The Historical Movies Podcast

Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris (2022) Nostalgia, the 1950s, Dior and a Fairy Tale Ruined? 08.09.2026 57min

In this episode of Historical Movies, we step into the glamorous world of Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (2022) and ask why this seemingly delightful fairy tale really misses the mark.We ask whether this movie’s problems stem from the source material: the book with almost the same name (Mrs. ‘Arris Goes To Paris) by Paul Gallico - a man who was, according to his own words ‘a rotten novelist’.And what is it about the movie itself that doesn’t work? Too much woke, lazy historical framing or contradictory moral narrative?We take a look at some of the real history behind the film — postwar Britain and the extraordinary rise of Christian Dior with the revolutionary “New Look” of 1947. Plus we look at Yves Saint Laurent’s short and ill-fated stint as head of Dior following Christian Dior’s death in 1957.Join Ros Evans and Prof. Bryce Evans for this episode of the Historical Movies Podcast!📩 Have you seen Mrs Harris Goes to Paris? Could Mrs Harris really have afforded that Dior dress? Have a favourite historical movie we should cover? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.#MrsHarrisGoesToParis#ChristianDior#Dior#FashionHistory#1950s#BritishHistory#FilmHistory#HistoricalMovies#HauteCouture#PostwarBritain#Paris #Woke

Inglourious Basterds (2009) - Is this Tarantino's Masterpiece and what makes it SO GOOD? 11.08.2026 55min

Inglourious Basterds (2009) is Quentin Tarantino's best film to date and has some of the greatest scenes in cinema for a generation. In this episode of the Historical Movies Podcast we take a look at everything that makes Inglourious Basterds a masterpiece.We examine how Tarantino creates suspense through direction, camera work and language. We talk through Operation Greenup - the real history behind Inglorious Basterds - Bryce (professor of Modern World History) gives us his historical take on the depiction of World War 2. And we examine Tarantino's attention to detail that gives this movie it's charm and flair.Plus:• What exactly is wrong with Michael Fassbender's German accent• Tarantino's obsessive attention to detail• Why Inglourious Basterds feels so radically different from traditional World War II dramas• Christoph Waltz’s iconic performance as Hans Landa, and how Tarantino nearly shelved the entire movie because he couldn't find the right actor• The incredible tension of the basement tavern scene, and the tiny details that escalate a quiet drink into a bloody shootout 📩 What do you think? Are you raising your boot of beer to Inglourious Basterds or are rolling out the 1-star review like Peter Bradshaw? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.#InglouriousBasterds#QuentinTarantino #BradPitt #ChristophWaltz #FilmHistory #WWII #Cinema #HistoricalMovies #HistoricalMoviesPodcast #MovieReview

The Impossible Job (1994) Graham Taylor, England and the Greatest Football Documentary Ever! 07.07.2026 47min

A World Cup Special for our 50th episode: we take look at Channel 4's extraordinary 1994 film The Impossible Job which forever immortalised by Graham Taylor's unforgettable lament, "Do I not like that."Following England manager Graham Taylor through the disastrous 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign, The Impossible Job captured something that simply couldn't exist today: total access, zero media training, no sanitised messaging, and every frustration and f-bomb left in the final edit.Thirty years later, we ask whether this documentary permanently changed the relationship between football, television, and the people running the game.We discuss: • Why The Impossible Job feels so radically different from modern sports documentaries • The incredible behind-the-scenes stories, including cameras being smuggled into stadiums after the Dutch FA tried to ban filming • Bryce's unforgettable week training alongside Paul Gascoigne (Gazza)• Whether England's famous "Old Guard" ever truly respected Graham Taylor• The ruthless culture of the 1990s British tabloid press, and how headlines like "Swedes 2, Turnip 1" helped destroy Taylor's public reputation despite his remarkable success with Watford and Aston Villa• Why the documentary became a watershed moment for sports broadcasting • A detour into the strange world of World Cup mascots, from Italia '90's minimalist "Ciao" to animated mascot spin-offs• An entirely unnecessary—but surprisingly passionate—linguistic analysis of why "Do I not like that" became one of football's greatest catchphrases.📩 What do you think? Is The Impossible Job still the greatest football documentary ever made, or could something like it be made today? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social. #TheImpossibleJob #GrahamTaylor #England #FootballHistory #Documentary #WorldCup #PaulGascoigne #Gazza #HistoricalMovies #HistoricalMoviesPodcast #SportsDocumentary

