Liberty is important, not for its own sake, but because it’s the condition that allows life to flourish. So, you could call the list below “pro-life.” However, since we don’t want to confuse this with an abortion debate, let’s just call it “Pro-Freedom.”

Two weeks ago, I published a list of important history books. Now, I’d like to start a list of pro-freedom entertainment: films, TV shows, and music that inspired me towards freedom, or opened my mind, or encouraged me, or in any way (to use a great but forgotten word) edified me. I’m casting a wide net.

I should note, by the way, that these are not all serious works – some are comedies, even a stupid comedy or two – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable in their way.

I made this list fairly quickly, which means that I’m probably missing an awful lot. So, please add to the list if you can.

Here we go:

Films

The Shawshank Redemption

V For Vendetta

The Matrix

Serenity

Alongside Night

Atlas Shrugged, Part 1

Atlas Shrugged, Part 2

The Fountainhead

The Great Dictator

The Dead Poets Society

PCU

Fahrenheit 451

They Live

The Caine Mutiny

Casablanca

Enemy of the State

Rocky

Rocky Balboa

Moneyball

Apollo 13

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

Chariots of Fire

Awakenings

Gran Torino

October Sky

The Sound of Music

Gandhi

Phenomenon

Young Sherlock Holmes

The Time Machine (1960)

The Legend of 1900

The Lives of Others

Television Series

Firefly

Star Trek, Original Series, especially episodes #28, 34, 55 & 63

Have Gun Will Travel

The Twilight Zone, original series

Highlander

Kung Fu

Kung Fu: The Legend Continues

Northern Exposure

Babylon 5

Music

Steve McQueen, Sheryl Crow

Icarus: Bourne on Wings of Steel, Kansas

Purify, Lacuna Coil

Going Mobile, The Who

Won’t Get Fooled Again, The Who

I’m Free, The Who

Dream On, Aerosmith

Taxman, The Beatles

Hand Me Down World, The Guess Who

At The Stars, Better Than Ezra

Woodstock, Crosby, Stills & Nash

Carry On, Crosby, Stills & Nash

Highway Star, Deep Purple

Already Gone, The Eagles

Roll With The Changes, REO Speedwagon

Riding The Storm Out, REO Speedwagon

Ventura Highway, America

Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen

Étude in C minor (Revolutionary), Frederic Chopin

Polonaise in A Flat Major (Heroic), Frederic Chopin

Born To Be Wild, Steppenwolf

I’ve Got A Name, Jim Croche

Hero, David Crosby

The Morning After, Maureen McGovern

The Grand Illusion, Styx

Come Sail Away, Styx

Errata

Here are a few things that seem to have been important to a number of liberty people when they were young:

Peter And The Wolf, the audio version narrated by Sterling Holloway

Flatland : A Romance of Many Dimensions, by Edwin Abbott (Yes, this is a book.)

Deus Ex, a video game, versions 1 and 3

So…

What can you add as great examples of Pro-Freedom (pro-life) Entertainment?

Paul Rosenberg
FreemansPerspective.com