25. Politics and government
Two types of politicians appear in films of the past, honest and good, or dishonest and bad. Often the two are juxtaposed against each other. Some films of the past attempted to rehabilitate the reputation of real-life American politicians, such as Bob Hope’s portrayal of New York Mayor Jimmy Walker in Beau James (1957). Other films present American politicians entirely in fiction, such as All the King’s Men in 1949. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was entirely fictional, though the corrupt influence of political machines displayed in the film were a large part of American history.
Films about real political events often became as controversial as the events themselves. All the President’s Men, a story mostly about journalism, earned condemnation from conservatives who believed it falsely portrayed the Nixon Administration. Like American politics themselves, political films going back to the 1930s polarized audiences, depending on the point of view of the protagonist in comparison to their own. America has always been a contentious, squabbling, nation when it comes to politics, and films offer a glimpse into how past generations managed to resolve their differences and keep the nation growing.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Film as Social and Cultural History”. History Matter, George Mason University. Online
“Movies as the Gateway to History”. Paul B. Weinstein, The History Teacher Journal. November, 2001
“The Oscars: Why Hollywood Tales Become ‘Real’ History”. Tia Ghose, Live Science. February 22, 2013
“History on Film. Film on History”. Robert A. Rosenstone
“The History on Film Reader”. Marnie Hughes-Warrington. 2009
“Product Placement in Hollywood Films”. Kerry Segrave. 2004
“The Best 50 Movies of the 1940s”. Staff, Paste Magazine. March 4, 2017. Online
“100 Essential Thrillers”. Listing, British Film Institute. Online
“The Most Important Movies of the 1950s”. Christopher McKittrick, liveabout.com
“10 great American films of the 1970s”. Oliver Lunn, British Film Institute. April 12, 2017. Online
“The 22 best political movies ever, ranked”. Jason Guerrasio, Business Insider. Online