Amistad (1997)

Actors: Arliss Howard (actor), Paul Guilfoyle (actor), Djimon Hounsou (actor), Castulo Guerra (actor), Nigel Hawthorne (actor), Anthony Hopkins (actor), Ralph Brown (actor), Pedro Armendáriz Jr. (actor), Peter Firth (actor), Xander Berkeley (actor), Chiwetel Ejiofor (actor), Morgan Freeman (actor), Eric Bruno Borgman (actor), Tomas Milian (actor), Matthew McConaughey (actor),

Plot: Amistad is the name of a slave ship traveling from Cuba to the U.S. in 1839. It is carrying a cargo of Africans who have been sold into slavery in Cuba, taken on board, and chained in the cargo hold of the ship. As the ship is crossing from Cuba to the U.S., Cinque, who was a tribal leader in Africa, leads a mutiny and takes over the ship. They continue to sail, hoping to find help when they land. Instead, when they reach the United States, they are imprisoned as runaway slaves. They don't speak a word of English, and it seems like they are doomed to die for killing their captors when an abolitionist lawyer decides to take their case, arguing that they were free citizens of another country and not slaves at all. The case finally gets to the Supreme Court, where John Quincy Adams makes an impassioned and eloquent plea for their release.

Keywords: 1830s, 1840s, 19th-century, abolition, africa, amazing-grace-hymn, based-on-true-story, blood, botany, chain
Genres: Drama, History, Mystery,
Taglines: A true story. Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are some moments when it must be taken.

Quotes:

John Quincy Adams: Now, you understand you're going to the Supreme Court. Do you know why?::Ens. Covey: [translating for Cinque] It is the place where they finally kill us.

John Quincy Adams: [to the Court] This man is black. We can all see that. But, can we also see as easily, that which is equally true? That he is the only true hero in this room. Now, if he were white, he wouldn't be standing before this court fighting for his life. If he were white and his enslavers were British, he wouldn't be standing, so heavy the weight of the medals and honors we would bestow upon him. Songs would be written about him. The great authors of our times would fill books about him. His story would be told and retold, in our classrooms. Our children, because we would make sure of it, would know his name as well as they know Patrick Henry's. Yet, if the South is right, what are we to do with that embarrassing, annoying document, The Declaration of Independence? What of its conceits? "All men created equal," "inalienable rights," "life, liberty," and so on and so forth? What on Earth are we to do with this? I have a modest suggestion.::[tears papers in half]

Joseph Cinque: [in Mende] What kind of a place is this where you almost mean what you say? Where laws almost work? How can you live like that?

Joseph Cinque: Give us, us free. Give us, us free. Give us, us free. Give us, us free. Give us, us free.

John Quincy Adams: [to the court] James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington... John Adams. We've long resisted asking you for guidance. Perhaps we have feared in doing so, we might acknowledge that our individuality, which we so, so revere, is not entirely our own. Perhaps we've feared an... an appeal to you might be taken for weakness. But, we've come to understand, finally, that this is not so. We understand now, we've been made to understand, and to embrace the understanding... that who we are *is* who we were. We desperately need your strength and wisdom to triumph over our fears, our prejudices, ourselves. Give us the courage to do what is right. And if it means civil war? Then let it come. And when it does, may it be, finally, the last battle of the American Revolution.

John Quincy Adams: Well when I was an attorney, a long time ago, young man, I err... I realized after much trial and error, that in the courtroom, whoever tells the best story wins. In unlawyer-like fashion, I give you that scrap of wisdom free of charge.

Tappan: [to Theodore] They may be of more value to our struggle in death than in life.

John Quincy Adams: [to the court] Well, gentlemen, I must say I differ with the keen minds of the South and with our President, who apparently shares their views, offering that the natural state of mankind is instead - and I know this is a controversial idea - is freedom. Is freedom. And the proof is the length to which a man, woman or child will go to regain it once taken. He will break loose his chains. He will decimate his enemies. He will try and try and try, against all odds, against all prejudices, to get home.

US Secretary of State Forsyth: The only thing John Quincy Adams will be remembered for is his middle name.

[a band of abolitionists approach the outer gate of the prison where the Amistad refugees are being held for trial]::Fala: [in Mende] Who are they, do you think?::[the abolitionists kneel to pray]::Joseph Cinque: [in Mende] Looks like they are going to be sick.::Abolitionists: [singing] Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound...::Fala: [in Mende] They're entertainers!::Abolitionists: [singing]... that saved a wretch like me...::Joseph Cinque: [in Mende] But why do they look so miserable?

The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)

Actors: Lionel Barrymore (actor), Harry C. Bradley (actor), Wade Boteler (actor), Frank Conroy (actor), Melville Cooper (actor), Melvyn Douglas (actor), Louis Calhern (actor), Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian (actor), Leyland Hodgson (actor), Allen 'Farina' Hoskins (actor), Edward LeSaint (actor), Gene Lockhart (actor), Sam McDaniel (actor), Edmund Mortimer (actor), William Orlamond (actor),

Plot: It's the early nineteenth century Washington. Young adult Margaret O'Neal - Peggy to most that know her - is the daughter of Major William O'Neal, who is the innkeeper of the establishment where most out-of-town politicians and military men stay when they're in Washington. Peggy is pretty and politically aware. She is courted by several of those politicians and military men who all want to marry her, except for the one with who she is truly in love. Because of her personal situation at the time, she, in 1828, becomes the unofficial first lady to help her old friend - "old" both in terms of age and length of time - Andrew Jackson, who has just been elected President of the United States. Jackson and Peggy have the same political outlook, where the union of the states is paramount, especially when many states see their rights as being more important than the union. Jackson had a rough ride during the election in large part because his wife, Rachel Jackson, was seen as a pipe smoking hayseed, unfit to live in the White House. On her deathbed, Rachel asked Peggy to take care of Jackson. Peggy, as unofficial first lady, gets as rough a ride as Rachel did, because of her own marital status and the undue influence she may assert over Jackson. Because of her relationship with Jackson, Peggy has to decide which of the conflicting issues of her political convictions, being with the man she truly loves or respectability is of greatest priority in her life.

Keywords: andrew-jackson, based-on-novel, dancing, gossip, innkeeper, marriage, marriage-proposal, martin-van-buren, murder, party
Genres: Drama, History,