Greatest 18 History Movies Fan Favorites from 1981

Mel Brooks brings his one-of-a-kind comic touch to the history of mankind covering events from the Old Testament to the French Revolution in a series of episodic comedy vignettes. More about History of the World: Part I / IMDB / YouTube

Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I. More about Gallipoli / IMDB / YouTube

A radical American journalist becomes involved with the Communist revolution in Russia, and hopes to bring its spirit and idealism to the United States. Read about Reds / IMDB / YouTube

In 1929, Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini appoints General Rodolfo Graziani as colonial governor to Italian Libya with orders to stamp-out all resistance from Libyan nationalists led by rebel guerrilla leader Omar Mukhtar. More about Lion of the Desert / IMDB / YouTube

Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged. Read about The French Lieutenant's Woman / IMDB / YouTube

A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City. Read about Ragtime / IMDB / YouTube

The story of four generations of a Russian Jewish immigrant family of musicians whose careers parallel the history of American popular music in the 20th century. See more about American Pop / IMDB / YouTube

During World War II, British Intelligence brings a crew of ex-soldiers out of retirement, using their age as cover, to take to the seas and pull off an unlikely undercover mission in neutral Goa. Info on The Sea Wolves / IMDB / YouTube

A look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time. See more about The Decline of Western Civilization / IMDB / YouTube

A few years after the events of Man of Marble (1977), a journalist investigates Mateusz Birkut's son Maciek Tomczyk, now an activist leading a shipyard strike. Find out about Man of Iron / IMDB / YouTube

Dramatization depicting the events surrounding Adolf Hitler's (Sir Anthony Hopkins) last weeks in and around his underground bunker in Berlin before and during the battle for the city. Get info on The Bunker / IMDB / YouTube

A teenage boy must fight in an interplanetary war as the only available pilot to a revolutionary new giant battle robot. Look into Mobile Suit Gundam I / IMDB / YouTube

The life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach as presented by his wife, Anna. Explore The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach / IMDB / YouTube

The story of Nostradamus and his predictions about the future. Check out The Man Who Saw Tomorrow / IMDB / YouTube

Scientists and witnesses involved in the creation and testing of the first ever atomic bomb reflect on the Manhattan project and its fascinating leader, J. Robert Oppenheimer, who upon completion of his wonderful and horrible invention became a powerful spokesperson against the nuclear arms race. Read about The Day After Trinity / IMDB / YouTube

In the 1860s, Giorgio (Giraudeau), a young Italian soldier, is sent to a remote post, far away from his lover, Clara (Antonelli). He is lodged in the house of the colonel (Girotti). He becames friends with the colonel and the local doctor (Trintignant). Among the inhabitants of the house there is a strange young woman: Fosca (d'Obici) who is both unattractive and mad.. Read about Passion of Love / IMDB / YouTube

This documentary examines the great problems and ingenious solutions that marked the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, tracing its transformation from a spectacular feat of heroic engineering to an honored symbol in American culture. Info on Brooklyn Bridge / IMDB / YouTube

Documentary chronicaling the rise and fall of the punk movement with rare interview footage of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. Also concert and news footage. Info on D.O.A. / IMDB / YouTube