# Another Historical Novels/Events/People You'd Like to See a Movie Of **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712 "2013-05-07T16:15:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/41 "2013-05-10T23:59:51Z")
At one point Ioan Gruffudd\* was trying to find investors to make some new Horation Hornblower vehicles either for big screen or small. That was years ago so apparently a no go, but I’m hoping it still happens, or another Patrick O’Brian vehicle. (_Master and Commander: Far Side of the World_ made its money back and probably a lot more over the past decade, but it didn’t do well enough to make a sequel an assured hit.) \*Pronounced, roughly, Shi-nayd o kah-ner. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/42 "2013-05-11T00:24:20Z")
Honest question: are we still waiting for a decent biopic of Billie Holiday, or was **Lady Sings the Blues** actually any good? One I’ve been waiting for for years: a movie on [Two-Gun Cohen](http://www.kungfucinema.com/news/stranger-than-fiction-two-gun-cohen-biopic-prepped), Jewish hoodlum turned Chinese general. Will I be disappointed? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/43 "2013-05-11T00:25:47Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I don’t think any film has yet to do justice to the **Battle of Little Big Horn**. It’s usually just tacked on as the coda to a Custer bio-pic. Arguably, Custer isn’t even the most interesting character in the story. His “last stand” wasn’t nearly as interesting or dramatic as the siege of Reno hill. I’m also fascinated by how the fastest communication available on a battlefront was _by riverboat!_ And how about a straight forward exploration of what the Indians were actually trying to accomplish without all the mystical and moralistic baggage? Frame the story as an epic battle between two large groups of seasoned warriors from vastly different (yet, in some ways very similar) cultures instead of Custer’s ego versus Sitting Bull’s vision. Didn’t Flashman make it to Little Big Horn? That is, he made it to the locality & discovered the true story–but avoided real danger, probably by engaging in some lascivious behavior… It’s been a while since I read the book; details are unclear. The one Flashman movie was a Richard Lester romp starring Malcolm McDowell, I believe. But a good series of Flashman movies/miniseries could convey a massive amount of 19th century history. Along with cowardice, greed, wit & naughty goings-on… ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/44 "2013-05-11T00:43:45Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Honest question: are we still waiting for a decent biopic of Billie Holiday, or was **Lady Sings the Blues** actually any good? “Lady Sings The Blues” was a good movie, but had little to do with reality. For example, Louis McKay was portrayed as the love of her life, when in real life he constantly cheated on her and controlled her with drugs. Then again Billie’s autobiography made up a lot of incidents of her life. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/45 "2013-05-11T01:17:04Z")
Once upon a time, a conquistador named Valdivia found himself besieged in his fort by natives who refused to act, y’know, conquered – and so, in hopes of seeking aid from Pizarro in far-off Peru, loyal Monroy and Miranda set out from Santiago in the dead of night with gold-hilted weapons on their belts, riding gold-shod horses with gold stirrups and gold bits; how better to spark interest, than by making the area look ripe for the picking to the point of having gold for the squandering? We’ll never know; Monroy and Miranda were almost immediately taken prisoner by a completely different tribe of Indians, who spared their lives so they could serve as royal flute-players; it was _months_ before Monroy could get the drop on a Spanish deserter and the magnanimous chief – leaving the latter dead, and the former bound and gagged to become the sole recipient of arrows shot at our riding-off-on-horseback heroes, who in turn got right back to work minus sword and armor, living off stolen llama meat on their way to finally beg assistance from – oh, wait, Pizarro’s dead, and his Valdivia-hating assassin is now in charge? Well, cue a hasty adventure across the snow-covered Andes to a small mining town, eventually convincing a ship to set sail through uncharted waters down to their embattled boss in Chile, but unsurprisingly overshooting the mark… ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/46 "2013-05-11T01:28:42Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > . . . Then again Billie’s autobiography made up a lot of incidents of her life. That’s kinda the nature of biopics anyway. Take a few set pieces from the subject’s life, and try to make an interesting story to tie them together. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/47 "2013-05-11T01:41:36Z")
[Leo Marks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Marks). ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/48 "2013-05-11T04:17:54Z")
