Comments on: Reel Life: 5 Stories Hollywood Fudged in the Movies http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/ The Neat Side of the Web Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:41:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Manticore http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-280791 The Manticore Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:47:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-280791 What about Hidalgo? slightly more recent one. Frank Hopkins is alleged to have made the whole race up, and that there never was a mustang named Hidalgo. What about Hidalgo? slightly more recent one. Frank Hopkins is alleged to have made the whole race up, and that there never was a mustang named Hidalgo.

]]> By: Sunny http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267989 Sunny Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:13:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267989 I've always had a problem with Uncle John's Bathroom readers... In addition to the problems mentioned about the Bridge over the river Kwai, there is the problem that Count Laszlo was never a Soviet spy, that The Sting was only ever supposed to be loosely based on the life of the brothers Fred and Charley Gondorf, that the makers of Saturday Night Fever based their film on an expose they believed to be true at the time (and, again, since a report cannot equal the amount of info in a film, SNF was probably only intended to follow the gist of Nik Cohn's article), and that no one has ever confirmed that Indiana Jones is based on Giovanni Belzoni.I n fact, why would one assume that the fedora-wearing 20th century archaeologist was based on an 18th to 19th century inventor/performer/archaeologist born in Italy? The only thing they seem to have in common is archeology. I've always had a problem with Uncle John's Bathroom readers...

In addition to the problems mentioned about the Bridge over the river Kwai, there is the problem that Count Laszlo was never a Soviet spy, that The Sting was only ever supposed to be loosely based on the life of the brothers Fred and Charley Gondorf, that the makers of Saturday Night Fever based their film on an expose they believed to be true at the time (and, again, since a report cannot equal the amount of info in a film, SNF was probably only intended to follow the gist of Nik Cohn's article), and that no one has ever confirmed that Indiana Jones is based on Giovanni Belzoni.I

n fact, why would one assume that the fedora-wearing 20th century archaeologist was based on an 18th to 19th century inventor/performer/archaeologist born in Italy? The only thing they seem to have in common is archeology.

]]> By: Geekazoid http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267749 Geekazoid Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:30:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267749 Speaking of historical inaccuracies in film, here's a fun article: http://www.cracked.com/article_15014_11-movies-saved-by-historical-inaccuracy.html Movies saved by historical inaccuracies Speaking of historical inaccuracies in film, here's a fun article:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15014_11-movies-saved-by-historical-ina ccuracy.html

Movies saved by historical inaccuracies

]]> By: Skipweasel http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267658 Skipweasel Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:22:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267658 If it's historical inacuracies you want, try U-571 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-571_%28film%29 If it's historical inacuracies you want, try U-571
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-571_%28film%29

]]> By: Monster http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267529 Monster Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:18:56 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267529 That's a great story, Geekazoid. That's a great story, Geekazoid.

]]> By: Jael http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267512 Jael Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:11:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267512 These stories demonstrate just how twisted Hollyweed is. Especially liked how they completely distorted the English patient story, totally ignoring the truth (yuck). These stories demonstrate just how twisted Hollyweed is. Especially liked how they completely distorted the English patient story, totally ignoring the truth (yuck).

]]> By: Geekazoid http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267359 Geekazoid Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:22:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267359 In regards to "Kwai" (from wiki, before the bash fest starts as usual, this isn't in regards to the overall cruelty which no one is disputing, just this particular individual): "After the war, Toosey saved the life of Sergeant-Major Saito (not a colonel as in the film). Saito was second in command at the camp and was thought to be not as bad as many of the guards. Toosey spoke up for him and as a result Saito did not stand trial. Over 200 Japanese were hanged for their crimes and many more served long prison sentences. Saito respected Toosey greatly and they corresponded after the war. Saito said that "He showed me what a human being should be and he changed the philosophy of my life." After Toosey died, Saito travelled from Japan to visit the grave. Only after Saito died in 1990 did even his family know that Saito had become a Christian." In regards to "Kwai" (from wiki, before the bash fest starts as usual, this isn't in regards to the overall cruelty which no one is disputing, just this particular individual):

"After the war, Toosey saved the life of Sergeant-Major Saito (not a colonel as in the film). Saito was second in command at the camp and was thought to be not as bad as many of the guards. Toosey spoke up for him and as a result Saito did not stand trial. Over 200 Japanese were hanged for their crimes and many more served long prison sentences. Saito respected Toosey greatly and they corresponded after the war. Saito said that "He showed me what a human being should be and he changed the philosophy of my life." After Toosey died, Saito travelled from Japan to visit the grave. Only after Saito died in 1990 did even his family know that Saito had become a Christian."

]]> By: LuluJ http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267335 LuluJ Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:01:27 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267335 The "bridge over the river Kwai" is actually in Kanchanburi, Thailand (about 3 hours out of Bangkok.) There is a bridge there now rebuilt in the same style. About two meters of the original bridge can be seen about 1 km from the second bridge. The "bridge over the river Kwai" is actually in Kanchanburi, Thailand (about 3 hours out of Bangkok.) There is a bridge there now rebuilt in the same style. About two meters of the original bridge can be seen about 1 km from the second bridge.

]]> By: Skipweasel http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-267236 Skipweasel Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:19:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/10/29/reel-life-5-stories-hollywood-fudged-in-the-movies/#comment-267236 "The Japanese weren’t all cruel." Having talked in my youth to men who worked on the Burma Railway I'd have to disagree. At least a quarter of them died, probably many more. Many men didn't like talking about the conditions, but of the members of the Burma Star association that I've met who were there, all said it was starvation and cruelty. "The Japanese weren’t all cruel."

Having talked in my youth to men who worked on the Burma Railway I'd have to disagree. At least a quarter of them died, probably many more. Many men didn't like talking about the conditions, but of the members of the Burma Star association that I've met who were there, all said it was starvation and cruelty.

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