One for Corydoras and Newt.

[Huge_Vitae]

One film I watched, "American Gangster", was based on fact..."Based" is the operative word...

 

Depictions in Media

The story of Roberts' investigation and prosecution of Frank Lucas was adapted into the 2007 film American Gangster, starring Academy Award-winning actors Denzel Washington portraying Lucas and Russell Crowe portraying Roberts. The film grossed more than US$127 million[16] and was met with generally positive reviews.[17] However, several persons involved with the actual events regarding the investigation and prosecution (including Lucas and Roberts) have criticized the film as a largely fictional and exaggerated portrayal that contained inaccuracies and fabrication.[18]

The film portrays Roberts as being mired in a personal child custody battle and that this aspect of his personal life was compromised by his dogged investigation of Lucas. This was entirely fabricated as Roberts never had a child.[18] Roberts also criticized the portrayal of Lucas by describing it as "almost noble".[18]

Comparatively, Sterling Johnson, Jr., a federal judge who served as a special narcotics prosecutor and assisted the arrest and trial of Lucas, described the film as "one percent reality and ninety-nine percent Hollywood." In addition, Johnson described the real life Lucas as "illiterate, vicious, violent, and everything Denzel Washington was not."[19] Former Drug Enforcement Administration agents filed a lawsuit against Universal Studios saying that the events in the film were fictionalized and that the film defamed them and hundreds of other agents.[20]

You are quite correct Bobj, the best example of this, in my mind, other than the reference Chesters made to Enigma, which was indeed captured by a British Submarine was the film 'Braveheart' which was so far from historic fact to border on ridiculous.

 

But you are selling ice to an Eskimo here matey.

 

If you or anybody else wish to search the name of Captain W. (Bernie) Webster USCG, and his rescue of the crew of the Tanker 'Pembleton' on 18/2/1952 please do so but (other than the screenplay, which may or may not be accurate,) the facts, recorded in history are well documented.

 

Bernie Webster along with two other USCG crew took the 32' cutter CG36500 out into 50 foot seas & 70 knot winds to the aid of the 500' Pembleton which had broken in half in a storm, on reaching the vessel they rescued 32 of the 33 men still alive and loaded them on board the cutter which was certified to hold just 12 survivors and safely returned them to shore and eventually their families.

 

I don't know how many on here have experiance of a storm at sea, mine is limited, Cory probably has better and I know Newt certainly has, but if anybody on here wishes to knock the bravery of these men with their own ignorance then please, enjoy yourself at my expense but do not knock their bravery.

 

On the subject of Dunkirk, my Father and Father in Law were both evacuated from that beach, as long as the film portrays the bravery of those young men, including the bravery of the vanguard units, I care not if it involves the USS Nimitz supporting the evacuation with F15's.

 

One of my Uncles, (I have an awful lot) was a Royal Marine in 'A' turret HMS Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate, he often told how virtually to a man they were so scared at the thought of attacking a pocket Battleship that they were throwing up! Do you consider that is how they should be depicted in the film? SOMETIMES poetic license or whatever you name it is called for and should be applied, yes they were throwing up in fear, but the fact remains they were throwing up at their posts, ready to fire the guns which would probably bounce off the hull of Graf Spee.

 

I would challenge any reader to study the night of the Pembleton rescue after learning of the story as I did and not take a short sharp breath at their bravery on that night.

Edited October 24, 2016 by Huge_Vitae

[Newt]

True exploits of the various lifeboat services (from oar powered to the more modern Coast Guards) are often so incredible as to seem like badly written fiction even though they are very real. These are usually missions where the crews involved were both very skilled and very lucky.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_National_Lifeboat_Institution

 

and some rescue attempts that didn't go so well

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lifeboat_disasters_in_Britain_and_Ireland

[Ken L]

You are quite correct Bobj, the best example of this, in my mind, other than the reference Chesters made to Enigma, which was indeed captured by a British Submarine was the film 'Braveheart' which was so far from historic fact to border on ridiculous.

A bit of truth about William Wallace.

[chesters1]

A bit of truth about William Wallace.

 

His version of the truth perhaps ,as he was a 'loser' we decide what was and is true ,unless you can witness an occurrence yourself and ofcourse are not in the slightest bias ,drunk or half asleep you may get some truth of an event.

Even then its your version it may differ from the person standing right next to you ,basically believe nothing

Edited October 25, 2016 by chesters1

[rob.imk2]

And for that little jib, might I remind you that Audie Murphy was amongst the highest decorated Soldiers of WWII, who was awarded EVERY award or citation for bravery from the US, French and Belgiam Gov.

[rob.imk2]

Just a little joke on my part I am aware of his valour and of the other Americans who fought and died helping us and our allies

[corydoras]

A bit of truth about William Wallace.

He's spot on "a truly great man from a truly great nation"