Hollywood has been fascinated with telling historical stories since movies first began. The idea that viewers can watch a true story unfold in the theater similar to the way it happened in real life has captivated audiences for years.
Unfortunately, the history of the world is so vast that no amount of movies can ever truly tell all of the stories worth telling. That said, there have been quite a few notable events over the years that are long overdue for their turn on the big screen.
The Winter War
One of the first major conflicts of World War II, the Winter War between Finland and Soviet Russia is an incredible true underdog story. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned by hundreds of thousands, the Finnish military held out against the might of the Red Army for over three months.
The Finnish soldiers used many clever guerrilla strategies to fight back against the overwhelming foe, which would make for a thrilling war film, and several Finnish soldiers, including the most lethal sniper in recorded warfare, could make for some great war movie protagonists. There have been a few Finnish films about the Winter War, but so far Hollywood has yet to adapt this fascinating bit of history.
Mansa Musa's Pilgrimage
Outside of Ancient Egypt, the history of Africa is rarely depicted in film, despite having centuries of stories to tell. One of the most interesting of these is the tale of Mansa Musa, a king of the Mali Empire. Mansa Musa is widely believed to be the richest man who ever lived, something that would cause some problems on his famous pilgrimage to Mecca.
Musa gave away so much gold on his trip through Egypt that it destabilized the entire economy of the country, and he had to almost single-handedly rebuild it on his way back through. The hilarious situation could make for a great road trip comedy with a true historical backdrop.
The Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution is considered to be a huge turning point in world history but sadly is rarely discussed. Beginning in 1791, the revolution saw thousands of enslaved Haitians rise up against the brutal French regime that ruled the country. Often compared to Spartacus' much more famous revolt in Rome, the Haitian Revolution is one of the most successful rebellions of former slaves in history.
Not only did it create an entirely new country free of French rule, but it also caused the rest of the world to look at the institution of slavery in a different light. While the revolution itself would make for a brutal watch, it would be an inspiring tale that deserves to be told. Several Hollywood stars, including Danny Glover, have attempted to get a film based on the revolution produced according to Black Perspectives, but so far, to no avail.
The Battle Of Castle Itter
Another odd story from World War II, the battle of Castle Itter is bizarre enough that it is surprising that it hasn't been made into a movie already. The battle was one of the only instances in the war where the United States Army, German Wehrmacht soldiers, and French POWs actually fought side by side, defending the castle against an attack by the Nazi SS.
With only 36 people, the defenders held their ground for a day against the attacking force, until tennis star Jean Borotra, one of the liberated prisoners with the group, managed to escape through German lines and return with reinforcements. It is one of the stranger battles of the war, which means that this story would be perfect for The Hollywood treatment.
Yuri Gagarin & The Space Race
The Space Race between the United States and Russia has been adapted to the screen multiple times, but almost always from the American perspective. The landmark moon landing and even the Apollo 13 crisis have seen space-related movies, some even featuring the stories of real astronauts, but rarely have the movies taken a look at the other side of the Iron Curtain.
The Soviets were actually the first to achieve several huge advancements in the race, including the first artificial satellite and most significantly, the first man to ever venture into space. A film that takes a look at the Space Race from the Soviet perspective could be an interesting look at one of the most scientifically significant periods in recent history, and could even delve into Gagarin's daring first spaceflight.
Battle Of Stamford Bridge
The Viking age has seen surprisingly few adaptations over the years. And if any part of their little recorded history needs an adaptation, it is the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Taking place between Harald Hadrada's Viking forces and the English monarchy, the battle is a near-mythical story in the Viking saga.
The battle has been romanticized in history as the brave last stand of the Vikings and produced the famous legend of one lone Viking holding the bridge against the entire English army. The blend of history and legend around the battle could make for one of the best Viking movies of all time, and the end of the Viking age would make a powerful backdrop.
The Emu War
An event that has been turned into endless memes, the Emu War is a real military operation that actually happened. In 1932, the emu population of Western Australia had grown so much that it had become a legitimate menace to farms and people, and the army was called in to deal with the threat.
Three soldiers armed with mounted machine guns were dispatched to wipe out as many emus as they could but soon found that the emus were not so easily defeated. Incredibly fast and shockingly resilient, the emus proved that they would not go down without a fight, and the army was eventually forced to end the operation. The premise is so ludicrous that it could make for a perfect dark comedy or even a parody of war films in general.
The Harlem Hellfighters
World War I is not featured in media nearly as much as World War II, but it was also host to many incredible stories. One of the most inspiring and overlooked of these stories is that of the Harlem Hellfighters. One of the first Black regiments to serve overseas, the Hellfighters served on the frontlines of the war longer than any other American regiment. The Hellfighters gained a reputation for their bravery and skill, and reportedly never gave up a position or had a man captured.
Despite their fame in battle, the men still faced discrimination, especially back home in America after the war ended. The bravery and fortitude of the Harlem Hellfighters definitely deserves to be featured on the big screen.
The 1904 Olympic Marathon
The 1904 Olympic marathon in St. Louis was a comedy of errors from the beginning and may be one of the most bizarre sporting events in history. At the starting line were several men who had never run a marathon before, several without shoes, and one in trousers he had cut into shorts.
During the race, several men dropped out from dehydration as there were hardly any stops for water, one tore his stomach lining from all the dust in the air, and one was chased off the course by wild dogs. When the race finally ended, the winner was disqualified for hitchhiking his way to the finish line, and the next winner was hallucinating after being fed strychnine as a stimulant. It was a series of events that most writers wish they could come up with and would make for an amusing comedy.
The Christmas Truce
The Christmas Truce is one of the most heartwarming tales of any war and could make for a bittersweet look at the humanity of people even at their worst. During the horrors of the First World War, German and Allied troops laid down their weapons and met in no man's land to celebrate Christmas.
The opposing sides sang carols together, exchanged gifts, and even played friendly games with one another. It was a tender moment in an otherwise brutal conflict and one of the last times that opposing armies were able to meet as men and not soldiers. A film about the event could be a reminder of humanity even during the war, and maybe one of the best war films ever could actually be a tale of peace.