Chrysler Building, New York City, 1930

Heroism Viewing and Discussion Programs

The following list of films may be used in programs that support use of Picturing America posters 3-A, 4-A, 10-A, and 19-B.

Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union. (1997) 100 min. A&E. DVD: $24.95.
A&E Biograpy follows the life of the popular president, from his childhood in Illinois to his assassination at the end of the Civil War. Available from History Channel; contact a sales rep for PPR.

Accidental Hero. (2001) 56 min. Mac & Ava Productions. DVD: $29.95.
Follows a San Francisco East Bay public high school teacher and his class over two years. An amazing story about the tremendous potential that young people from diverse backgrounds can realize when they are given the support of a good teacher. Teacher resources. Available through PBS.

FDR. (2006) 102 min. Kultur. DVD: $19.99.
FDR showcases Robert Vaughn’s gutsy portrayal of one of the most charismatic leaders of the twentieth century, American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Available through Kultur.

The Flight that Fought Back. (2005) 100 min. Brook Lapping Productions for Discovery Channel. DVD: $9.99
A docudrama that reconstructs how forty strangers diagnosed the terrorist’s scheme, devised a plan to respond, and stopped a deadly plot, sacrificing their own lives in the process. Resources. Available from Discovery Channel.

Jonas Salk: Personally Speaking. (1998) 25 min. PBS. VHS: $19.95
Documentary about how Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine. Available from Amazon.

Most Honorable Son. (2007) 60 min. PBS Home Video. DVD: $54.95 (includes PPR).
The story of Ben Kuroki, a Japanese-American hero of WWII who was also an outspoken critic of the racism faced by Japanese Americans and other minorities in the U.S. Teacher resources. Available from PBS Educational Media.

Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. (1999) 210 min. Ken Burns for NPR and WETA. DVD: $44.95 (includes PPR).
The story of two women who were fundamental in giving birth to the women’s movement. Resources. Available from PBS Educational Media.