12 Angry Men asin: B000056HEC binding: DVD list price: $14.98 USD amazon price: $138.99 USD

12 Angry Men (1957) directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda. This film depicts a jury deliberating the fate of a young Latino boy accused of murdering his father. The members of the jury literally hold this boy's life in their hands, and the process of deliberation is a captivating study in human personality, motivation and communication. Though it seems slightly dated in details today, the acting could not be better.

Apollo 13 (Full Screen 2-Disc Anniversary Edition) asin: B0006Z2LP6 binding: DVD list price: $12.98 USD amazon price: $28.40 USD

Apollo 13 (1995) directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks. The "successful failure" of the NASA Apollo 13 mission to the moon is captured brilliantly in this award-winning film. A routine space flight is suddenly interrupted with the chilling words, "Houston, we have a problem." Suddenly a twin drama unfolds as the control center led by flight director Gene Kranz (played by Ed Harris) must work with the stranded astronauts Jim Lovell (Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) to bring them back safely to earth.

First Knight asin: 0800141601 binding: DVD list price: $14.94 USD amazon price: $9.55 USD

First Knight (1995) directed by Jerry Zucker. Yet another retelling of the King Arthur legend, but this time with a very strong antagonist, Prince Malagant (played by Ben Cross) pitted against King Arthur (played by Sean Connery). The conversations Arthur has with Malagant and others describing the values of Camelot are fantastic! Malagant asks if Camelot's laws are intended for the whole world, and Arthur answers, "There are laws that enslave man and laws that set them free.

Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition) asin: B00003CXA6 binding: DVD list price: $14.98 USD amazon price: $7.99 USD

Gettysburg (1993) directed by Ron Maxwell. This film is based on the bestselling book by Michael Shaara, The Killer Angels. It is a fairly straight retelling of the momentous Civil War battle in July of 1863. The film is over four hours in length, and is surprisingly faithful to Shaara's work, which ideally should be used together for maximum benefit. Very clearly seen in both book and film is that leadership won this battle.

Henry V asin: B000BRVQ50 binding: VHS Tape

Henry V (1989) directed and starring Kenneth Branagh. Yes, this is the play by William Shakespeare of the same name. For those who are daunted by Elizabethan English, this film will surprise you. As one reviewer commented, "It's truly stunning to see how Shakespeare's words, which seemed dull and difficult to understand at school, can be spoken as passages of such depth, beauty and power. Not one in a thousand actors could do this convincingly - but Kenneth Branagh can." The significance of this Oscar-award winning production is that it introduces us to Shakespeare's one and only good leader - King Henry V.

King Arthur (PG-13 Full Screen Edition) asin: B0002YLCFQ binding: DVD list price: $14.99 USD amazon price: $10.21 USD

King Arthur (2004) directed by Antoine Fuqua. This is not the traditional story as it is set in third century Britain with Arthur, played by Clive Owen, a Roman citizen whose knights were conscripted for fifteen years of service from a place called Sarmatia (an area that appeared to be either present-day Ukraine or Georgia). This film was panned by critics, but for me as a student of leadership, it was a feast.

Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Full Screen Edition) asin: B0001HLVSC binding: DVD list price: $14.98 USD amazon price: $11.83 USD

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) directed by Peter Weir. This film is based on a series of books by Patrick O'Brian that follow the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy, and his ship's surgeon and best friend Dr Stephen Maturin during the Napoleonic Wars. In this film, loosely based on the tenth book in the series, Aubrey, commanding the frigate HMS Surprise, is ordered to pursue and destroy the Acheron, a much more powerful French warship that is headed for the South Seas, where it will menace Britain's whaling fleet.

Startup.com asin: B00005N5QV binding: DVD list price: $14.98 USD amazon price: $49.95 USD

Startup.com (2001) directed by Chris Hegedus. This documentary describes two young idealistic entrepreneurs on their way to building the "American Dream" through an innovative (and highly profitable) internet business. Along the way, however, the two friends discover the limits of their skill set as well as their friendship as the perils of business all but consume them. An all-too-true story that is a great learning tool, especially for young aspiring leaders.

Triumph of the Will asin: B00004YVEO binding: DVD

Triumph of the Will (1934) directed by Leni Riefenstahl. This is a difficult film to view as it was the official Nazi propaganda vehicle in the 1930s, displaying their Nuremburg Rally in September of 1934. Yet for those who have wondered how Germany could have been so mesmerized by a fanatical dictator like Adolph Hitler, this film is the answer. The images are breathtaking. No one would ever image that Germany was little more than a third-world power at the time.

Wall Street asin: B00003CXDB binding: DVD list price: $14.98 USD amazon price: $34.72 USD

Wall Street (1987) directed by Oliver Stone. This film is a classic study in corruption, as a young stockbroker Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) hooks up with a high powered but ruthless Wall Street broker Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas). Once Bud accepts Gordon's central maxim, "greed is good," it is essentially all downhill morally for the aspiring agent, even as his financial status accelerates. The story is the battle for the young man's soul.