We (try to) explain what Eddington is all about, look at the contemporary history behind this misunderstood film and ask whether Aster bit off more than he could chew for this movie.

Plus: is this movie’s subject material too soon to appreciate, what is SolidGoldMagikarp and will this movie be regarded as a true classic in years to come?

Got your own theories to the meaning of Eddington? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us at @hmpodcast.bsky.social

We dive into the historical accuracy of Thirteen Days, how much Kenneth O’Donnell was actually responsible for ending the crisis (not much), the Excomm Tapes and the real players in JFK’s inner circle.

We also look at how close the world truly came to nuclear disaster in 1962 and how this film doesn’t cover it.

Plus: Why this movie wasn’t a hit, Kennedy family myth-making, and where is the nuclear bunker rom-com?

☢️ Think you can do a better Boston accent than Kevin Costner? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

And the big question: does Emily fail as a biopic by bending the facts — or does it succeed by capturing the Gothic spirit, emotional intensity and defiance that define Brontë’s work? Can a film be historically inaccurate and artistically truthful at the same time?

We explore the true story of the Brontë family: life in Haworth Parsonage, sibling rivalry and collaboration, the real William Weightman and the possibility of a passionate love affair.

We also dive into Wuthering Heights: why it shocked Victorian readers, how it tore apart conventions of romance and morality, and why its violent emotional landscape felt so revolutionary in 1847. Was Emily Brontë deliberately breaking literary rules — or did she simply not care what the rules were?

Plus: gloomy moors as a personality trait, the scandal of publishing under a male pseudonym, tuberculosis as the uninvited Victorian houseguest, and whether being “misunderstood” is a prerequisite for literary immortality.

📩 Team Heathcliff or Team Everyone Needs Therapy? Think Emily takes too many liberties — or not enough? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We discuss the mythological and historical roots behind The Return, Homer’s Odyssey, why this is such a refreshing retelling of a classic tale and how it might provide the antidote to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (2026).

Plus: Ralph Fiennes’ Liverpool theatre experience, revenge done right and loincloths!

📩 Share your favourite ancient epic or modern retelling at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We break down the historical accuracy of The Last Samurai, the real-life inspiration behind Katsumoto and the Satsuma Rebellion, and how this movie gets the history of both sides of the conflict completely wrong.

Plus: Tom Cruise’s widow-maker leg-over technique, samurai vs. Gatling guns, and whether this movie is Legends of the Fall in dressing gowns.

🎌 Also perplexed at why Tom Cruise didn’t die at the end of this film? Write to historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We explore the real history behind the real Papillon, from the notorious French penal colonies in Guiana, why they existed, to how much of Charrière’s incredible story is actually true.

Plus: gym bros in prison, why this movie is like a cheap perfume ad, comparing it to the 1973 Steve McQueen original, and how this gritty film actually sanitised the original book!

📩 Got a bee in your bonnet or a ‘charger’ up your bum about this movie? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or message @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

The Nazi and the Psychiatrist tells the remarkable real-life story of Dr. Douglas Kelley, the American psychiatrist tasked with evaluating Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg Trials. Drawing on newly uncovered interviews and psychological records, El-Hai explores how some of history’s most notorious figures understood themselves — and how ordinary human traits can coexist with extraordinary evil.

Jack's website: www.el-hai.com

In this interview, we discuss:

The real history behind The Nazi and the Psychiatrist

How Jack El-Hai studied the incredible Dr Kelly archive

The psychology of Nazi leadership before the Nuremberg Trials

What the book reveals that the film Nuremberg (2025) expands upon

Why this story remains relevant today

And what Bryce's barber Andy thinks of it all

📘 Book: The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai

🎬 Film: Nuremberg (2025)

Find us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/hmpodcast.bsky.social

We talk through the true story behind The Damned United, Clough’s chaotic 44 days at Leeds, and whether the film’s portrayal of Don Revie was fair play or foul.

Plus: the real Peter Taylor bromance, managerial meltdowns, and why Brian Clough might have been England’s greatest “what if.”

📩 Fancy a Cloughism of your own young man? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We explore the true history behind Glory, from the Battle of Fort Wagner to the realities of race, pay and military life in the 1860s. And where this movie did a disservice to the 54th.

Plus: Denzel’s Oscar-winning tear, the film’s impact on Civil War memory, and THAT shot of a man’s head exploding like a watermelon in a microwave.

📩 Want to discuss the real 54th or share your favourite Denzel performance? Email historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We unpack the historical accuracy behind Immortal Beloved, including the probable real identity of Beethoven’s “immortal beloved,” and the bizarre fact that neither of the two top candidates appear in this movie,

Plus: did this movie focus too much on the melodrama and not the history, how it compares to Amadeus (1984) , and the best (and worst) composer biopics of all time.

