What historical figures do you feel haven’t had a definitive film made about their lives. Some might say Billy the Kid, who had multiple fictional stories and films. For me, it is Manfred Von Richthofen. I wonder if it ever will be possible one day to make a proper, more accurate film on Richthofen's life, given we already have the fictional dramas of 1971’s Von Richthofen and Brown and 2008’s The Red Baron? It doesn't have to be great, it just has to be the best piece of media which presents the best available version of the story. It should be done with respect to accuracy and feature the use of actual planes or good cgi. Well, I can dream.
Historical figures who have never had a definitive film version of their lives :
Sam Fraser :
19 days ago :
No.5856
General Lee and General Sherman
Juan Lavalle
James Brooke, the "White Rajah" of Sarawak. Adventurer, pirate-exterminator, possible paederast, and the closest thing in history to a good imperialist. There was a feature film about him a few years ago but it's very workmanlike.
Joseph Bazalgette
Colin Chapman
Tewodros II
Buddha
Paul von Lettov-Vorbeck
>>No.5858
The 2002 miniseries starring Christian Clavier is probably the closet. Not saying it doesn’t have its problems but it tells the story as it is. In regards to television, I guess it shows that TV can be more more helpful in trying to depict a life
Sam Fraser :
19 days ago :
No.5870
>>5872
>>5870
I find it arguable that there can be such thing as a definitive portrayal. Bruno Ganz was superb as Hitler, but undoubtedly there could be other equivalently good portrayals.
>>5876>>5870
> Interestingly, Julie Carmen, who co-stars along Kilmer in "Billy the Kid" was one of those who paid tribute to him on his death.
I'm sorry, and this is not to be snarky: what is interesting there?
I clean up two things:
1. I mentioned Billy the Kid at the start of this thread. The famous outlaw seems to be still more myth than fact, due to the countless portrayals of him on screen and TV, most of them are more fiction than following any aspects of the real man. Even the Young Guns films took more dramatic license than necessary. While receiving little general attention, the 1989 TV-movie Billy the Kid starring the late Val Kilmer seems to have a cult following especially with those who study the historical Billy the Kid due to its comparative historical fidelity. Kilmer was praised for his portrayal based on his extensive work to not only physically resemble the real Billy the Kid as much as possible, but also to capture his personality as related in historical accounts. Interestingly, Julie Carmen, who co-stars along Kilmer in "Billy the Kid" was one of those who paid tribute to him on his death.
So in this case, perhaps I could have just used “definitive” only, since historical figures can also be used for TV than film.
2. By “definitive”, this thread is not counting any people who may already have a definitive portrayal of them (basically a actor that was so good they are regarded as the best image that one conjures up in regards to a portrayal), examples, being Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, and Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler. The thread is to discuss figures who have not had a definitive potrayal. The figure in question may have already some films, but not exactly one that is regarded as the best version, or they may have had yet to be the subject of a film. Any figures are allowed, regardless of whether they are famous, or famous but not exactly that famous.
One last thing, in regards to Presidents, James A. Garfield has been a subject of people feeling he should be remembered more. Often overlooked except for his assassination, historians take note that he had the potential to be a great president, especially as he has earned praise for his anti-corruption and pro-civil rights stances. Interestingly, Garfield will be played by Michael Shannon in the upcoming Netflix miniseries Death by Lightning. Would like to see William McKinley have a film too, especially as he was overshadowed by TR. There are enough movies and TV series about Lincoln and Kennedy, it will be interesting to see Garfield and McKinley.
Anonymous :
19 days ago :
No.5872
>>5873
>>5872
Fair point. I mentioned Daniel Day Lewis in regards to Abraham Lincoln, but that is because he was RECENT. Hal Holbrook portrayed Lincoln in the 1974 miniseries Carl Sandburg's Lincoln and I have seen some people cite him as the best Lincoln
>>5870
I clean up two things:
1. I mentioned Billy the Kid at the start of this thread. The famous outlaw seems to be still more myth than fact, due to the countless portrayals of him on screen and TV, most of them are more fiction than following any aspects of the real man. Even the Young Guns films took more dramatic license than necessary. While receiving little general attention, the 1989 TV-movie Billy the Kid starring the late Val Kilmer seems to have a cult following especially with those who study the historical Billy the Kid due to its comparative historical fidelity. Kilmer was praised for his portrayal based on his extensive work to not only physically resemble the real Billy the Kid as much as possible, but also to capture his personality as related in historical accounts. Interestingly, Julie Carmen, who co-stars along Kilmer in "Billy the Kid" was one of those who paid tribute to him on his death.
So in this case, perhaps I could have just used “definitive” only, since historical figures can also be used for TV than film.
2. By “definitive”, this thread is not counting any people who may already have a definitive portrayal of them (basically a actor that was so good they are regarded as the best image that one conjures up in regards to a portrayal), examples, being Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, and Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler. The thread is to discuss figures who have not had a definitive potrayal. The figure in question may have already some films, but not exactly one that is regarded as the best version, or they may have had yet to be the subject of a film. Any figures are allowed, regardless of whether they are famous, or famous but not exactly that famous.
I find it arguable that there can be such thing as a definitive portrayal. Bruno Ganz was superb as Hitler, but undoubtedly there could be other equivalently good portrayals.
