroney, James Patrick Stuart, Tim Ruddy, Royce D. Applegate, Ivan Kane, Warren Burton, MacIntyre Dixon, Joseph Fuqua, Timothy Scott, George Lazenby, Alex Harvey, Charles Lester Kinsolving, Ted Kozlosky, Henry Atterbury, Graham Winton, Curtis Bradford, Daniel Chamblin, Patrick Falci, Greg Ginther, George Heffner, Tom Landon, Trent Walker, Rick Leisenring, Steve Leone, Tom Mays, Frank McGurgan, Peter Miller, Arnold Nisley, Ted Rebich, Curtis Utz, C. George Werner, Joe Ayer, Eric Ayer, Jeff Daniels, Sam Elliott, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin Conway, Brian Mallon, Buck Taylor, John Diehl;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 271 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Gettysburg” on the website imdb.com
These films about civil war capture the complexities of human experience during times of internal strife and the enduring impact of such conflicts on individuals and societies.
The selection of films about civil war presents a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience amidst the chaos and conflict of war. Each film delves into the complexities of ideology, morality, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. From epic battle scenes to intimate personal struggles, these films capture the emotional, social, and political upheaval that accompanies civil war, offering a window into the profound impact of such conflicts on individuals and societies. Through their powerful storytelling and compelling characters, these films remind us of the enduring significance of history and the importance of empathy and understanding in the face of division and strife.
