This Super Page contains a growing list of our favorite Family Drama Movies!
We love watching movies and especially dramatic ones that provide strong life messages. On this page, we will review our favorite, family-safe dramas. If we think a movie is less appropriate for younger viewers we will mention it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Ten Commandments
Starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. Released in 1956
The Ten Commandments is a classic movie that depicts the life of Moses from infancy to his departure from earth.
The Story Line
The story starts with his birth and his rescue from the Nile river by Pharaoh’s daughter. Then it shows Moses in young adulthood living in the palace and accomplishing great works and victories for Pharaoh. When he learns that he is of Jewish descent and that his people are suffering under oppressive Egyptian taskmasters, he uses his position and influence to try to help. His drive to relieve the suffering of the Israelites results in his exile from Egypt and a 40-year trek in the wilderness.
There he is welcomed into the family of a Midianite priest named Jethro. He marries Zipporah and has two sons. Many years later he comes face-to-face with the Hebrew God who calls and empowers him to return to Egypt on a mission. His mission is to be a mouthpiece for God to free his people from oppression, which he does by means of God’s powerful miracles.
Why We Love this Movie
We love the story of Moses – a man who was destined to lead a multitude to freedom. He was a man who learned humility while attempting to do a great thing in his own strength.
A cast of thousands was employed to create this epic production of Cecil B DeMille’s. Charlton Heston plays a believable Moses and stands convincingly against the mean-spirited Yul Brynner who eventually becomes the oppressive Pharaoh of Egypt.
Although this movie was made more than 60 years ago, the story is still relevant today. The special effects aren’t as convincing as a modern day movie, but the emotions, acting, costumes and large sets will draw you into the story and leave you in awe of what God did to rescue an oppressed people.
When we Watch The 10 Commandments
This is a move that we watch at least once a year and truly love. During the Spring and Lenten season leading up to Easter is the time that we love to pull out our Bible movies to be reminded of how God has intervened in our history.
Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy is a touching classic movie, starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. It chronicles a friendship that goes beyond race and age, and it stands the test of time.
Daisy Werthan (Tandy) is an elderly Jewish Widow. She lives in a large home in Atlanta with one servant. Her son, Boolie, decides that she needs to surrender her car keys after she has an accident on her driveway.
Boolie hires Hoke (Freeman), a black man in the south, to be his mother’s chauffeur. Miss Daisy refuses to allow Hoke to drive her anywhere. There is one hilarious scene where Hoke is driving the car slowly as Miss Daisy walks to the store.
Eventually, she relents and allows Hoke to drive her around, but he has to drive according to her preferences.
Hoke is incredibly patient and respectful, in spite of her demanding requests.
The rest of the movie covers more than 20 years of Miss Daisy and Hoke working together.
In the end, Miss Daisy starts to experience dementia and is admitted to a care facility. Hoke, now in his 80’s visits her there. This movie won 4 Oscars and is worth owning and watching once a year.
High Society
High Society is a hilarious musical starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.
C.K. Dexter-Haven (Dex – played by Bing Crosby) lives next door to his ex-wife and wealthy heiress Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly).
Tracy Lord is engaged to be married, but Dex wants to win back her heart. The wedding plans are moving swiftly along and a reporter, Mike Connors (Sinatra) is assigned to write a story about the heiress and her soon-to-be new husband.
To complicated matters, Connors finds himself attracted to Tracy Lord also. The three men vie for her attention through all sorts of shenanigans. It’s hilarious fun with some awesome songs woven into the story.
The musical score was written by Cole Porter. The song True Love was nominated for an Oscar. Louis Armstrong makes a couple of appearances and adds a jazzy touch to the movie.
This is an entertaining movie to watch several times.
Other Great Movies
The Rookie — Dennis Quaid
Ben Hur — Charlton Heston
The Robe — Richard Burton and Victor Mature
Regarding Henry — Harrison Ford-
Roman Holiday — Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn
Meet John Doe — Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck
Blossoms in the Dust — Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon
Mr. Smith goes to Washington — Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur
War Movies
In Harms Way — John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Henry Fonda, WWII
Patton — George C. Scott, WWII
Sahara — Humphrey Bogart, WWII Africa
The Best Years of Our Lives — Myrna Loy and Fredric March, WWII. A great story that captures a true sense of what it’s like to return from war. Complete with laughter, tears, and intense emotional trials.
The Sea Wolves — Gregory Peck and David Niven, WWII (Retired military men help uncover radio signals to fight German U-Boats)
Tora, Tora, Tora — Martin Balsam, WWII ( History of Pearl Harbor)
Final Countdown — Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen
Wake Island — Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy
Thirty Seconds over Tokyo — Van Johnson, Spencer Tracy
They were Expendable — John Wayne, Robert Montgomery
The Battle of the Bulge — Van Johnson
The Great Escape — Steve McQueen, James Garner
Western Movies
They Died with their Boots On — Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland
The Man who Shot Liberty Valance — John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Lee Marvin
Cat Ballou — Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, Nat ‘King’ Cole
North to Alaska — John Wayne, Fabian
The Electric Horseman — Jane Fonda, Robert Redford
The Magnificent Seven — Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen
If you have a favorite PG or PG13 Dramatic Movie that isn’t listed, please mention it in the comment section below and we’ll consider it for this page.