Michael (2026) The Michael Jackson Movie Controversy: What Was Left Out and Does it Matter? 23.06.2026 48min

What did they change and why did they change it? Does it matter and shouldn't we all just shut up and enjoy the hit parade of 'Michael Jackson the Early Years'?Michael (2026), the Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, has already become one of the most controversial films of the decade. Long before its release, the Michael Jackson movie sparked debate over historical accuracy, artistic responsibility, and whether a film about one of the world's most famous entertainers can ever avoid the controversies that surrounded his life.We also examine the wider history behind the film itself. Why did this project take so long to reach the screen? How involved was the Jackson estate? What were the biggest controversies during production? And why have discussions about the film often become as heated as discussions about Michael Jackson himself?We discuss:• The 4 hour first cut of this movie• What critics, fans and commentators are arguing about• How the story completely changed during production• What the movie includes — and what it leaves out• Jaafar Jackson's performance as Michael Jackson• The role of the Jackson estate in the production• Historical accuracy versus dramatic storytelling• Whether any Michael Jackson biopic can ever satisfy everyone 📩 What do you think? Does Michael strike the right balance, or was controversy inevitable from the start? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social. #MichaelMovie #MichaelJackson #Michael2026 #MichaelJacksonBiopic #JaafarJackson #MovieControversy #FilmHistory #HistoricalMovies #Biopic #MovieReview

The Secret Agent (2025) the Meaning, the Ending, the CRUCIAL Historical Context & the Hairy Leg!! 09.06.2026 43min

In this episode of Historical Movies, we unpack and explain The Secret Agent (2025) — breaking down its plot, characters, themes, and ending, while exploring the turbulent historical period of Brazil in the 1970s that gives the film its meaning.We also discuss why it won none of the 4 Oscars it was nominated for, why it represents the genius of filmmaking and the real life legend of the Hairy Leg!Kleber Mendonça Filho's The Secret Agent (2025) has been hailed as one of the year's most acclaimed films set against the backdrop of Brazil's military dictatorship. But it's also a deliberately elusive film, told through an unconventional narrative structure that withholds information, shifts perspectives, and gradually reveals the true shape of its story. We also explore the history behind the film, from political repression and censorship.Understanding this historical context is crucial to understanding what The Secret Agent is trying to say — and why its story is told the way it is.How does the film's fragmented storytelling work? Why does it reveal key events indirectly? And how does its atmosphere of paranoia, surveillance, and uncertainty reflect the realities of life under Brazil's military regime in the 1970s?We discuss: • How the film's unusual narrative won over critics but divided audiences • Brazil's military dictatorship and the political climate of the 1970s • The ending • Why the film's historical setting is essential to understanding its deeper meaning Plus: how filmmakers portray authoritarian societies on screen, why ambiguity can be a powerful storytelling tool, and whether The Secret Agent works best as a political thriller, a historical drama, or both at once. 📩 Have a different interpretation of the film's ending? Know more about the history of Brazil's military dictatorship? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social. #TheSecretAgent #BrazilianHistory #Brazil #MilitaryDictatorship #PoliticalThriller #FilmHistory #HistoricalMovies #KleberMendoncaFilho #HistoricalMoviesPodcast #Cinema

Das Boot (1981) U-Boat Engineering, WWII History, Moral Complexity the Best Submarine Movie Ever! 19.05.2026 1j 7min

