Questions tagged [historical-accuracy]
Questions about the precise conformity of events or characters portrayed in films or TV shows to real figures/events.
21
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1answer
2k views
Why is Havana covered in 5-digit numbers in Our Man in Havana?
In the 1959 film version of Our Man in Havana, the streets of Havana are littered in signs with 4- and 5-digit numbers on them.
Here's an example:
Notice the "00260", "19072", and "42857" left of ...
20
votes
2answers
1k views
Is HBO's Chernobyl accurate about the sequence of instructions causing reactor stall?
In the series finale of Chernobyl on HBO, Dyatlov orders Akimov and Toptenov to bring the reactor power down to 700 MW, as per the written test instructions, and then leaves the room without giving a ...
2
votes
2answers
80 views
Did the movie Trumbo change the director of Spartacus?
Shortly after Trumbo writes the script for Spartacus, he meets Otto Preminger, who says that he is "the director". It sounds like he is claiming to be the director of Spartacus, and this is why he has ...
8
votes
1answer
351 views
How accurate was the use of the slogan “Wer hat uns verraten? Sozialdemokraten!”?
In Babylon Berlin S01E07 Gereon Rath attends a party at Bruno's appartment which includes many veterans from the Great War, including Major General Seegers. It seems to be a commemoration of the war ...
3
votes
0answers
154 views
Was the character of Nicol based on a real person?
In Welcome to Marwen, Mark Hogancamp meets Nicol. Eventually, he chooses to rename the fictional town of "Marwen" to "Marwencol", named after himself, his rescuer Wendy, and now Nicol.
According to ...
16
votes
1answer
28k views
Did Queen's performance really cause Live Aid to clear $1,000,000 in donations?
In Bohemian Rhapsody, Bob Geldof is shown pleading with viewers to donate money. The phone bank operators are waiting for their phones to ring. Then, Queen gets on stage, the phone banks are busy, and ...
5
votes
1answer
19k views
Is Mirzapur based on a real story?
Is the TV-series Mirzapur based on a real story?
Mirzapur is an actual city in Uttar Pradesh. Also, Wikipedia says this place is famous for carpet business and this was aptly shown in the series with ...
5
votes
1answer
182 views
Impact of Wonder Woman's action on the end of World War I?
In the 2017 film Wonder Woman, Diana finally kills Ares and we learn that World War I is over, but how does the killing of Ares impact World War I? Is there any parallel to this with the real events ...
13
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1answer
2k views
What is the historic origin of these Indian burial grounds?
I've recently watched two movies that feature the Indian burial ground as a plot point, however in these two films they both actually show a physical burial ground, which appears to be made up of ...
49
votes
4answers
21k views
Did Neil Armstrong really do this on the Moon?
The film First Man (2018) is about Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. In the movie, one scene shows
Did he actually do this in real life or was this a fictional plot device added ...
37
votes
2answers
8k views
Is the bird killing in The Prestige based on historical reality?
In The Prestige (2006), there is a magic trick in which a bird is made to disappear and it is revealed that the bird is secretly killed by crushing it flat to make it "disappear". Is this trick from ...
4
votes
2answers
176 views
When is Shane (1953) set?
The movie Shane (1953) is based on the novel Shane (1949) by Jack Shaefer.
It is obvious that the novel Shane (1949) could have a precise setting date or a vague possible date range, and the movie ...
2
votes
1answer
143 views
Does Captain Tracey (Star Trek “The Omega Glory”) resemble a figure from American history?
In the Star Trek episode "Whom Gods Destroy" (1969), I consider the character Garth a George Washington figure (whether consciously intended or not). He was a great military leader; also, his "...
5
votes
1answer
342 views
Why do the Vikings warriors train with real weapons?
In the Vikings TV show we often see warriors training with each others using real weapons. This can be seen both for vikings' and other kingdoms' warriors.
As far I know warriors used to train with ...
2
votes
1answer
404 views
Did people in Elizabethan London really speak like they do in “Upstart Crow”?
Did people in Elizabethan London really speak like they do in "Upstart Crow"?
I'm specifically thinking of the way Greene says Sirra instead of Sir.
25
votes
2answers
7k views
Is Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk historically inaccurate in portraying absence of the Indian army?
Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk has been accused of ignoring Indian soldiers' presence in Dunkirk. But is there any proof that there were Indian soldiers stuck there too in the first place? The British ...
