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'
Elizabeth R (1971)
8.8/10
Director: Claude Whatham, Herbert Wise, Richard Martin, Roderick Graham, Donald McWhinnie
Starring: Robert Hardy, Ronald Hines, Glenda Jackson, Anthony Ainley, Vivian Pickles, Nich...
Glenda Jackson stars as England's strong-willed 'Virgin Queen' in this acclaimed Masterpiece Theatre presentation. Beginning with her ascendance to th... Read more
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
6.9/10
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Rhys Ifans, Samantha Morton, Jordi Mo...
The second installment in a proposed trilogy of the most momentous points of Elizabeth I's life, we now see Blanchett play her as a queen experienced... Read more
Elvis and Nixon (2016)
Director: Liza Johnson
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Tate Donovan, Colin Hanks, Johnny Knoxville, Michael Shannon, Alex...
In December 1970, Elvis Presley turned up unannounced at the Northwest gate to the White House with a letter he wanted delivered to the president. See... Read more
Elvis: The Early Years (2006)
7.4/10
Director: James Sadwith
Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Randy Quaid, Rose McGowan, Tim Guinee
Jonathan Rhys Meyers may be Welsh, but he manages to be a dead ringer for the young Elvis in this biopic, made with the cooperation of the Elvis Estat... Read more
End of the Spear (2005)
7/10
Director: Jim Hanon
Starring: Louie Leonardo, Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza, Chase Ellison
In the 1950s, a group of Christian missionaries went to Ecuador in order to reach the violent revenge-based Waodani people. Five of the men were spear... Read more
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
7.6/10
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins, Ed Harris
Stalingrad, 1942. Against this vivid and sprawling backdrop a personal war is being played out by two opponents. Vassili (Jude Law), an expert Russian... Read more
Enid (2009)
6.7/10
Director: James Hawes
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Denis Lawson, Matthew Macfadyen
As one of the most prolific children's writers of all time, Enid Blyton published more than 750 titles in her forty-five year writing career. The auth... Read more
Erin Brockovich (2000)
7.3/10
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Peter Coyote
Julia Roberts shines in this powerful true story, playing a feisty, divorced mother of three who takes a job as her lawyer's secretary and finds herse... Read more
Escape at Dannemora (2018)
8/10
Director: Ben Stiller
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, David Morse
The small sleepy town of Dannemora is home to the Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison. Two inmates, Richard Matt and David Sweat... Read more
Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
7.6/10
Director: Don Siegel
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Fred Ward, Jack Thibeau, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom
Clint Eastwood and director Don Siegel re-team for their fifth film in this fascinating account of the only three men ever to escape from the infamous... Read more