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Movies Based on True Stories: The Ultimate Trivia Guide to True Story Films
A look at over 400 of the best historical movies (and some of the worst) purporting to be ‘factual’ or ‘based on actual events’; and how Hollywood has distorted, altered, manipulated, exaggerated, even falsified history under the all-encompassing premise…based on a true story…
- GenresNonfiction
674 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2015
102 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 12, 2017
This is a very long book. It is a collection of movie titles that were somehow based upon true stories or historic personages. The author is Australian so Australian and New Zealand movies, actors and directors get stronger placement than they might in another book.
Overall very enjoyable and informative. I will admit I skipped over many of the western and war titles.
Overall very enjoyable and informative. I will admit I skipped over many of the western and war titles.
December 20, 2015
As a student of history, I always cringe when Hollywood tries to portray an historical event. There are quire a few scandalous events in history - why does Hollywood insist on twisting and perverting history into something not even recognizable?
Well, if you've ever seen a movie with the tag line 'based on a true event' be aware that there may be about one or two sentences in the movie that are true and the rest is made up. You want to learn fact from fiction? Check out this book.
However, I do take issue with his preoccupation with gay actors. I swear, the author believes 90% of all Hollywood actors are/were gay. I have no problem with gay actors, but really, *all* of them? And what does their sexuality have to do with separating fact from fiction in movies?
Well, if you've ever seen a movie with the tag line 'based on a true event' be aware that there may be about one or two sentences in the movie that are true and the rest is made up. You want to learn fact from fiction? Check out this book.
However, I do take issue with his preoccupation with gay actors. I swear, the author believes 90% of all Hollywood actors are/were gay. I have no problem with gay actors, but really, *all* of them? And what does their sexuality have to do with separating fact from fiction in movies?
August 13, 2017
Very interesting.
I really enjoyed this book and the lists of the author's favourite films in various categories. I know it's personal preferences, but couldn't believe Sunset Boulevard was not mentioned somewhere - a wonderful film.
I really enjoyed this book and the lists of the author's favourite films in various categories. I know it's personal preferences, but couldn't believe Sunset Boulevard was not mentioned somewhere - a wonderful film.
June 1, 2018
This guy's presentation was tiresome after a few entries, so I can imagine how painful reading all 800+ pages would be. I made it to page 288 before I ended the torture. During that time I lost track of how many inaccuracies I found.
July 18, 2023
Interesting book. It gives the real history that many movies are claiming to depict. Sometimes they get it right; often they don't. The author is quite opinionated. Sometimes I disagree with him; sometimes I agree with him very strongly.
February 17, 2019
Great Reading
I couldn't put it down because some of my favorite movies are included. Fascinating material.I recommend this book to anyone who loves movies. Buy it
I couldn't put it down because some of my favorite movies are included. Fascinating material.I recommend this book to anyone who loves movies. Buy it
September 19, 2016
Interesting and little known facts.
Totally enjoyed this well written and thoroughly researched-the bibliography runs as long as some whole books. If you like movies or are just a collector of odd facts as I am, this book is well worth a read. Plus the author agrees with me concerning the Kennedy assassination and the 'single shooter' theory. Recommend
Totally enjoyed this well written and thoroughly researched-the bibliography runs as long as some whole books. If you like movies or are just a collector of odd facts as I am, this book is well worth a read. Plus the author agrees with me concerning the Kennedy assassination and the 'single shooter' theory. Recommend
not-going-to-finish
June 13, 2015Not what it purports to be. Almost no statement about what happens in the movies, so very little direct comparison.
Also the author makes little effort to hide his opinions about people or events, which is fine in a blog but distracting and inappropriate in a book.
Also the author makes little effort to hide his opinions about people or events, which is fine in a blog but distracting and inappropriate in a book.
December 9, 2015
Fun read
Interesting tidbits about 100's of movies.
Great at setting the story straight.
I highly recommend it for fun reading by everybody.
Interesting tidbits about 100's of movies.
Great at setting the story straight.
I highly recommend it for fun reading by everybody.
August 20, 2016
Lame
Thought it was a boring read. Old movies nobody cares about. Highly opinionated, but most of it it boring. Boo.
Thought it was a boring read. Old movies nobody cares about. Highly opinionated, but most of it it boring. Boo.
February 16, 2017
A thoroughly entertaining but trashy read - with plenty of typos - that I'm not sure are the author's fault but are aggravating nonetheless.
Read
November 29, 2017Interesting but Unreliable
The stories are generally interesting, but there are too many errors, some of them fairly major, and one actually libelous. Among other things, the author argues against the use of the word “bullet” in Master and Commander,because “bullets were yet to be invented.” The movie is set in 1805; the use of the word bullet for a small arms projectile dates to late 1500s.
The Navy Cross is not the Navy’s version of a Medal of Honor, it’s the Navy’s version of a Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest American military award. There is also no regulation requiring an actor to have a deliberate mistake, such as an incorrect medal or badge, when wearing a military uniform. In fact, so long as the film isn’t intentionally critical of the service, any of the American forces will do everything they can to insure the uniforms and accouterments are exactly correct.
Some other little things. Mozart, to all accounts, died of cholera, not tuberculosis. And there was never any intention of the Doolittle raiders returning to the Hornet for the obvious reason that the planes couldn’t be landed on the carrier’s deck. The intent was always that they would overfly Japan and land in China, but the early launch meant most didn’t have enough fuel to reach Chinese held territory as the plan had called for.
The stories are generally interesting, but there are too many errors, some of them fairly major, and one actually libelous. Among other things, the author argues against the use of the word “bullet” in Master and Commander,because “bullets were yet to be invented.” The movie is set in 1805; the use of the word bullet for a small arms projectile dates to late 1500s.
The Navy Cross is not the Navy’s version of a Medal of Honor, it’s the Navy’s version of a Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest American military award. There is also no regulation requiring an actor to have a deliberate mistake, such as an incorrect medal or badge, when wearing a military uniform. In fact, so long as the film isn’t intentionally critical of the service, any of the American forces will do everything they can to insure the uniforms and accouterments are exactly correct.
Some other little things. Mozart, to all accounts, died of cholera, not tuberculosis. And there was never any intention of the Doolittle raiders returning to the Hornet for the obvious reason that the planes couldn’t be landed on the carrier’s deck. The intent was always that they would overfly Japan and land in China, but the early launch meant most didn’t have enough fuel to reach Chinese held territory as the plan had called for.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews