# american films taking the credit for British achievements **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437 "2003-12-06T21:32:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crawf54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e7dd6/32.png) [@crawf54](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crawf54)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/1 "2003-12-06T21:32:01Z")
I am a Briton who really likes Americans , but it pees me off when films change history ,the latest being the American ship capturing the top secret enigma machine ,changing the course of the war,true story but it was Brits who did it .reactions ! ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/2 "2003-12-06T21:34:28Z")
To be fair, it has been pointed out by other posters here that the film in question never claimed to accurately represent particular events. It may have been our glorious media up to predictable tricks. Besides, I suspect _Carry On Columbus_ may not quite have been a genuine historical documentary. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/3 "2003-12-06T21:42:35Z")
It does not matter that these films don’t claim to reperesent the events accurately, what matters is that It kids most viewers (most of those being Americans) into believing in the story. They may not reperesent the facts, but they do nothing to make _that_ fact obvious. It pees me off too. I would have also liked to see at least some acknowledgement that Brits took part in the Normandy Landings in the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/4 "2003-12-06T21:44:28Z")
Not that I/we are not eternaly greatful for the true parts that America did play in the war/s. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/5 "2003-12-06T21:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*It does not matter that these films don’t claim to reperesent the events accurately, what matters is that It kids most viewers (most of those being Americans) into believing in the story. They may not reperesent the facts, but they do nothing to make _that_ fact obvious. > It pees me off too. I would have also liked to see at least some acknowledgement that Brits took part in the Normandy Landings in the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’. \*\* I understand your point, but it is not always possible without destroying the story or failing to represent some other equally significant group. _Saving Private Ryan_ was about US soldiers, traced from the US landings at Omaha beach; the British did not land there. Forcing the inclusion of the British would have been difficult without ruining the point of the film; it would also be arguable that equal attention should be paid to the Canadian troops, and those of other nationalities. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/6 "2003-12-07T03:50:32Z")
Well it didn’t go down like the movie, but don’t forget us 'mericans did capture our very own [Enigma](http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/enigma.html) machine. Two in fact. And the U-boat they were stored in. If you ever get to Chicago, you can tour the U-505. The capture was the idea of Capt. D.V. Gallery. > [@](#): > > It was not aways possible to break into the U-boat codes in a timely manner, especially during 1943 when the Germans introduced a fourth rotor for the U-boat enigma. In the Spring of 1944 Captain Gallery wondered if it would be possible to capture a submarine in order to gather this and other valuable intelligence. Admiral King approved the idea and provided Gallery and his task group with special support and the capture of U-505 was the result. Capt Gallery later made admiral, before retiring and writing several books. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/7 "2003-12-07T04:41:40Z")
Take heart, \*\* crawf54\*\*. If the average American is anything like me, not only do they not think the movie is histoically accurate, they’ve never seen it, nor even knew of its existance. Since the film has gotten a mere 209 votes on IMDB, I don’t think I’m off the mark… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/8 "2003-12-07T04:42:04Z")
You mean, things like the British documentary “Breaking the Sound Barrier” that said it was the Brits who broke Mach 1 first? [Link](http://www.enquirer.com/columns/kiese/1997/10/101397_jki.html) (near bottom). So the OP’s point is??? ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/9 "2003-12-07T04:58:54Z")
Wasn’t the story behind **Master and Commander** originally about an American ship? If so, then you’re getting _some_ fair turnaround in that regard… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/10 "2003-12-07T05:27:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Wasn’t the story behind Master and Commander originally about an American ship? > > If so, then you’re getting some fair turnaround in that regard… Not really. In the book, I believe, the _bad guy_ is Yank, not French. The movie simply made the whole point more palatable to the American audience by declining to make Yanks the villains. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/11 "2003-12-07T06:10:49Z")
> [@](#): > > I understand your point, but it is not always possible without destroying the story or failing to represent some other equally significant group. I can see no reason to have misrepresented the truth in the movie about the enigma. BTW, if you want to see one of the machines, there is one on display at the Smithsonian. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/12 "2003-12-07T06:24:30Z")
The real issue isn’t that Americans filmmakers like to inappropriately distribute credit for historical achievements. The problem is that Britain doesn’t have a competitive film industry that can make blockbuster films about historical events and take back credit. Blah blah blah The Commitments, My Left Foot, Shallow Grave, Snatch, Trainspotting… all immaterial. For every internationally successful film that comes out of Britain, a dozen come out of Hollywood. It’s our own fault and nobody else’s. ---
**Author:** ![crawf54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e7dd6/32.png) [@crawf54](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crawf54)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/13 "2003-12-07T11:43:50Z")
Got to agree about the British film industry they dont seem to want to make watchable films anymore they`re too busy trying to raise our social awareness. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/14 "2003-12-07T11:59:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > Blah blah blah **The Commitments, My Left Foot** , Shallow Grave, Snatch, Trainspotting… all immaterial. For every internationally successful film that comes out of Britain, a dozen come out of Hollywood. It’s our own fault and nobody else’s. Jeez, I know the state of British filmmaking is sad but that doesn’t mean you need to claim Irish films as your own as well. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/15 "2003-12-07T14:06:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\*I can see no reason to have misrepresented the truth in the movie about the enigma. > > BTW, if you want to see one of the machines, there is one on display at the Smithsonian. \*\* I was under the impression (having originally thought the same thing about that film in particular) that nobody associated with the film claimed it was a representation of the first capture - if I’m wrong, I’m heading back to that thread to point it out again. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/16 "2003-12-07T14:31:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > **Not really. In the book, I believe, the _bad guy_ is Yank, not French.** Well it’s **obviously** a work of fiction then, isn’t it? You don’t get American bad guys in international situations. Not from Hollywood’s viewpoint anyway. The French, however, are filling in where the Russians left off, being a nation of bad guys. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/17 "2003-12-07T14:39:41Z")
Eh, _Master and Commander_ takes place 200-some-odd years ago, when Mr. Napolean was indeed a rather nasty fellow. The bad guy’s ship is built by the Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/18 "2003-12-07T15:12:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Eh, _Master and Commander_ takes place 200-some-odd years ago, when Mr. Napolean was indeed a rather nasty fellow. \*\* That rather depends on which side you were on. > [@](#): > > \*\*The bad guy’s ship is built by the Americans. \*\* Yeah, Hollywood is happy to pass the bad guy role onto the French, but couldn’t face handing over the engineering quality of the ship too. I think it’s called having your cake and eating it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-films-taking-the-credit-for-british-achievements/217437/19 "2003-12-07T15:32:36Z")
According to the director’s commentary for the movie _Enigma_, a scene that gave proper credit for the seizure of the code books that allowed the cracking of the code was included in response to _U-571_. Not that very many people noticed, of course. It was a small movie and not a blockbuster.