Wolfgang Petersen’s Das Boot (1981) is widely regarded as one of the greatest submarine films ever made: a claustrophobic, technically obsessive portrayal of life aboard a German U-boat during the Battle of the Atlantic. But how historically accurate is it really?Could a submarine actually survive the terrifying punishment shown in the film? Is it too sympathetic to the submariners fighting on the wrong side of history? And is it guilty of airbrushing out support for the regime?In this episode of Historical Movies, we dive deep into the history and engineering behind Das Boot — from the real experiences of German U-boat crews to the astonishing technical detail that made the film feel unlike any other WWII movie.How accurate were the cramped conditions, combat tactics, and mechanical systems aboard a Type VIIC submarine? Could U-96 really have survived those crushing depths and relentless depth-charge attacks? Or would the pressure hull have catastrophically failed long before? We also explore the real Battle of the Atlantic, the psychology of submarine warfare, and why veterans and naval historians still praise Das Boot more than 40 years later.We discuss: • The real history behind U-96 and Germany’s U-boat campaign • Life aboard a WWII Type VIIC submarine • Test depth, crush depth, and whether the film’s final dive is remotely survivable • Diesel-electric engines, battery systems, and underwater endurance • Historical inaccuracies, Hollywood exaggerations, and details the movie gets shockingly right • Why Das Boot still feels more authentic than most modern war films Plus: the morality of submarine warfare, the exhaustion and fear experienced by real crews, and whether Das Boot is ultimately an anti-war masterpiece disguised as a naval thriller. 📩 Think U-96 could really have survived the final dive? Have a favourite submarine film or historical movie we should cover? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social. #DasBoot #WWII #MilitaryHistory #Submarines #NavalHistory #WolfgangPetersen #UBoat #FilmHistory #HistoricalMovies #WarMovies

Fitzcarraldo (1982) Is Werner Herzog’s ‘Masterpiece’ Overrated? Plus Klaus Kinski and the Production from HELL! 05.05.2026 52min

Fitzcarraldo (1982), directed by Werner Herzog and starring Klaus Kinski, is one of the most infamous productions in film history — a movie about obsession that was itself created through obsession. But how much of this Amazonian fever dream is rooted in real history?We explore the true story behind Fitzcarraldo, from the rubber boom in Peru to the real-life figure who inspired the film, Carlos Fermín Fitzcarrald. What drove European entrepreneurs deep into the jungle in search of fortune? And how accurately does the film depict the brutal economic and colonial realities of the late 19th-century Amazon?We also go behind the scenes of Herzog’s legendary production — from hauling a real steamship over a mountain to the volatile relationship between Herzog and Kinski. Was this filmmaking genius, reckless ambition, or something closer to madness? And does the story of the film’s creation ultimately overshadow the story it’s trying to tell?Plus: opera in the jungle, cinematic obsession taken to the extreme, the fine line between art and exploitation, and whether Fitzcarraldo is the ultimate “impossible film” ever made. 📩 Think Herzog crossed the line — or created a masterpiece? Have a favourite story about chaotic film productions? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Crying Game (1992) THAT Twist and why The Troubles is the perfect backdrop 21.04.2026 50min

The Crying Game (1992), written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Forest Whitaker and Jaye Davidson, became one of the most talked-about films of the 1990s — largely because of a twist that audiences were begged not to reveal. But how well does it hold up, and how does it sit within the real history of The Troubles?We explore the historical background behind The Crying Game, from the IRA’s campaign in Northern Ireland to the politics of hostage-taking, informers and splintered loyalties in the late twentieth century. How accurately does the film depict the Provisional IRA? What does it get right about the psychology of paramilitarism — and where does it lean into thriller convention?We also dig into the famous twist: why it landed with such force in 1992, how it was marketed, and whether it overshadowed the film’s deeper themes of identity, performance and belonging. Was this really a shock for shock’s sake, or something more subversive?Plus: accidental love stories, 90s awards-season politics, the strange art of spoiler campaigns, and whether this is actually one of the most misunderstood historical films of its decade.📩 Remember the first time you saw The Crying Game? Think the twist still works? Or want to talk about cinema and The Troubles more broadly? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Extra Episode: The Guns of Navarone (1961) was so good Alistair MacLean changed the book it was based on! 10.04.2026 7min

An Extra few minutes discussing what we didn't get around to covering in the main episode.📩 Stormed an island lately? Got thoughts on wartime ethics or your favourite men-on-a-mission classic? Email us at [email protected] or find us @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Guns of Navarone (1961) The Greatest Commando Romp Ever was Supposed to be an Anti-War Movie 07.04.2026 46min