📩 Know who you think was the real immortal beloved? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or say hi on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We look at the true story behind Escape to Victory, including the so-called “Death Match” in occupied Ukraine, and whether Stallone really could have scored the winning goal, despite being a goalkeeper.

Plus: how many goals would VAR have overturned, Michael Caine’s questionable fitness, and the reason why there are SO MANY Ipswich Town players in this movie!

📩 Got theories about Pelé’s tactical genius or Stallone’s goalkeeping credentials? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

Plus Ros answers some of your questions and hands out the coveted 'awards' for series 1 of the podcast: including the ones the Academy were too cowardly to do!

Thanks for listening to series 1 and if you'd like to get in touch drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @hmpocast.bsky.social

Yoreflix founder Imogen Cooper talks to Ros about the new streaming service for historical dramas and movies and outlines what makes it unique in the field of streaming platforms.

We talk about Imogen’s background as an executive producer and her passion for history, what inspired her to create Yoreflix and talk more broadly about historical movies and dramas.

If the sound of Yoreflix has piqued your interest you can join the waitlist and get involved at www.yoreflix.com

You can also drop us a line at @hmpodcast.bsky.social‬

Amadeus portrays Mozart as an arrogant, infantile, foul mouthed brat?

But how historically accurate is that? And we also take a look at the supposed rivalry between these two 18th century composers.

Plus: Mozart’s love of toilet-humour, implausibly quick musical notation and why is this movie actually called Amadeus?

Joining Ros in this episode is Jack CT Adams, PhD is contemporary classical composition at Portsmouth University.

Know the recipe for Venus’ Nipples or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @hmpodcast.bsky.social

We dig into what the filmmakers got right (and wrong) about Popes Benedict XVI and Francis: did they really watch the World Cup Final together, did Benedict have a thing for Fanta, and was Kommissar Rex truly his favourite TV show?

Plus: should this movie have kept its original title The Pope, Anthony Hopkins’ admirable restraint in not returning to bad stroke acting, and more Vatican-based banter than you can shake a crosier at.

📩 Got thoughts on The Two Popes or know where we can buy a Benedict XVI Pope Fitness Watch? Email us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or find us on @hmpodcast.bsky.social.

We discuss some of the history covered including the true story behind the World War I football in the trenches, why Americans went off to fight for the British Empire and was Colonel Ludlow a suspect in the JFK assassination.

Plus: Really, really, really bad acting, a stroke previously unknown to science, how this movie toned down the original novel and the lifespan of grizzly bears.

Know where we can book tickets for the Anthony Hopkins Accent World Tour, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

Contact us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We talk through the history of the period, what makes this such a great movie and what it gets historically right and wrong.

Plus the difficulty of actually ripping a sink off the wall, the latest hot gossip about Mini Driver and having the T-1000 as your Dad.

Have you seen another movie starring Betsy Purvis, harried-mother specialist Natalie Canerday, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We talk through the life and times of Thomas Cochrane – the real life inspiration behind Jack Aubrey and revel in the historical age of Enlightenment and the Napoleonic naval combat that serve as this film’s backdrop.

Plus why we never got a sequel, the magic brain coin, Little Lord Blakeney’s quiet ghastly amputation and spliiiiice the mainbraaaaaace mister maaaaaate!

Fancy rightfully redistributing some of Return of the King's 11 Oscars to Master and Commander, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

Plus the genius of the great Gene Hackman, the world’s most incomprehensible graph, sweaty, sweaty armpits and brow-line glasses, and an analysis of KKK bumper stickers.

Have an opinion on whether the Hackman-nut-grab is the greatest prehension of the testicles in cinema history, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We talk through the history of witchcraft in early modern Europe and how it inspired this movie – with much of the dialogue being lifted directly from historical sources.

Plus: fans of Black Philip, the best witch’s familiars’ names, the true horror of Mathew Hopkins (Witchfinder General) and Bryce recalls our encounter with a possessed seminary!

Wouldst thou like to live deliciously, or just get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We're joined by acclaimed director Mark O'Connor - writer and director of Between the Canals and Cardboard Gangsters - shortly before the release of his new film Amongst the Wolves.

We go through Mark's favourite historical movies, his process and experience as a writer director and some of the possible future projects he's working on, including a historical epic about the 1798 Irish uprising and a movie about the Dubliners.

Plus he tells us how he found a young Barry Keoghan and gave him his first acting opportunity.

