Movies and TvShows featuring "california-history" theme.

The Big Valley is a TV show set in the Reconstruction era, specifically the 1870s, in California. It revolves around the Barkley family, particularly Victoria Barkley, a strong and independent rancher. She faces various challenges and battles against greedy businessmen, land-grabbers, and dangerous outlaws. With her resourcefulness and determination, Victoria fights for justice and protects her family and their valuable land in the San Joaquin Valley.

California's Gold is a public television human interest program that explores the natural, cultural, and historical features of California. The series ran for 24 seasons beginning in 1991, and was produced and hosted by Huell Howser in collaboration with KCET, Los Angeles. The series ceased production when Howser retired in November 2012, shortly before his death on January 7, 2013, although episodes continue to be shown on KCET and are featured on the page at the station's website about his shows. The show's theme song varies between several renditions of "California, Here I Come", but was most often played on the series by local musicians Eddie Enderle and Richard Chon.

Kit Carson is a pioneer scout and frontiersman who helps settlers along the Oregon Trail and fights against American Indian attacks. He also becomes involved in a romantic relationship and faces various challenges and betrayals.

The Commandant is making life rough for the colonials in Spanish California. While trying to help, Zorro is charged with the murder of the new Governor, but in the end he triumphs over the evil Commandant.

The Winning of Barbara Worth is a silent film about an engineer who works to develop the desert wasteland through irrigation. The film explores a romantic triangle between the engineer, a land developer, and a settler woman. It also includes elements of a classical Western, with scenes of sandstorms, rattlesnakes, and a payroll robbery. The story follows the characters as they navigate through various challenges, including a panic, lynching, flood, evacuation, and dust storms. Along the way, the engineer becomes a dam builder and adopts an orphan. Based on a novel, the film showcases the struggles and triumphs of transforming the barren Colorado River region.

The period is the 1840s and California is part of Mexico. Many of the citizens wish to become part of the United States. Other countries are also interested and the Russians have established bases in the northern part of the state. To further their hold they have stolen guns and Don Arturo Bordega, a leader of those wanting statehood, is out to recover them.

Califia, the Queen and spirit of California, gives the audience a quick and somewhat romanticized look at history of California, as well as trials and tribulations, but also hopes and dreams of its various ethnicites and cultures.

Silent version of the 1884 Helen Hunt Jackson novel originally ran 3 hours but all but 50 minutes of that are now lost.

Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea (2004) is a documentary that delves into the unique community and ecological disaster surrounding the Salton Sea in California. The film explores the history, politics, and environmentalism of the area, showcasing the eccentric residents and the challenges they face. From retirement communities to religious fanatics, and from environmental concerns to the boom and decline of the resort town, this documentary provides a fascinating glimpse into this unusual and intriguing landscape.

A young woman and her five little brothers and sisters are left orphans by the murder of their father over gold found on his ranch. Together the seven offspring fight against their greedy neighbors to keep what is rightfully theirs.

Through personal interviews and historic photographs, you will come to know the story of Carmel, the jewel of the California Coast, whose history is older than Plymouth, older then Jameston. Its the place that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write Treasure Island.

A film about the Southern Pacific Railroad and the men and women who keep the trains running.

Weaving with Spanish Threads is an hour-long (62 min.) documentary about the Spanish immigrants who arrived in Hawaii under 3-5 year contracts in the early 1900s. They came to work in the sugar cane and pineapple plantations, and after their term was up, many settled permanently in California rather than staying in Hawaii or returning to Spain. Our story is told by one of the original immigrants, 98 years old when we filmed him and full of stories. His narrative is supplemented by interviews with descendants of these immigrants. The documentary is hosted by Jaime Cader, member of one of California's Spanish clubs who has spent many years helping immigrants and farm laborers. The documentary's director is Eve A. Ma, an award-winning filmmaker.

In 1845, President John Tyler signed a Congressional resolution to annex Texas, and by 1846, 4,000 troops were on the Rio Grande. Shortly thereafter, President James Polk proposed that Mexico sell its northern half to the U.S. Hostilities commenced and the U.S. crossed the border to occupy Matamoras, U.S. warships landed troops at Veracruz, who fought their way overland to Mexico City. Santa Anna led a defending army, but the Mexicans were overwhelmed. In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico sold its northern territories to the U.S. for $15 million. For Mexico, the war was a traumatic event that resulted in the loss of many lives, half its territory, and a great deal of pride and hope for the future. However, it brought together a people who still were struggling with what it meant to be Mexican, just 20 years after achieving independence from Spain. This film examines both sides of a conflict that changed the shape of nations and left a legacy that endures to this day.