The Guns of Navarone (1961) - the greatest commando movie ever made - was, despite the swashbuckling adventure and high body-count, conceived as an anti-war, pacifist movie.We uncover the little-know fact that producer Carl Foreman (blacklisted from Hollywood) wrote the screen play as a strongly anti-war movie and was backed-up by stars of the movie Gregory Peck and Stanley Baker who both wanted to make a pacifist film.Directed by J. Lee Thompson and also starring David Niven, Anthony Quail and Anthony Quinn we explore the real history behind The Guns of Navarone. From the Dodecanese Campaign in the Aegean during World War II to the real life inspiration for the gigantic guns themselves. Plus we look at the fantastic job Carl Foreman undertook in adapting Alistair McLean’s book for the big screen.Plus: Gregory Peck’s tortured eyebrow acting, David Niven weaponising sarcasm, exploding fortresses before CGI, and whether this really is the best commando movie ever.📩 Stormed an island lately? Got thoughts on wartime ethics or your favourite men-on-a-mission classic? Email us at [email protected] or find us @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Eddington (2025) — What is this Movie all About? Politics, Pandemic & Paranoia 24.03.2026 48min

We dissect the provocative 2025 film Eddington, written and directed by Ari Aster — the auteur behind Hereditary and Midsommar. Set in a fictional New Mexico town in May 2020, during the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic and national unrest, the movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Sheriff Joe Cross and Pedro Pascal as Mayor Ted Garcia. The standoff between them becomes a micro-cosm of America’s deep divisions.We (try to) explain what Eddington is all about, look at the contemporary history behind this misunderstood film and ask whether Aster bit off more than he could chew for this movie.Plus: is this movie’s subject material too soon to appreciate, what is SolidGoldMagikarp and will this movie be regarded as a true classic in years to come?Got your own theories to the meaning of Eddington? Drop us a line at [email protected] or find us at @hmpodcast.bsky.social

Thirteen Days (2000) — The Cuban Missile Crisis Movie with the Wrong Hero (feat. Shane Connolly) 10.03.2026 1j 4min

The Cold War comes to life in Thirteen Days (2000), directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Kevin Costner as advisor Kenneth O’Donnell during the Cuban Missile Crisis.We dive into the historical accuracy of Thirteen Days, how much Kenneth O’Donnell was actually responsible for ending the crisis (not much), the Excomm Tapes and the real players in JFK’s inner circle.We also look at how close the world truly came to nuclear disaster in 1962 and how this film doesn’t cover it.Plus: Why this movie wasn’t a hit, Kennedy family myth-making, and where is the nuclear bunker rom-com?☢️ Think you can do a better Boston accent than Kevin Costner? Drop us a line at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Emily (2022): Wuthering Heights and the Brontë Biopic that PERFECTLY mixes Fact & Fiction 03.03.2026 49min

Emily (2022), written and directed by Frances O’Connor and starring Emma Mackey, imagines the inner life of Emily Brontë — the fiercely private author of Wuthering Heights. But how much of this windswept Gothic romance is real history, and how much is invention?And the big question: does Emily fail as a biopic by bending the facts — or does it succeed by capturing the Gothic spirit, emotional intensity and defiance that define Brontë’s work? Can a film be historically inaccurate and artistically truthful at the same time?We explore the true story of the Brontë family: life in Haworth Parsonage, sibling rivalry and collaboration, the real William Weightman and the possibility of a passionate love affair.We also dive into Wuthering Heights: why it shocked Victorian readers, how it tore apart conventions of romance and morality, and why its violent emotional landscape felt so revolutionary in 1847. Was Emily Brontë deliberately breaking literary rules — or did she simply not care what the rules were?Plus: gloomy moors as a personality trait, the scandal of publishing under a male pseudonym, tuberculosis as the uninvited Victorian houseguest, and whether being “misunderstood” is a prerequisite for literary immortality.📩 Team Heathcliff or Team Everyone Needs Therapy? Think Emily takes too many liberties — or not enough? Email us at [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Return (2024) — The Greatest Story Ever Retold 17.02.2026 43min

Based on Homer’s Odyssey, The Return (2024) reimagines the legend of Odysseus’ journey through a modern, gritty lens. Directed by Uberto Pasolini and starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, the film explores loyalty, trauma, and the toll of long wars.We discuss the mythological and historical roots behind The Return, Homer’s Odyssey, why this is such a refreshing retelling of a classic tale and how it might provide the antidote to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (2026).Plus: Ralph Fiennes’ Liverpool theatre experience, revenge done right and loincloths!📩 Share your favourite ancient epic or modern retelling at [email protected] or @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Last Samurai (2003) — Tom Cruise v. The Meiji Restoration 03.02.2026 46min

