In 1999, history buffs enjoyed a film feast when all five movies nominated for Best Picture Oscars were set more than half a century ago. Will we ever see so many "period pieces" at the Academy Awards again? What's a medieval movie buff to do?
Look to the past, of course!
Here I present a list of films that have won or been nominated for Academy Awards. Each one is set sometime in or near the Middle Ages or has some connection to medieval times.
This list does not include every nominated film set in our time period, nor is it intended to be a definitive "best of" list. Films have been chosen on the basis of how well they have withstood the test of time, how significant their nominations and awards were, or how powerfully they affected your Guide. In short, each film has something to offer the history buff looking for a historical Oscar experience. These films also make great gifts for the medieval movie buff.
Click each title to find out more about the film, its awards and nominations, links, and why your Guide recommends it. Audio clips are available for those movies marked with a *; to listen, you'll need RealPlayer, which you can download for free at Real.com.
Each page also has a link to the Internet Movie Database, where you'll find extensive data on the movie, and to mySimon, where you can compare prices of available video, DVD and Laserdisc versions of the film at various online merchants.
- The Adventures of Robin Hood*
- The Agony and the Ecstasy*
- Anne of the Thousand Days
- Becket
- Braveheart*
- Hamlet
- Henry V*
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame*
- The Lion in Winter*
- A Man for All Seasons
- Romeo and Juliet
- Shakespeare in Love*
If you know of an appropriate film that has won or been nominated for an Oscar, please feel free to recommend it in our forum.
For the latest info on this year's awards, check out the Internet Movie Database's Oscar page.
For more medieval movies, check out your Guide's picks of the most realistic medieval films and the most fun medieval films.
ACADEMY AWARD(S)®, OSCAR(S)® and the OSCAR® Statuette are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Medieval History site at About.com is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