20
votes
1answer
54k views
Did Churchill really talk to people on the London Underground?
In the pivotal scene of "Darkest Hour" Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman), on his way to Parliament, ditches his car and takes the Tube. On the train he talks with some regular Londoners and this ...
3
votes
1answer
156 views
In what time period the series Arang and the Magistrate set?
Based on the costumes and the setting, which dynasty or time period served as an inspiration for the historical drama series Arang?
5
votes
1answer
299 views
Was there already birthday cake in Roman empire?
In the TV show, Rome, during the battle of Philippi, there is a conversation between two rebel Roman commanders. It goes something like, is today your birthday? Oh yes, I want a birthday cake.
Please ...
18
votes
1answer
7k views
Did Oskar Schindler really lament not having saved more Jews?
At the end of Schindler's List, there is a scene where Oskar Schindler realises, almost breaking down in tears in front of all of his workers, that each of the extravagances/luxuries he still has ...
3
votes
2answers
572 views
In The Color Purple how is it a black person can have so much wealth in the south?
The film The Color Purple takes place between 1910 and 1940. So how can an African American (Mr. or Albert Johnson) have a huge house, a plantation, a farm/ranch (animals as well), prosperity, and a ...
1
vote
1answer
6k views
What is the painting J. Paul Getty buys in 'All the Money in the World'?
In Ridley Scott's "All the Money in the World", J. Paul Getty forks a sizable chunk of money for a painting instead of paying his grandson's ransom. To me, the painting looked like Raphael's Madonna ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Is “Anonymous” based on a true story?
I watched Anonymous (2011). The movie shows that Shakespeare was fraud and all his writing originally belongs to some nobleman.
Is it true? If yes, then what is the source of the story and what is ...
3
votes
0answers
487 views
Did these events in 7th episode 2nd season of Netflix 'El Chapo' actually happen?
At the end of the 7th episode of the 2nd season of Netflix's El Chapo two events happen:
Firstly Los Emes massacred multiple civilians and burned down a remote village leaving the message for El ...
9
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1answer
1k views
Does the village of Motunui as depicted in “Moana” accurately depict a Polynesian village?
Moana lives in a village called Motunui (which appears to be an actual place?). We get a fairly in-depth view of how the village works during the song "Where you Are" - there's a chief, he answers ...
5
votes
1answer
823 views
How many of the events in The Death of Stalin are based on historical fact?
The Death of Stalin is a dark black comedy based on the events happening after the Soviet leader's death.
Clearly we don't have records about who said or did what during that period. And there appear ...
2
votes
0answers
3k views
How realistic are the dogfight scenes in Dunkirk [closed]
I saw the film Dunkirk yesterday with some friends and thoroughly enjoyed it. One of my friends had some quibbles with the dogfight scenes, however. How realistic are they? Any reliable sources ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
Is the shadow organization in Munich real?
This group sells information to Mossad agents. I am wondering if this organization has its real world counterpart or just a convenient way to advance movie plot?
2
votes
1answer
51k views
Why is there an iPhone in “All Eyez On Me”?
In the new 2pac movie, All Eyez On Me, there is a scene where Faith is taking a picture with 2pac and there is an iPhone.
This is chronologically impossible since the iPhone was released in 2007 and ...
7
votes
0answers
2k views
Why did Spielberg use fictional characters (informants Louis and Papa) in Munich
Background to the Movie
Steven Spielberg has said, that the Munich is about vengeance, regret and dilemmas one faces when making hard personal decisions, while visualising empathy and human ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
Did the Battle of Iwo Jima really happen on black soil?
In Flags of Our Fathers, there are whole war scenes shot on black soil near some sea.
Did the Battle of Iwo Jima really happen on black soil or was this added by the movie production crew?
4
votes
1answer
448 views
Did Mark Zuckerberg answer a question in similar circumstances to this?
In the Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) answers a question in a lecture:
Now I know this most likely is just the clique scene to make ...
2
votes
0answers
233 views
Did they really make ice cream/cake in shape of “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” as shown in the movie?
In Flags of our Fathers, after the completion of the war, the soldiers get an invitation for celebrations.
In one scene the soldiers get an ice cream cake in the shape of "Raising the Flag on Iwo ...
7
votes
1answer
6k views
Is Billy Breckenridge gay?