We also touch on the world of guerilla film-making, the role of realism and morality in Mark's movies and we talk through his upcoming revenge drama Amongst the Wolves.

We’d love to hear from you so drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or leave us a comment on our YouTube Channel if you’d like to get in touch!

00:00 El Vino did Flow

00:27 Intro

01:59 Mark's favourite Historical Movies

05:15 Screen writing and directing

10:39 1798 film project

13:09 Realism in Mark's movies and in historical films

15:37 Do directors make their best movies first?

18:04 The Dubliners film project - how the Dubliners nearly died!

20:09 How the movie industry is changing - cinemas close, AI expanding

24:59 Movie budgets and how to make a movie on a shoestring

29:20 How Mark 'discovered' Barry Keoghan

34:02 Bryce praises The New World

34:32 Ros obsesses over Barry Lyndon

35:04 Amongst the Wolves - Mark's new film

40:48 Outro

Plus; Michael Mann's perfect blend of realism and style, the cinematic genius of the final scene, aesthetically pleasing sliding bodies, duel-wielding flintlock rifles and Bryce's ephemeral encounter with the great Daniel Day-Lewis (who nicked his banana and jam sandwich).

Know where we can buy the rights to 'The Deerslayer' so we can make a prequel, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We take a look through the history behind the real Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid), the Reconquista and the Almoravid dynasty and ask whether El Cid was actually a chivalrous knight or ruthless mercenary?

Plus: Heston and Loren's epic spat on set, the reason why Francisco Franco loved this movie and Raf Valone's communist partisan, Serie A-winning back story.

Remember Charlie Croker's threat of ethnic genocide, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We take a look at how the production got a lot of the historical stuff right, how they were limited by their knowledge in 1950s and what aspects of this movie are complete Hollywood bulls**t!

Plus the science of Kirk Douglas' bum chin, the potential of a Green Party-style Einar/Eric co-leadership and where are the horned helmets?

Did you do a better job of remembering Snorri Sturluson's name, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We take a look at the depiction of the British, particularly Jason Isacc's Tavington and the real life inspiration; Banastre Tarleton. And would Kevin Spacey have played the part better?

Plus: Mel's $25 million pay day, chronically bad child acting, super violent scripts and Steven Gerrard's favourite cheese.

Do you sport an ear horn, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We go through the history this movie's based on and discuss its long-lasting influence and legacy; from initially being banned in France to being praised by directors such as Kubrick and Herzog.

Plus; is this the antidote to Hollywood cinema, French male horniness strikes again! And what would a Mel Gibson-Danny Glover remake look like?

Have the script for the long-lost Robert Redford parachutist version of this movie, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We rattle through the litany of (pre)historical inaccuracies from anachronistic Pyramids to the sextant (invented in 16th century AD) and ponder how this movie burnt through its eye-watering $105 million budget.

Plus: Graham Hancock, 3 spurious impalings and Roland Emmerich's truly odd art collection.

Remember the 999 episode where someone pinned themselves to the garden with a pitchfork, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We take a look at some of the real history that inspired this movie and run through the unconventional yet ingenious way it was shot.

Plus Tom Sizemore's career-best performance, Tom Hanks' love of typewriters and whether this is this actually an anti-portsmouth movie.

Also a massive fan of Old Ryan's grandad outfit, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We talk through the history that provides the backdrop of this film: Pocahontas, John Smith and the founding of Jamestown. The clash of civilisations, what we've lost by becoming so decoupled from nature and why has no one heard of this movie?

Plus: Colin Farrell's 'hairy badass stage', the brilliance of Q'orianka Kilcher, the importance of the documentary style and what this movie would have looked like if Mel Gibson had directed it.

Do you know what an antiquated armet is, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

Plus we go through the hisory that inspired the film, Operation Alberich, discuss why we like this movie (well, Ros at least) and whether it veers into glorifying the First World War.

Know whether Benedict Cumberbatch's "f**k awwf" is too affected to be picked up as a profanity by Apple Podcasts, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We discuss what makes this movie so great, go through the history between 1916 to 1922, discuss whether the recreation of Bloody Sunday (1920) went over the top and discuss what happened after Collins' death.

Plus: Remember the flappable DVD? Why was Julia Roberts cast in this movie? And what's the connection between this movie and Michael Mann's Heat?

Did you design the Peter Pan book prop, or you'd just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We talk through the differences between the real history and what the film portrays plus we discuss Marlon Brando's legendary on-set antics, what life was actually like in the 18th century navy and whether the ending of the movie does a disservice to the spirit of the history.

Do you know whether Marlon Brando actually did split the seat on 52 pairs of pants during the shooting of the film, or you'd just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

I’m your host Ros Evans, I’m an editor with a background in archaeology and I’m joined in every episode by my brother, professor of modern history Bryce Evans.

