# What biopics would you like to see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258 "2005-11-22T16:02:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/41 "2005-11-23T08:35:29Z")
(Incidentally one of the best (limited) biopics I’ve seen in a while was “Quiz Show” with Ralph Fiennes and John Turturo – great movie; if you haven’t seen it since it came out, do yourself a favor and check it out.) [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/42 "2005-11-23T08:42:42Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > The only actor I can think of off the top of my head who looks enough like Welles would be Jonathan Frakes, but he hasn’t the chops to handle the role. Liev Shreiber did okay in _RKO 182_. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/43 "2005-11-23T08:50:31Z")
Another idea I had awhile back: doomed early 1930s singing star [Russ Columbo](http://feralhouse.com/titles/music/russ_columbo_and_the_crooner_mystique.php). I see this as a vehicle for the Wilson brothers: Luke as the hopeless put-upon romantic crooner, Owen as the devoted friend who accidentally shot him. Only problem is who could play the great love of Russ’ life, Carole Lombard. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/44 "2005-11-23T09:43:22Z")
> [@zagloba](#): > > **furt** , PBS recently broadcast a dramatic biographical film about [Bonhoeffer](http://www.pbs.org/opb/bonhoeffer/film/index.html), apparently German made. I haven’t seen it, so I can’t vouch for its quality. Saw it. It was very documentaryish. It covered all the info, but there was no suspense, no dramatic tension, very little _story_ to it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/45 "2005-11-23T12:36:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Genghis Khan Thyere have been a coupla pics about him, with inappropriate actors and, I suspect, less than historical accuracy. John Wayne? Omar Sharif? Maybe we’re due for a new pic. Especially now that new historical info on the man has become available. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/46 "2005-11-23T12:40:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Houdini is long overdue for a good and accurate biopic (there have been miniseries and the Tony Perkins movie, but something really good with a very talented actor and a budget could be spectacular). Tony Curtist. [/nitpick] BTW, I’m one of the few people who remembers the Glenda Jackson film on Bernhardt, part of Ken Russell’s oeuvre. Ah, the '70s – lots of chemicals in the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/47 "2005-11-23T20:39:24Z")
Bertolucci did a film on the Last Emperor of China – what about the **First** Emperor? Zheng, king of the state of Qin, better known as the self-proclaimed “Qin Shih Huangdi” ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin\_Shi\_Huang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_Shi_Huang)), who unified China and set the model for later imperial dynasties. Lots of filmable drama there – especially his relationship with Lu Buwei ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu\_Pu-Wei](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu_Pu-Wei)), his father’s mentor and his mother’s lover, who might have been Zheng’s real father, and whom the king ultimately ordered to commit suicide. (We’ve already got _Hero,_ but that’s less about the emperor than the man who tried to assassinate him.) I’d also like to see one about Moctezuma, last emperor of the Aztecs, and Atahualpa, last emperor of the Incas. What can I tell you, I like emperors. (Except for Palpatine – no real style, that one!) And the respective destructions of the Aztec and Inca empires by Spanish conquerors are fascinating and important stories, and I’ve never seen either get a good big-screen treatment. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/48 "2005-11-23T21:47:32Z")
_Danny Kaye_. Starring David Wenham. And I’d like to see one on the life of Jim Henson, though I’m not sure if it’d make a good movie. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/49 "2005-11-23T23:01:41Z")
I’d like to see a movie about the players in the electricity wars of the late 1800s, Westinghouse storming about like Patton…Edison raving and drooling while publicly electrocuting elephants in his mad drive to discredit AC power…Tesla cackling with glee while scampering about his towers as plasma bolts arc miles above NYC. Peter Jackson can direct 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/50 "2005-11-23T23:24:14Z")
I’d like to see one about Socrates. Soldier, philosopher, martyr, witness to the collapse of Athenian power, ugly celebrity in a society that worshipped physical beauty. I think it could be good, although there’s much to much material in there for one movie. (My complaint about biopics in general.) Also a movie about Xenophon’s long march out of Persia would make a great action pick, with a good director. Not Oliver Stone. Maybe Ridley Scott if he had a good writer. Or someone out of left field like Bryan Singer. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/51 "2005-11-23T23:28:48Z")
Amandine-Aurore-Lucile Dupin aka George Sands. If they can’t make an interesting movie out of the material that was her life, there’s no hope for them. Hector Berlioz would be another good one – Great Music absolute nut. Franz Liszt – see Berlioz above. I’d like to see a movie made from [Jefferson’s War](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786714042/102-6356456-6067366?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance). That would just be really cool. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/52 "2005-11-23T23:52:33Z")
The story of Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement, starring Robin Williams. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/53 "2005-11-24T01:59:44Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > Also a movie about Xenophon’s long march out of Persia would make a great action pick, with a good director. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080120/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080120/)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/54 "2005-11-24T02:42:18Z")
I’d love to see Mississippi blues pioneer [Charley Patton](http://www.cr.nps.gov/delta/blues/people/charley_patton.htm) get a similar treatment to Johnny Cash’s in “Walk the Line” (i.e., warts and all but with a deep understanding of his work’s influence). And if the budget rules out someone better (John Hammond, Bob Brozman, Alvin ‘Youngblood’ Hart), I could play the guitar parts. 😃 Here’s a link to [Robert Crumb’s illustrated bio of Patton.](http://www.celticguitarmusic.com/patton1.htm) ---
**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:** [November 24, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/55 "2005-11-24T05:44:40Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Liev Shreiber did okay [as Orson Welles] in _RKO 182_. I strongly agree. Glad you pointed that out. ---
**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:** [November 24, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/56 "2005-11-24T05:46:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > … I’d also like to see one about Moctezuma, last emperor of the Aztecs, and Atahualpa, last emperor of the Incas. What can I tell you, I like emperors. (Except for Palpatine – no real style, that one!) And the respective destructions of the Aztec and Inca empires by Spanish conquerors are fascinating and important stories, and I’ve never seen either get a good big-screen treatment. Don’t have a movie to suggest, but Gary Jennings’s “Aztec” is a great book about the last days of the Aztecs. Very detailed, sweeping historical novel, with plenty o’ sex, violence, intrigue, human sacrifice, etc. I highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/57 "2005-11-24T06:03:10Z")
> [@William V.](#): > > Don’t have a movie to suggest, but Gary Jennings’s “Aztec” is a great book about the last days of the Aztecs. Very detailed, sweeping historical novel, with plenty o’ sex, violence, intrigue, human sacrifice, etc. I highly recommend it. I’ve read it. Excellent book, but **way** too gory for a Hollywood movie! Snuff-film producers wouldn’t touch it! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/58 "2005-11-24T06:09:55Z")
> [@William V.](#): > > Don’t have a movie to suggest, but Gary Jennings’s “Aztec” is a great book about the last days of the Aztecs. Very detailed, sweeping historical novel, with plenty o’ sex, violence, intrigue, human sacrifice, etc. I highly recommend it. I read it. Excellent book, but **way** too gory for a Hollywood movie! Snuff-film producers wouldn’t touch it! ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/59 "2005-11-24T06:24:15Z")
[Henry Ford mini series](http://imdb.com/title/tt0093039/). I’d like to see one on Robert Heinlein. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258/60 "2005-11-24T08:58:37Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Liev Shreiber did okay in _RKO 182_. Yeah, but Shreiber always looks like he’s hung over, so…oh, well I guess he would make a good Orson Welles, then. 😃 I haven’t seen _RKO 182_ but I really should. Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-biopics-would-you-like-to-see/332258.md?page=4)