Top 24 History Movies Releases from 1986

A tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. Check out The Color Purple / IMDB / YouTube

Eighteenth-century Spanish Jesuits try to protect a remote South American tribe in danger of falling under the rule of pro-slavery Portugal. Learn about The Mission / IMDB / YouTube

A burnt-out photojournalist becomes involved in a Central American revolution. Learn about Salvador / IMDB / YouTube

A retelling of the life of the celebrated 17th-century painter through his brilliant, nearly blasphemous paintings and his flirtations with the underworld. Check out Caravaggio / IMDB / YouTube

The story of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for only nine days. Get info on Lady Jane / IMDB / YouTube

Documentary filmmaker Ross McElwee sets out to make a movie about Union General Sherman's March to the Sea towards the end of the American Civil War, but keeps getting sidetracked by his own love life. Learn about Sherman's March / IMDB / YouTube

The movie is set in chaotic 1920's China, when warlords fought each other for power while Sun Yat-Sen's underground movement tried to establish a democratic republic. The movie tells the story of three young women and two young men who are thrown together. One young woman grabs a box of jewels during the looting when one warlord takes Peking. A deserting soldier joins. Explore Peking Opera Blues / IMDB / YouTube

Historical fiction set against the backdrop of Hong Kong in its early years of British rule. Find out about Tai-Pan / IMDB / YouTube

After years of political agitation, Rosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht, and Leo Jogiches form a revolutionary German party, the Spartacists. Details on Rosa Luxemburg / IMDB / YouTube

A documentary that shows the production of Ran and discusses the film techniques of Kurosawa himself. Read about A.K. / IMDB / YouTube

A Cajun man attempts to save his town. Find out about Belizaire the Cajun / IMDB / YouTube

From personal heartbreak to the epic fight for liberation, the glory of the Old West is captured in this grand life story of Sam Houston, the man whose bravery and vision led to the creation of Texas. -- from back of box Get info on Houston: The Legend of Texas / IMDB / YouTube

Documentary explore the unfulfilled promise of Beat Generation icon Jack Kerouac, covering the period from the publication of his notorious novel On the Road in 1957 to his alcohol-related death 12 years later. Learn about What Happened to Kerouac? / IMDB / YouTube

Based on a true story, James Coburn portrays a military lawyer assigned to defend a confessed psychotic killer. Set in the context of WWII and the uneasy US-Australian military alliance. The accused killer claims to have killed 3 women in order to possess their voices. Despite the defense lawyer's concerns that the killer is not fit to stand trial, the US military pre. More about Death of a Soldier / IMDB / YouTube

A dramatized biography of William Tyndale, the 16th Century reformer determined to translate the Bible into English, which illegal act set him at odds with the Catholic Church, Sir Thomas More and King Henry VIII. Explore God's Outlaw / IMDB / YouTube

Farrah Fawcett plays real-life Beate Klarsfeld, a German Protestant housewife who, with the help of her Jewish law-student husband, Serge, began an unrelenting campaign after World War II to bring Nazi war criminals to justice, most of which is centered on Klaus Barbie. The story follows her pursuit while she survives jail, torture, numerous assassination attempts, an. Learn about Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story / IMDB / YouTube

The two weeks leading up to the Spanish Civil War in 1936 are dramatized from many different locations in Spain, Morocco and London. Get info on Dragón Rapide / IMDB / YouTube

Vincent Price hosts this documentary exploring the historical myths surrounding vampires. More about Vincent Price's Dracula / IMDB / YouTube

A 1986 film directed by Li Han-Hsiang. Nominated for Best Film in the 6th annual Hong Kong Film Awards. Find out about The Last Emperor / IMDB / YouTube

This is the 8th CBS Copperfield TV special, introduced by the host Ben Vereen and is the first and only one filmed outside USA, and set entirely in China, to allow David Copperfield to perform the last illusion. Not coincidentally it is officially titled The Magic of DAVID COPPERFIELD - CHINA, even though it is better known as The Magic of David Copperfield VIII: W. Find out about The Magic of David Copperfield: China / IMDB / YouTube

Artists Involved with Death and Survival, The Aids Show, theatre dealing with the impact of AIDS on friends and family; musical, dramatic and comedic scenes from the show and interviews with the creators. More about The AIDS Show / IMDB / YouTube