In Tombstone, there are certain implications that Billy Breckenridge (portrayed by Jason Priestley) is gay.
This is especially noticeable in a particular scene at the theater when a cowboy is ...
8
votes
0answers
189 views
In A Man For All Seasons, which lines are historical?
In the film version of A Man For All Seasons, Thomas More (the character) gives several magnificent speeches. The real More was in fact a prolific writer, so I wonder whether the character’s lines are ...
17
votes
1answer
2k views
Did John Glenn really ask for that?
In Hidden Figures when John Glenn's rocket was about to be launched into space there was some uncertainty regarding the calculation results provided by IBM 7090. Al Harrison was discussing this with ...
5
votes
1answer
218 views
What is Morgan smoking?
In the episode The Battle of Bardon Pass of the TV show Camelot, Morgan Pendragon is shown smoking a pipe:
What is she smoking? Since the show is taking place in Post-Roman Britain, it can't be ...
10
votes
1answer
882 views
Which King Henry were Bill and Ted referring to?
In Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bill and Ted land in what we are told is "Medieval England." Bill mentions that they are at the castle of King Henry and that they are in 15th century England:
...
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0answers
366 views
Was “The Princess Bride” popular enough to have been birthday party theme? (as seen in 'This is Us') [closed]
In Season 1, episode 13 of "This is Us", Kevin asks for a "Princess Bride" theme birthday party. Of course in hindsight, given the cult status the film has now attained and it's immediate recognition ...
8
votes
1answer
780 views
Is the misquotation “politics is war by other means” by Lyndon B. Johnson authentic?
In the 2016 TV movie All the Way, the character President Lyndon B. Johnson prominently explains (in a voice-over to the audience):
Clausewitz said “Politics is war by other means.” … Bullshit. ...
9
votes
1answer
25k views
Did Julius Caesar really get raped by the son of Crassus?
In Spartacus: War of the Damned Episode 8, Tiberius Licinius Crassus raped Julius Caesar to show him his place. Is this event really based on history or was it only done to achieve dramatical effect?
10
votes
1answer
3k views
How accurate is the portrayal of vikings in the TV series Vikings
I'm not too worried about the historical accuracy of the events in the tv series, but my question is specific to the portrayal of the viking's way of life, their appearance etc.
I know that we don't ...
4
votes
1answer
58 views
Portrayal of women and children in Jones County revolt against the Confederacy
I am curious about the portrayal of children and women in the movie Free State of Jones - how accurate it is? No doubt they had an impact, but I am not sure they took part in real battles and fight ...
6
votes
0answers
235 views
Openess about the Pope's children in the Borgias
In the series The Borgias there is a large degree of transparency about the fact that Pope Alexander VI has four children. This is taken to the point where he can marry off said children to political ...
5
votes
1answer
525 views
Was the depiction of George Méliès accurate to what we know about his life?
The 2011 movie Hugo was about a boy of the same name who fixes an automaton that was built by George Méliès. Hugo learns that the man was a film maker and eventually inspires him to take pride in his ...
5
votes
1answer
329 views
What is the term the street thugs called the policemen in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows?
When Holmes is following Irene Adler with the package near the start of the movie, he's waylaid by some thugs escorting her and gets into a fight with them. The fight stops as some policemen (bobbies)...
10
votes
1answer
2k views
How true-to-life was 'Joyeux Noel'?
So, some years back, I remember watching an absolutely wonderful film called Joyeux Noel, which is apparently based on actual events during World War I (Namely, the Christmas Truce of 1914). I know ...
5
votes
0answers
330 views
“The Liberator” and Bolívar's death
In the film "The Liberator" (Spanish: Libertador), a 2013 Spanish-Venezuelan movie starring Edgar Ramírez, the death of Simón Bolívar is depicted as he being murdered, as opposed to accepted history ...
7
votes
2answers
5k views
How accurate is American Crime Story: OJ Simpson?
Beware of minor spoilers if you know nothing about the OJ Simpson story.
How accurate is the series American Crime Story: People V OJ Simpson? All the trials/hearings were televised (according to the ...
11
votes
1answer
7k views
How accurate is Sully?
Beware of minor spoilers if you know nothing about the Hudson Miracle story.
How accurate is the movie Sully? The hearing was (according to the movie) public, and I'm guessing most of the facts are ...
