Movies starring U.S. Presidents

Republican National Convention - President William McKinley and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt Philadelphia 1900.

A film produced and distributed by the US Army Signal Corps during World War I to inform and "educate" the US population about the reasons for fighting the war. Featured are scenes with Gen. John Pershing, commander of US forces in Europe, and views of US soldiers in combat and resting up between battles.

The Inheritance shows what life was really like for immigrants and working Americans from the turn of the century through the fight for civil rights in the 1960s. This stirring history of our country shows their struggle to put down roots, form labor unions, survive wars, and finally, create a new and better life for themselves and our nation. Our film explores a landscape largely unknown to the present generation - the dim sweatshops, coal mines and textile mills filled with children; the anxious years of the depression and labor's bloody struggle for the right to organize; the battlefields of WW I and II; the seldom seen newsreel footage of the Memorial Day massacre at The Republic Steel strike in Chicago; the civil rights struggle - as every generation fights again to preserve and extend its freedoms. This is the film's theme. Judy Collins sings this theme song, as well as more great music sung by Judy, Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton and others. We retain the copyright to the film, but give permission for the film to be used for educational purposes, in support of the right to collective bargaining.

Elected in November 1932, as the economic crisis ravaged the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt immediately put all his campaign promises into action: it was time for the "New Deal". This bold plan, designed to turn around a nation on the brink of collapse, where unemployment was at an all-time high and the working poor were suffering from the precariousness of the job market, was intended to give hope to a country that had been battered before anything else. Once he came to power, the new president from the Democratic Party immediately passed some fifteen laws designed to revive the economy.

Using newsreel footage, this film reviews world events from the end of World War I to the American entry into World War II and, according to the narration, shows "how, through their disunity, democracies were led, some to destruction and others to the verge of destruction." In 1919, the leaders of the nations of the world gather at Versailles to sign the treaty ending World War I. Although U.S. President Woodrow Wilson fights to establish the League of Nations, the United States rejects the Treaty of Versailles and with it, the League of Nations. In Russia, a revolution overthrows the czarist government. By 1928, the German Republic is in ferment as the Nazis and Adolf Hitler move into power, and Germany stops paying war reparations. In Italy, Fascist leader Benito Mussolini comes to power and begins to arm the Italians, while in Great Britain, Prime Minister Lloyd George warns that the future of mankind depends on cooperation between the United States and Great Britain. In 1929, the United States calls for worldwide reduction in arms. In Czechoslovakia, a democratic government develops, while in Spain, the monarchy is overthrown, and the Spanish Republic forms. In 1930, the world suffers from an economic depression, and the Soviet Union establishes its first five-year plan. The Depression hits hard in Germany, where militarism is enjoying a revival. In 1933, Hitler seizes control of the German government and by re-arming, the country violates the Treaty of Versailles. In 1934, Von Hindenberg dies, and in Austria, a Nazi party is organized, but fails. The King of Yugoslavia is assassinated, and the following year Germany is fully re-armed. The Greek government is overthrown, but the free nations are involved with their own internal problems and do not intervene. In 1936, Mussolini becomes increasingly powerful and is hailed as a power for world peace. Later, however, Italy invades Ethiopia and the free nations do nothing, despite Haile Selassie's pleas to the League of Nations. Then Mussolini and Hitler join forces. In 1937, the Japanese, who have grown increasingly more aggressive, invade Manchuria. China protests to the League of Nations, and Japan quits the League in response. Civil war develops in Spain, and with the help of the Axis powers, the forces opposed to the Republic, led by Francisco Franco, win. Again, the democratic nations take no action. Hitler invades Austria, and in 1938, Britain re-arms. When Hitler demands the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia, the democracies, led by Neville Chamberlain of Britain, follow a policy of appeasement. In 1939, after Germany invades Poland, Great Britain and France declare war on Germany. Poland falls, and the Soviet Union signs a non-aggression pact with Germany. After the fall of Finland, the Nazis invade Denmark and that country is conquered without a shot being fired. The Germans then invade Norway, Holland, Belgium and France. After France surrenders, Charles de Gaulle forms the Free French government. Now Britain, under the leadership of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, fights on alone. In Asia, China continues its fight against the Japanese, who have joined the Axis. Although China's spirit is strong, its people lack the weapons for a proper defense. Despite their non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union, the Nazis invade Russia, but are defeated by the Russian winter. In 1941, the Japanese invade French Indo-China and then bomb Pearl Harbor. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declares war on Japan, and the free nations finally unite against the enemy.

A documentary about the private (partly) and public life of Franklin D. Roosevelt who, despite his physical handicap, was elected President of the United States four times, compiled primarily from newsreels. His work during the depression years, when he created Federal agencies such as the W.P.A., C.C.C., N.R.A., P.W.A. and others is covered, plus a large portion of the film covers his years as a wartime leader. Also shown are scenes he didn't live to see, the unconditional surrender of the Germans and the Japanese. The musical background is a new symphony, "Toward the Sun", by Earl Robinson.

Heist: Who Stole the American Dream? reveals how American corporations orchestrated the dismantling of middle-class prosperity through rampant deregulation, the outsourcing of jobs, and tax policies favoring businesses and the wealthy. The collapse of the U.S. economy is the result of conscious choices made over thirty five years by a small group: leaders of corporations and their elected allies, and the biggest lobbying interest in Washington, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. To these individuals, the collapse is not a catastrophe, but rather the planned outcome of their long, patient work. For the rest of the country, it is merely the biggest heist in American history.

Why was General Patton silenced during his service in World War II?

Based on Worldwide Defeat by Salvador Borrego, it exposes the forbidden side of history and reveals Adolf Hitler's hamartia.

Brought to life in vivid colour, The Eagle Swoops In depicts the United States answering the much- longed-for SOS from the allies in their battle for freedom from the scorching chains of the Nazis.

Japan's involvement in WWII is a complex and difficult question to answer, in this film we prepare to answer that question. As the skies brighten on the land of the rising sun we take a look at the conquests and failures of the Japanese military in the run-up to the horrors of the atom bomb.

A controversial three part critical documentary on the history of the CIA.

Disturbing collection of 1940s and 1950s United States government-issued propaganda films designed to reassure Americans that the atomic bomb was not a threat to their safety.

Superpower illustrates how the United States has leveraged its position to ensure unilateral world domination through absolute economic and military superiority and government deception.

The complex relationship between Harry Truman and Tom Pendergast, the boss of the powerful political machine that controlled Kansas City politics in the 1920s and 1930s. Origins of the Pendergast Machine in the 19th century are covered.

A documentary account of the allied invasion of Europe during World War II compiled from the footage shot by nearly 1400 cameramen.

Produced and presented as evidence at the Nuremberg war crimes trial of Hermann Göring and twenty other Nazi leaders.

An unpublished documentary film proposed in restored version. 100 million meters of film viewing, film libraries inventoried 11 countries and 3 years of work were needed to bring these documents. This documentary evokes the destruction of the Nazi war machine with a particular emphasis on air power. The most significant events are recounted as the Normandy landings, the battle of Paris, the last German offensive with the historical siege of Bastogne and the landing on the island of Elba. Also shown are the bombing of German industrial centers, and the liberation of concentration camps.

June - December 1944. V-1 rockets, and later V-2s, rain death and destruction on Britain; their launching sites are mopped up by Canadians advancing on Pas de Calais. The Third Division spearheads the attack on the Scheldt estuary.