Customer Reviews

American History on the Screen: A Teachers Resource Book on Film and Video

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This book is a good resource for any American History teacher. The information contained is probably at a middle school level, but can be applied to a variety of age levels from elementary to secondary. I am studying to be a high school history teacher and I know I'll be able to use this book in my classroom.

Seventeen movies (Three Sovereigns for Sarah, The Patriot, Amistad, Glory, Dances with Wolves, Hester Street, Shoulder Arms, Matewan, The Grapes of Wrath, Air Force, Dr. Strangelove, The Long Walk Home, American Graffiti, Nightbreaker, My Darling Clementine, Gunfight at the OK Corral, and Doc) are outlined in the book. Each movie is broken down into the following sections: Background, Plot synopsis, Ideas for class discussion, books and materials relating to this film and topic, other media resources for this time period, major characters and the actors portraying them, and what to watch for. Also included with each movie is a worksheet that features vocabulary terms and questions about the film. For example, the worksheet for The Patriot feature vocabulary terms such as dragoons, Gullah, and maroon. This is what a typical question about the movie looks like:
How do the Rebel army commanders view the militia's performance in conventional battle formations? What alternative uses does Benjamin Martin suggest for them? How do the British view these tactics?

In addition to the seventeen movies listed above, there is also a special teacher's guide to feature films and documentary sources for the Vietnam War. This is mostly a list of movies about the Vietnam War and short summaries about the films, but it could be useful for someone looking for more resources. The book also contains a "Film Analysis Guide Sheet" that students could use for each film. It address such topics as how accurate the film is and what cinematic devices the filmmaker uses to convey meaning or feeling in the film. Finally, the book features a case study on The OK Corral Gunfight that addresses three separate films and how they portray the event.

Overall, I believe the book would be a great resource for any history teacher. It may not quite be at the level you're looking for, but it can always be adapted for different age levels.

Great resource for learning about US history by seeing it recreated in fun/challenging movies to watch with your family or class.