>>5872
>>5870
I find it arguable that there can be such thing as a definitive portrayal. Bruno Ganz was superb as Hitler, but undoubtedly there could be other equivalently good portrayals.
Fair point. I mentioned Daniel Day Lewis in regards to Abraham Lincoln, but that is because he was RECENT. Hal Holbrook portrayed Lincoln in the 1974 miniseries Carl Sandburg's Lincoln and I have seen some people cite him as the best Lincoln
>>5870
I clean up two things:
1. I mentioned Billy the Kid at the start of this thread. The famous outlaw seems to be still more myth than fact, due to the countless portrayals of him on screen and TV, most of them are more fiction than following any aspects of the real man. Even the Young Guns films took more dramatic license than necessary. While receiving little general attention, the 1989 TV-movie Billy the Kid starring the late Val Kilmer seems to have a cult following especially with those who study the historical Billy the Kid due to its comparative historical fidelity. Kilmer was praised for his portrayal based on his extensive work to not only physically resemble the real Billy the Kid as much as possible, but also to capture his personality as related in historical accounts. Interestingly, Julie Carmen, who co-stars along Kilmer in "Billy the Kid" was one of those who paid tribute to him on his death.
So in this case, perhaps I could have just used “definitive” only, since historical figures can also be used for TV than film.
2. By “definitive”, this thread is not counting any people who may already have a definitive portrayal of them (basically a actor that was so good they are regarded as the best image that one conjures up in regards to a portrayal), examples, being Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, and Bruno Ganz as Adolf Hitler. The thread is to discuss figures who have not had a definitive potrayal. The figure in question may have already some films, but not exactly one that is regarded as the best version, or they may have had yet to be the subject of a film. Any figures are allowed, regardless of whether they are famous, or famous but not exactly that famous.
> Interestingly, Julie Carmen, who co-stars along Kilmer in "Billy the Kid" was one of those who paid tribute to him on his death.
I'm sorry, and this is not to be snarky: what is interesting there?
>> 5876
It is interesting because the 1989 Billy the Kid is mostly forgotten, yet one of his co stars from that particular role of his, remembered him well. The fact she suggests in her tribute he brought Billy the Kid to life, considering he would gain more recognition for Doc Holliday suggests what a broad range Val Kilmer had.
I don't know if this will be too big for a film but some people wonder why we haven't had film portrayals of war aces Robert Stanford Tuck, Ginger Lacey, and Adolf Galland. Lacey shot down the second most German planes in the Nattle of Britain and finished with a total of 28 for the war. Tuck shot down 29 and was captured and imprisoned for much of the war. Galland became head of Luftwaffe fighters and was famous for speaking his mind to authority. In the 1969 War Film "Battle of Britain", Robert Shaw's "Skipper" character is an obvious stand-in for Adolf "Sailor" Malan, while a German pilot, "Major Falke" represents Galland. Some viewers have wondered why they created fictionalized versions, when so many other actual historical figures were featured. Major Falke who gets to say Galland’s famous line about Goring giving his squadron some Spitfires. Galland wondered why they did not use his name for the character.
I can see why some don't like the composite characters. Are you telling me there were not enough true to life participants to build a movie around? Why have a Major Falke when you could have Adolf Galland himself? Where is Robert Stanford Tuck? How about Douglas Bader (who was played by Kenneth More in the film "Reach for the sky"? Tuck and Galland became close friends because of the experience and Tuck became Galland’s son’s godfather.
I don’t know if Ian Fleming has had a proper biopic, though I know that Charles Dance had been regarded as perfectly cast, even if the film he was in, 1989’s Goldeneye, was not a good script.
Okay, enough of my suggestions. From now, anyone can say their lot.
I have to say, I am interested in some of the names considered. I have never heard of some of them. Goes to show you can learn something new every day. :)
Anonymous :
18 days ago :
No.5907
>>6071
>>5907
It is not Brown but the upcoming Netflix miniseries "Death by Lightning", will starred Michael Shannon as Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as Guiteau. From what I have read, it will last for four episodes and follow Garfield's brief presidency as well as the lead up to Garfield's shooting and ultimate death. Shannon and Macfadyen even particularly excite me as actors, so I have to sought it out.
>>5874
John Brown- not an original observation but he even looks like Willem Dafoe
Michael Shannon
Metternich, though it would be a slog.
Anonymous :
14 days ago :
No.5970
>>5972
>>5970
I think he's pretty well-known. Don't know what kind of history buff are you encountering, lol.
Tamerlane. Bro went from some random guy in a random tribe to conquering Central Asia and much of the Middle East within a few decades in incredibly brutal ways, yet he is completely unknown to the average western normie, even supposed history buffs.
>>5970
Tamerlane. Bro went from some random guy in a random tribe to conquering Central Asia and much of the Middle East within a few decades in incredibly brutal ways, yet he is completely unknown to the average western normie, even supposed history buffs.
I think he's pretty well-known. Don't know what kind of history buff are you encountering, lol.
>>5907
>>5874
Michael Shannon
It is not Brown but the upcoming Netflix miniseries "Death by Lightning", will starred Michael Shannon as Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as Guiteau. From what I have read, it will last for four episodes and follow Garfield's brief presidency as well as the lead up to Garfield's shooting and ultimate death. Shannon and Macfadyen even particularly excite me as actors, so I have to sought it out.