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Learn about the definition, types, and examples of historical drama, a genre of film and television that depicts historical events and characters with varying degrees of fictional elements. Compare historical drama with historical fiction, biographical drama, and docudrama.
- List of historical films set in Near Eastern and Western ...
The historical drama or period drama is a film genre in...
- History (theatrical genre) - Wikipedia
Plays such as Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra depict...
- List of historical films set in Near Eastern and Western ...
A comprehensive list of films that depict historical events and famous people from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. The list covers various regions and cultures, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, and Europe.
- Precursors
- Early Modern Origins
- Shakespeare
- Restoration and Eighteenth Century
- In Contemporary Theatre
Plays with some connection to historic narratives date to the beginnings of Athenian theatre. For one, although many early Greek plays covered subjects that modern audiences consider myth (rather than history), the Greeks did not make such a distinction, incorporating their stories of their gods into the same overarching narrative that included sto...
The history play first took its modern form in Tudor England. Literary scholar Irving Ribner, in his influential study of the genre, connects the emergence of the history play with "a new birth of historical writing in England" during the sixteenth century, which included new books of English history written by Polydore Vergil (1534), Edward Hall (...
In the First Folio, the plays of William Shakespeare were grouped into three categories: comedies, histories, and tragedies. The histories—along with those of contemporary Renaissance playwrights—help define the genre of history plays. Shakespeare's Histories might be more accurately called the "English history plays." These plays dramatize histori...
Following the Restoration, the English History as a genre lost much of the momentum that they had gained during the Tudor and Stuart eras. Even the most esteemed genre of English Renaissance theatre, tragedy (to which the history genre had been closely tied from the beginning), had fallen out of style in favor of tragicomedy and comedy. Nevertheles...
Popular recently authored history plays include James Goldman's The Lion in Winter. Criticized as ahistorical, it tests the boundaries of the genre, while also poking fun at its conventions. Although, in many respects it has more in common with absurdist comic domestic drama, it retains an essentially historic core. George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan...
- The Last Kingdom. Alexander Dreymon, Emily Cox, Timothy Innes. 3,468 votes. Travel back to the 9th century, as kingdoms clash in the quest to claim England.
- Peaky Blinders. Cillian Murphy, Natasha O'Keeffe, Paul Anderson. 2,408 votes. Set in the grimy streets of 1920s Birmingham, a razor-wielding gang led by the charismatic Tommy Shelby rises to power.
- Band of Brothers. Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Rick Gomez. 2,760 votes. Experience the harrowing journey of Easy Company, an elite Airborne infantry unit, in World War II.
- Outlander. Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton. 3,911 votes. Join the time-traveling adventures of Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who finds herself transported back to 18th-century Scotland.
- Schindler's List. Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes. 3,258 votes. A gripping tale of a man's transformation from a selfish opportunist to a savior of thousands, this film showcases the resilience of the human spirit amidst unspeakable horrors.
- The Last of the Mohicans. Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means. 2,222 votes. A powerful adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel, this movie expertly balances romance, adventure, and historical drama in an epic story set during the French and Indian War.
- Saving Private Ryan. Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore. 1,021 votes. This heart-wrenching depiction of World War II explores themes such as sacrifice, camaraderie, and heroism through its brilliant ensemble cast led by Tom Hanks.
- Glory. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman. 2,023 votes. The inspiring true story of the first all-black volunteer company fighting during the American Civil War is brought to life with finesse in this emotionally charged film.
A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents historical events and characters with varying degrees of fictional elements such as creative dialogue or fictional scenes which aim to compress separate events or ...
Historical period dramas are a genre that transports viewers back in time. These films and TV shows recreate specific eras, focusing on details like setting, costume, and social norms to create an authentic experience. They often center around pivotal events or periods in history.
