True Stories
True Stories are those based (sometimes loosely!) on fact. They cover topics as diverse as drug addiction, poverty, political unrest, the corruption of power, alcoholism, class divisions, sexual inequality, mental illness and other human struggles. Meet some of history's most intriguing characters, find out what it's really like to climb a mountain or paint a masterpiece. Truly, the True Story is one of cinema's most engaging and enthralling genres.
Bio-pics feature in this section and are also gathered together separately under the 'Biography' sublink left.
Pictured: Inside the Las Vegas mob, Scorsese's unromantic 'Goodfellas'
Reach for the Sky (1956)
7.3/10
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Kenneth More, Muriel Pavlow, Alexander Knox
A well told account of British pilot Douglas Bader (Kenneth More) who overcame the loss of both legs, to become one of the most remarkable fighter ace... Read more
The Long Gray Line (1955)
7.3/10
Director: John Ford
Starring: Betsy Palmer, Donald Crisp, Maureen O'Hara, Tyrone Power, Ward Bond, Robert Fran...
High-spirited Irish immigrant Marty Maher (Tyrone Power) is an awkward misfit at West Point until he's taken in as an assistant by kindly athletic dir... Read more
A Man Called Peter (1955)
7.2/10
Director: Henry Koster
Starring: Richard Todd, Jean Peters, Jill Esmond, Robert Burton
Richard Todd stars in the true story of Peter Marshall, the Scottish-born minister who became Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. After completing his religi... Read more
The Virgin Queen (1955)
7/10
Director: Henry Koster
Starring: Joan Collins, Bette Davis, Richard Todd, Herbert Marshall, Dan O'Herlihy
Bette Davis reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth I, having previously portrayed her in 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex'. The fanciful story... Read more
Alexander the Great (1955)
5.9/10
Director: Robert Rossen
Starring: Richard Burton, Fredric March, Claire Bloom
An epic historical drama of the military leader who conquered most of the known world before he was 30. Richard Burton gives a fine performance as the... Read more
To Hell And Back (1955)
7.4/10
Director: Jesse Hibbs
Starring: Charles Drake, Audie Murphy, Marshall Thompson, David Janssen, Denver Pyle
The most decorated American soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy, stars as himself in this gritty, unflinching biography. Follow the exploits of a re... Read more
They Who Dare (1954)
5.7/10
Director: Lewis Milestone
Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Denholm Elliott, Akim Tamiroff, William Russell
Britain's Special Boat Squadron is stationed off the Aegean coast during World War II, only going ashore for hair-raising missions. Six Brits and fou... Read more
The Dam Busters (1954)
7.4/10
Director: Michael Anderson
Starring: Ursula Jeans, Michael Redgrave, Richard Todd
Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave star in this film about the development of a specially designed ordinance, the aptly named 'bouncing bombs', used to... Read more
The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
7.3/10
Director: Anthony Mann
Starring: James Stewart, June Allyson, Henry Morgan, Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong, Ge...
James Stewart and June Allyson star as the popular band leader and his wife in this Anthony Mann film bio loaded with swinging music and fine musician... Read more
The Joe Louis Story (1953)
6.1/10
Director: Robert Gordon
Starring: Paul Stewart, James Edwards, Coley Wallace, Hilda Simms
Boxer Coley Wallace stars in the true-story of boxing legend 'the Brown Bomber', who became heavyweight champ in the '30s despite overwhelming poverty... Read more