In honor of the July 4 holiday (hurray for long weekends!), I have been mulling over my favorite patriotic movies. It’s not a clear-cut category, or one that I devote thought to regularly, so it’s been fun writing down ideas.
I limited myself to movies I’ve personally seen, so maybe by next year this list will have better representation. So, no Mr. Smith Goes to Washington…it’s on my to-watch list. Okay, here goes:
5. The Patriot (2000)
The Patriot is an award winner for Best Cinematography, and generally well-acted by all involved (especially Heath Ledger, the role chameleon). A moving reminder that the Revolutionary War was fought by real people, and probably felt much different than the glorified paintings we see in our text books.
4. Holiday Inn (1942)
Holiday Inn is a classic musical starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds. Bing’s character, Jim Hardy, leaves his glamorous life in show business after his “friend” Ted (Fred Astaire) steals his girlfriend. Jim buys a decrepit farm house and turns it into an inn that is only open on major holidays. He and new friend Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds) present live musical performances for each holiday’s theme, and quickly become a phenomenon…until Ted arrives to steal the show (and the girl) again. Fred Astaire’s Fourth of July tap dance with firecrackers makes this movie a must-see: click here.
3. 1776 (1972)
Another musical, but this one is more educational. Everyone should see 1776. It depicts the days of arguments and compromises it took for the now-famous members of the Continental Congress (Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) to finally agree on a Declaration of Independence. 1776 is funny and interesting – better than any American History lecture I’ve ever slept, er, sat through.
2. Thirteen Days (2000)
Probably we could all stand to learn more about the Cuban Missile Crisis. This may be the most gripping historical drama I’ve ever seen, recounting the feverish thirteen days during which the Kennedy brothers (played by Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp) and their trusted friend, White House Aide Kenny O’Donnell (Kevin Costner) worked through the night to ensure that the U.S. would narrowly avoid nuclear war. Like the tag line says: you’ll never believe how close we came. Much of the script comes from White House transcripts, and the strategic brilliance of these men is impressive.
1. The Sandlot (1993)
If you have not seen The Sandlot, you’re really missing out. This is the quintessential movie about youth, friendship, summer, baseball…you get the idea. Plus it has lines that have probably made you feel left out for years when everyone else laughs knowingly (“you’re killing me, Smalls!”). Every Fourth of July I select the three-minute night game sequence on the DVD and get my fix. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of my own childhood, but I just love that scene: click here to watch it.
1 Comment
March 19, 2009 at 12:48 am
the neighborhood gang, the 4th of July, and the ball yard, it really doesn’t get much better than that, watchfl.
Great choice!