The 10 Best Movies About Life In The 1800s (Including Little Women), Ranked
Greta Gerwig's Little Women is one of the most acclaimed films of 2019 and a current Best Picture nominee. Her adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott has captured people's hearts with its rich storytelling and beautiful recreation of the 1800s setting.
It's hard to even imagine how different life would be in that time compared to how we live now. But through the magic of movies, many great films have transported us back to the 19th century to shed light on the struggles and accomplishments of the people and characters of that age. Here are some of the best films set in the 1800s, ranked.
10 The Beguiled
Many of these films set in the 1800s deal in some way with the American Civil War, though The Beguiled depicts the war from a different point of view. The film stars Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst as women running a boarding school for young girls in the South who take in an injured Union soldier (Colin Farrell).
The movie is a dark, gothic tale featuring stellar performances from its excellent cast. It is interesting to see a movie show how women fought their own battles when all of the men were away at war and did what was necessary to protect their homes.
9 Scrooge
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has been retold countless times on a variety of movies and shows, but this 1955 version is regarded by many as the best. While some film versions have brought the story into the modern age, Scrooge is set in 1800s London with Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Like many of Dickens' works, this story deals with the immense poverty of the time, as represented by Bob Cratchit and his family. Scrooge's growth in realizing he should help the less fortunate was and is an important message.
8 Yojimbo
While there are plenty of fascinating American films that focus on this time period, there are also many that take a look at how other cultures lived in the 1800s. Yojimbo is the epic samurai film from the great Japanese director Akira Kurosiwo about a ronin who develops a plan to free a small rural town from the gangsters who are tearing it apart.
The beautiful black-and-white film is a clever and exciting story with some breathtaking action sequences. The film became an inspiration for many other filmmakers and was even used as the basis for the Spaghetti Western classic A Fistful of Dollars.
7 Gone With The Wind
Gone with the Wind is one of the most highly praised movie romances of all time. It is the story of a high society Southern woman who begins a turbulent affair with a roguish man as the Civil War comes to an end and Reconstruction begins.
Looking back on the film today, much of the politics and depictions of the time period do not sit well. It feels outdated, yet the beauty and epic feel of the film cannot be denied. It helped usher in a grander style of filmmaking that changed Hollywood forever.
6 The Prestige
Movies about magicians usually take a flashier approach to their stories, but The Prestige takes a darker and more serious look at these performers in 1800s Europe. The film stars Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as two magicians whose rivalry turns deadly as they try to best one another over the years.
The movie is a captivating mystery from Christopher Nolan. It is a unique glimpse behind the curtain of these highly popular magicians at this time while also providing a bit of wonder to the story.
5 Gangs Of New York
Martin Scorsese has explored various periods of time in his films and has also explored various aspects of New York City. It makes sense that he would eventually combine those two in a look at New York City in the 1800s.
The movie is a look at the violence and corruption that erupted in the streets of this city between those seeking to start a new life in America and those who felt they owned the city. It is a dark and violent story of revenge during the brink of the Civil War. While New York City is usually seen as a thriving metropolis, this is a grim look at its past.
4 Glory
Glory tells one of the most incredible and inspiring stories about the Civil War and those who fought in it. Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman star in the true story of the first Union regiment made up entirely of black soldiers.
The movie is a bloody and gruesome war movie, as well as an engrossing story of the brave men of this company who fought for the freedom of their people while still facing injustices and brutality. It is a harrowing tale with amazing battle sequences and moving performances.
3 Lincoln
Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis joined their considerable talents to bring one of the most famous figures in history to life. Lincoln tells a very specific story in the life of Abraham Lincoln as he attempts to pass the Emancipation Proclamation while the Civil War rages on.
The film is an absorbing courtroom drama about one of the most important moments in American history. It always keeps the process thrilling while also portraying Lincoln in an interesting way, not as a perfect man but as one driven in his cause.
2 Little Women
Following the success of her directorial debut Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig took on the daunting job of adapting one of the most beloved novels of all time. Her talents proved more than up to the challenge as she delivered a beautiful, funny and moving retelling of the famous story.
The movie looks at the many difficult decisions women had to face at this time. When marriage was presented as the only real option for having a good life, Saoirse Ronan's Jo seeks to find happiness and love without giving up her identity.
1 12 Years A Slave
12 Years a Slave is a haunting reminder of some of the horrors that were done in the past that is not too long ago. The movie tells the tragic and powerful true story of Solomon Northrup, a freeman who was illegally abducted and sold into slavery.
The movie pulls no punches and makes the audience confront the atrocities of slavery and the horrific lives people were forced to live. It is a harrowing cinematic experience about one of the darkest periods in American history.
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