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Biography movies

Explore biographical films about the lives of notable people.

Matches come from recorded genres and theme tags; catalogue coverage can vary. 3,019 films · Page 88.

A Time to Live (1985)

biographical film, drama film

Mary-Lou and Larry Weisman first learned that their younger son, Peter, had muscular dystrophy when he was two-and-a-half years old. The doctor told them that the child's muscles would slowly atrophy, and he would eventually die of pneumon…

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The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)

Musical, biographical film, musical film

Circa 1913, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Thomas Dorsey, Sr, a coal miner, moonlights as a music teacher. He insists his sons Jimmy Dorsey, 9, and Tommy Dorsey, 7, respectively, learn the saxophone and trombone to avoid the coal mines. Init…

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The Legend of Alfred Packer (1980)

adventure film, biographical film, drama film

McMurphy comes to Denver, Colorado, to see Polly Pry about the Packer case. As Pry leaves for her scheduled meeting with McMurphy, she is stalked and shot at by a gunman. The bullets hit her skirts and lessen the blows inflicted on her pub…

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A Real American Hero (1978)

action film, biographical film, thriller

The movie, set in 1967, is about the real-life sheriff Buford Pusser, who goes after a criminal who has killed young people with his illegal moonshine. Brian Dennehy plays Pusser. The rest of the cast include Ken Howard, Sheree North, Forr…

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Monsieur N. (2003)

Biographical picture, Historie, drama film, historical film

The film centers around the final years of Napoleon Bonaparte (Philippe Torreton) during his forced exile on the remote island of Saint Helena in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, while being under the watchful eye of the inflexible …

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Madame Du Barry (1934)

Historie, biographical film, drama film

Louis XV, the pleasure-loving King of France in the mid-eighteenth century, is nearing 60, and, his wife and his important and beloved former mistress Madame de Pompadour both being gone, he yearns for a new woman companion who would treat…

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When You Remember Me (1990)

biographical film, drama film

Mike Mills is a teen with muscular dystrophy, whose destitute single mother who has three other children to care for, placed him in a state nursing home, where he contends with being a young person in the clinic and with an abusive head nu…

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Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

Documentation, Long Term Documentary, documentary film

The film follows Joan Rivers for 14 months, mostly during the 76th year of her life. The film made an effort to "[peel] away the mask" and expose the "struggles, sacrifices and joy of living life as a ground breaking female performer." The…

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Lillian Russell (1940)

Biographical picture, biographical film, drama film, musical film

Helen Leonard has a beautiful voice. As she grows up, she trains to become an opera singer. Her instructor, however, informs her that her voice is pleasing, but not suitable for grand opera.

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Dixie (1943)

biographical film, musical film

Dan Emmett and Jean are seated beneath a spreading magnolia tree in the garden of her home while he sings "Sunday, Monday or Always". The house is seen on fire, and though Dan rushes off to the fire-house for assistance, it is burned down.…

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Beau James (1957)

biographical film

In 1925, New York's governor, Al Smith, persuades state senator James J. "Jimmy" Walker that the Democratic Party needs him to run for mayor of New York City. A concern on Jimmy's part is his estrangement from wife Allie, but he discovers …

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Follow the Sun (1951)

biographical film, drama film

In Fort Worth, Texas, young Ben Hogan works as a golf caddy and dreams of becoming a professional golfer. As an adult, Hogan marries childhood sweetheart Valerie Fox and joins the pro golfers' tour. Fellow pro Chuck Williams befriends Hoga…

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Vindication Swim (2024)

biographical film, drama film

Vindication Swim depicts the story of Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. The film portrays Gleitze’s upstream struggle in overcoming both the cold waters of the English Channel and the…

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The Toast of New York (1937)

Biographical picture, biographical film

In post-Civil War America, unscrupulous, ambitious partners Jim Fisk and Nick Boyd talk tight-fisted businessman Daniel Drew into selling them his shipping company, paying with worthless Confederate bonds. Later, worried that his longtime …

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The Man Nobody Knew (2011)

documentary film

Narrated by Carl Colby, son of the late Director of Central Intelligence William E. Colby, The Man Nobody Knew traces the elder Colby's career in the U.S. intelligence community, along with and in contrast to his home life, including the s…

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The True Story of Lynn Stuart (1958)

biographical film, crime film, drama film

In a prologue, Edmund "Pat" Brown, who was the California Attorney General at the time of the film's production, makes a statement directly to the viewer, attesting to the veracity of the film's story and to the societal scourge presented …

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Pelé (2021)

Biographical documentary

The film describes the life of Pelé from his childhood, his soccer triumphs up until his last soccer station with the New York Cosmos soccer team. It includes lots of archival footage including his games, his and other interviews, news ree…

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