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Introduction

What is history? Most historians agree that history can be defined as a body of facts that have been accepted and interpreted by historians as valid and significant.  As historians we are given the task to not just record facts, but to evaluate and interpret those facts through our modern lens. How are Hollywood feature films part of history? Films like other historical documents reflect the society and the culture that produced them.  The most popular films of a time generally find their appeal through a special connection to the culture of that period.  It is, of course, not possible to use film as the only tool to evaluating a period but as one tool in conjunction with others in order to establish a truthful and somewhat balanced interpretation of history.  This is especially important when evaluating the recent past.  It is our responsibility as historians to critically examine media in order to separate the fact from the fiction, the reality from the embellishment.  To use our critical lens to decipher what these tools are telling us about our past and the people living in those times.