Dowd on accuracy in "historical" films

hondo · Feb 17, 2013

jackfinarelli said:

Without regard to the historical accuracy of the film portrayals or the importance of historical truth vis a vis entertainment value, my problem here is on a different vector:

In my mind, Maureen Dowd has lost the moral high ground whenever she opines on any subject regarding truth-telling, accuracy and the reality of historical events.

With regard to what happened in the film as opposed to what happened on the record historically, there needs to be an addendum of explanation from the film-makers for future viewers IF the film-makers want to have any claim to historicity.
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Well, that too. Truth be told, any western made between 1920 and 1970 that has any kind of historical backdrop is probably much more inaccurate that Zero Dark Thirty.

Drip · Feb 18, 2013

Remember, It's only a movie. It's only a movie. It's only a movie.

TrooperBari · Feb 18, 2013

hondo said:

This is a bunch of crap. Movies with historical subjects have taken license with actual events since the silent version of "Birth of a Nation." Just off the top of my head, the following movies played fast and loose with the truth in the interests of artistic expression"

1. JFK: Enough said. All it did was present the alternative theories about what might have happened or what could have happened.

2. All the Presidents Men: Took numerous dramatic takes on rather mundane incidents. The phrase follow the money was never in the book.

3. Sands of Iwo Jima: Went with the legend on the timing of the flag going up. The reality was different. Another flag actually went up before the one the photographer got.

4. Patton: He never wore all of his medals at once. Didn't have George C. Scott's deep voice. It was actually high-pitched.

5. Several versions of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. None of them were remotely accurate.
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Braveheart: Pretty much all of it.

http://medievalscotland.org/scotbiblio/braveheart.shtml
http://www.scottishhistory.com/articles/independence/braveheart.html

Tarheel316 · Feb 18, 2013

Drip said:

Remember, It's only a movie. It's only a movie. It's only a movie.
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Willing suspension of disbelief.

Shoeless Joe · Feb 18, 2013

TrooperBari said:

hondo said:

This is a bunch of crap. Movies with historical subjects have taken license with actual events since the silent version of "Birth of a Nation." Just off the top of my head, the following movies played fast and loose with the truth in the interests of artistic expression"

1. JFK: Enough said. All it did was present the alternative theories about what might have happened or what could have happened.

2. All the Presidents Men: Took numerous dramatic takes on rather mundane incidents. The phrase follow the money was never in the book.

3. Sands of Iwo Jima: Went with the legend on the timing of the flag going up. The reality was different. Another flag actually went up before the one the photographer got.

4. Patton: He never wore all of his medals at once. Didn't have George C. Scott's deep voice. It was actually high-pitched.

5. Several versions of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. None of them were remotely accurate.
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Braveheart: Pretty much all of it.

http://medievalscotland.org/scotbiblio/braveheart.shtml
http://www.scottishhistory.com/articles/independence/braveheart.html

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Awwwwww, come on. There was a man named William Wallace, and there are countries called England and Scotland. Beyond that, you've got me.

Baron Scicluna · Feb 18, 2013

Boom_70 said:

Forest Gump never played for Alabama
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Flash Gordon never played for the Jets either.

Double Down · Feb 18, 2013

By the way, Mississippi finally abolished slavery this week. And we owe it all to the film (and a doctor who was like WTF?). For reals.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130217/NEWS01/302170050/Historic-oversight-corrected-Film-Lincoln-inspires-look-into-slavery-vote?nclick_check=1

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Dowd on accuracy in "historical" films

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