The Last Samurai (2003), directed by Edward Zwick, dramatises Japan’s Meiji Restoration and the end of the samurai era.We break down the historical accuracy of The Last Samurai, the real-life inspiration behind Katsumoto and the Satsuma Rebellion, and how this movie gets the history of both sides of the conflict completely wrong.Plus: Tom Cruise’s widow-maker leg-over technique, samurai vs. Gatling guns, and whether this movie is Legends of the Fall in dressing gowns.🎌 Also perplexed at why Tom Cruise didn’t die at the end of this film? Write to [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Papillon (2017) — How much of Henri Charrière’s Epic Escape Story is True? 20.01.2026 47min

Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek star in the 2017 remake of Papillon, based on Henri Charrière’s memoir of imprisonment and escape from Devil’s Island.We explore the real history behind the real Papillon, from the notorious French penal colonies in Guiana, why they existed, to how much of Charrière’s incredible story is actually true.Plus: gym bros in prison, why this movie is like a cheap perfume ad, comparing it to the 1973 Steve McQueen original, and how this gritty film actually sanitised the original book!📩 Got a bee in your bonnet or a ‘charger’ up your bum about this movie? Email us at [email protected] or message @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Book Behind Nuremberg (2025) Jack El-Hai talks to us about turning The Nazi and the Psychiatrist into a movie 06.01.2026 53min

Jack El-Hai, author of The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, joins us for this episode of the Historical Movies Podcast for an in-depth conversation about the true story behind Nuremberg (2025) — the new film based on his acclaimed nonfiction book.The Nazi and the Psychiatrist tells the remarkable real-life story of Dr. Douglas Kelley, the American psychiatrist tasked with evaluating Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg Trials. Drawing on newly uncovered interviews and psychological records, El-Hai explores how some of history’s most notorious figures understood themselves — and how ordinary human traits can coexist with extraordinary evil.Jack's website: www.el-hai.comIn this interview, we discuss:The real history behind The Nazi and the PsychiatristHow Jack El-Hai studied the incredible Dr Kelly archiveThe psychology of Nazi leadership before the Nuremberg TrialsWhat the book reveals that the film Nuremberg (2025) expands uponWhy this story remains relevant todayAnd what Bryce's barber Andy thinks of it all📘 Book: The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai🎬 Film: Nuremberg (2025)Find us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/hmpodcast.bsky.social

The Damned United (2009) — Brian Clough, Leeds United and the ‘Restless Enigma’ of English Football 23.12.2025 37min

Brian Clough vs. Leeds United — one of football’s greatest stories gets the cinematic treatment in The Damned United (2009), directed by Tom Hooper and starring Michael Sheen.We talk through the true story behind The Damned United, Clough’s chaotic 44 days at Leeds, and whether the film’s portrayal of Don Revie was fair play or foul.Plus: the real Peter Taylor bromance, managerial meltdowns, and why Brian Clough might have been England’s greatest “what if.”📩 Fancy a Cloughism of your own young man? Email us at [email protected] or @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Glory (1989) - The True Story of the 54th Massachusetts (feat. Chad Robinson from the Retro Movie Roundtable) 09.12.2025 1j 2min

Glory (1989), directed by Edward Zwick and starring Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman, tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts — the first African-American regiment in the US Civil War.We explore the true history behind Glory, from the Battle of Fort Wagner to the realities of race, pay and military life in the 1860s. And where this movie did a disservice to the 54th.Plus: Denzel’s Oscar-winning tear, the film’s impact on Civil War memory, and THAT shot of a man’s head exploding like a watermelon in a microwave.📩 Want to discuss the real 54th or share your favourite Denzel performance? Email [email protected] or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Immortal Beloved (1994) - The Real Beethoven and the Mystery of his Lost Love (feat Jack C.T. Adams) 25.11.2025 54min

Gary Oldman stars as Ludwig van Beethoven in Immortal Beloved (1994) — the dramatic retelling of the composer’s life and loves, directed by Bernard Rose.We unpack the historical accuracy behind Immortal Beloved, including the probable real identity of Beethoven’s “immortal beloved,” and the bizarre fact that neither of the two top candidates appear in this movie,Plus: did this movie focus too much on the melodrama and not the history, how it compares to Amadeus (1984) , and the best (and worst) composer biopics of all time.📩 Know who you think was the real immortal beloved? Email us at [email protected] or say hi on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Historical Movies Podcast

Episod

Podcast serupa

Popular di