In every episode we have a good old chat about a historically inspired movie, going through the historical facts fusing them with the best movie buff trivia. Plus you get our insights and opinions!

We love Hollywood blockbusters just as much as the old classics and we’ll also be covering a few indie films you may never of heard of. So if you love movies and history this is the podcast for you.

For the A to Z of historically inspired movies, from Apollo 13 to Zulu, search for the Historical Movies Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts and we’re looking forward to talking through some of your favourite movies!

We talk about the 90s event that was Titanic and what director James Cameron was trying to say by focussing on (and making up?) the class issues on board RMS Titanic.

Plus Billy Zane's eyeliner addiction, the power of nostalgia, the great Titanic door debate, and did the ship have to sink for the film to function?

Have you got a Titanic 2 review for us, or would you just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

We find out as we cover 'The Sniper', an Iranian movie following the exploits of legendary sniper Abdolrasoul Zarrin, who has the highest recorded kill count of any sniper in history with 740.

We delve into the history of the Iran/Iraq war and the myths and truths about Zarrin. Plus we discuss the cult of the sniper in movies, the world of Sacred Defence cinema, the Iraqi Freddy Mercury, the Iranian Jeremy Corbyn and military maps drawn by 3-year-olds.

Tell us about your 'misbehaves', or just get in touch by emailing us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com

We discuss the history behind this blockbuster, plus: is this the best loincloth movie of all time? Mel's subtle Midnight Cowboy reference and which exotic jungle death would Bryce prefer?

Happen to know what a Tapir actually sounds like, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

Plus: what being in space smells like. Is this the greatest nerds fixing problems movie of all time?Were there any members of Ron Howard's family NOT cast in this movie and the perfect sequel to Apollo 13 that you've probably never heard of!

Do you know how to build that device that converts square oxygen filters to round oxygen filters, or would just like to get in touch? Reach us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

We discuss the complex and facinating history behind the movie and discuss everything from Eriq Ebouaney's fine performance to anachronistic airplanes.

Do you know where we can get our hands on a nice cold Polar beer, or would just like to get in touch with us? Reach us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

To coincide with the release of Gladiator 2 this week, we take a trip back to the year 2000 and revisit Ridley Scott’s original swords and sandals classic.

We talk through the history that inspired the movie, ask how accurate it is and get on to the important topic of Oliver Reed’s booze-fueled pugilistic antics with the crew of HMS Cumberland.

Plus Commodus’ 5 back-to-back World Cups, the real fatality rate of the gladiators and the Nobel Prize for Movie Physics goes to another implausible impaling.

Want to sell us the rights to Nick Cave’s Gladiator sequel, or would just like to get in touch with us? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

Stanley Baker, Michael Caine and Jack Hawkins star in Cy Endfield's depiction of the Battle of Rorke's Drift in this classic of '60s cinema.

We discuss the real Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879 and the causes and outcomes of the Anglo-Zulu War. Plus what make '60s movies so unique and brilliant, is Hook the film's hero, and is this the best sideburn movie ever made?

Did you spot the Zulu with the wristwatch, or would just like to get in touch with us? Reach us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

Let them eat cake, let them wear blue converse sneakers? We discuss Sofia Coppola's movie, based on the biography 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser and the life and times of the real Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France.

Is this lavish, over the top, some times anachronistic movie actually the most honest and accurate depiction of Marie Antoinette that we've yet had?

Know the perfect brew time for jasmine tea or would just like to get in touch? Reach us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

"They'll never take our freedom!" rings out across the glens in Mel Gibson's take on the life of Scottish independence fighter William Wallace. There's no denying that Braveheart is a ripping 3 hours of fun but has Mel's gross flights of historically-inaccurate fancy gone too far or are they necessary for a ripping yarn?

We talk about the background of the real William Wallace, starting with Blind Harry's 15th century poem, as well as what we love about this ridiculous and brilliant blockbuster.

Know if snapping off the end of an implaled arrow is actaully sound medical advice? Or would like to get in touch with us? Reach us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.

Where better place to start this podcast than with possibly the biggest historical figure of them all - Napoleon. But is the incredible life of the Corsican general simply too grand to fit on the big screen?

We discuss how the myth of Napoleon falls into the 'great man' theory of history. What director Sir Ridley Scott (from here on 'Sridley') was trying to say with this movie (and whether we think he succeeded) and we talk about what we loved and didn't about this historical blockbuster.

Have a suggestion for a better hat movie that this or would like to get in touch with us? Reach us at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com or @drbryceevans on X.