The Marquis de Lafayette. [Eugene Bullard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bullard). I nominated this once before – the Ironclad Board. Formed after the North realized the South was rebuilding the hulk of the _Merrimack_ into an ironclad, the Board reviewed many proposals before accepting three. Only one, the outlandish and innovative _Monitor_, would be built in time (the first government project subcontracted, parts were made into subassemblies and shipped to the point of final assembly). _Just_ in time. After almost sinking in a gale, she reached Hampton Roads the night after the Southern ironclad (now named _Virginia_) had sunk most of the blockading squadron. The next morning, as the _Virginia_ steamed out to finish the job, _Monitor_ was there to bar the way. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/49 "2013-05-11T04:22:10Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > Came in to say GW. He is such a beloved and important figure, his story could make such a fascinating film and spur new interest in American History. Roosevelt would be another awesome subject. > > Who would you cast as George btw? Not sure. David Morse did a pretty good Washington in the HBO _John Adams_ series: [http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzNjY4MTIzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDAxNjA2MQ@@.\_V1.\_SX400\_SY600\_.jpg](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzNjY4MTIzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDAxNjA2MQ@@._V1._SX400_SY600_.jpg) > **[Panelaterapia](https://panelaterapia.com/)** > > Blog de Culinária, Gastronomia e Receitas por Tatiana Romano Did you mean T.R.? Because I thought Robin Williams was actually pretty good as him in the _Night at the Museum_ movies: [http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news\_img/28561/robin\_williams\_28561.jpg](http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news_img/28561/robin_williams_28561.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/50 "2013-05-11T06:05:12Z")
Chesty Puller. Sorry, I’m typing this on a dumbphone and don’t have any links. ---
**Author:** ![Cold\_Dish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cold\_Dish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cold_Dish)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/51 "2013-05-11T11:12:08Z")
Fatty Arbuckle. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/52 "2013-05-11T14:24:06Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Didn’t Flashman make it to Little Big Horn? That is, he made it to the locality & discovered the true story–but avoided real danger, probably by engaging in some lascivious behavior… He was right in the middle of the danger. IIRC, the book suggested that Flashman might have killed Custer in a bit of accidental friendly fire. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/53 "2013-05-11T14:40:10Z")
> [@davidw](#): > > He was right in the middle of the danger. IIRC, the book suggested that Flashman might have killed Custer in a bit of accidental friendly fire. Even better. Time to re-read Flashman. Still, I’d love to see his adventures on the screen… ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/54 "2013-05-11T14:40:41Z")
> [@davidw](#): > > He was right in the middle of the danger. IIRC, the book suggested that Flashman might have killed Custer in a bit of accidental friendly fire. Yes - when Flashy arrives at anywhere something dangerous is going on, he ends up in the thick of it despite himself. In this case he barely survived by lying among the dead bodies and being discovered there by his bastard son, who removed just enough of Dad’s scalp to count as taking a trophy from an obviously dead foe while not grievously injuring him. Typical of Flashman’s luck was at Balaclava, when he stood with the Thin Red Line and charged with both the Heavy Brigade and the Light Brigade despite his frantic attempts to stay out of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/55 "2013-05-11T15:31:57Z")
I would love a movie version of Anya Seton’s 1963 historical novel “Avalon”. It is set in the Viking World, and speculates about Viking voyages to North America. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/56 "2013-05-11T20:16:23Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > Chesty Puller. > Sorry, I’m typing this on a dumbphone and don’t have any links. Here you go: [Chesty Puller - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesty_Puller) Which remind me, the Business Plot could be made into either a comedy or a dead-serious conspiracy movie: [Business Plot - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot) ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/57 "2013-05-11T20:26:32Z")
After reading The Lost City of Z, nothing would make me happier than to see the book turned into a movie. It reads like an epic adventure. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/58 "2013-05-11T22:32:41Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > I can’t believe nobody has picked up Nellie Bly, pen name of Elizabeth Jane Cochran, for a biopic. > [Nellie Bly - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Bly) > > There’s got to be a big-name actress out there looking for a role like this who could make it happen. Bonus points for the real Nellie being a very attractive woman. > > Among a lot of other things, she became an investigative journalist by age 21 in the 1880’s, did an expose on factory girls, conditions inside an insane asylum (a very chilling read and one that started leading to long-needed reforms), and beat Phileas Fogg by going round the world in 72 days. All this before she retired at 31 and married a septuagenarian millionaire. Tell me there isn’t at least a miniseries in that. > **[Feminist Movie](https://www.facebook.com/FeministMovie)** > > Feminist Movie. 543 likes. Feminist movie 10 Days In A Madhouse - Nellie Bly infiltrates a notorious woman's insane asylum. Go its in the works, I know the director has been working on getting this rolling for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/59 "2013-05-11T22:38:40Z")
I don’t understand why no one has made a big-budget motion picture out of _Waverly_ yet. It has everything: a love triangle with two beautiful women, armies, escapes, royalty, subterfuge, revenge, torture, and highlanders. Lots and lots of highlanders. It’s a blockbuster waiting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712/60 "2013-05-11T23:22:57Z")
The Marx brothers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-historical-novels-events-people-youd-like-to-see-a-movie-of/657712.md?page=2)