Films where history is a better scriptwriter than hollywood (possible spoilers)

Cafe Society
1

So I realize the purpose of films is to entertain and so historical facts are always going to come second best to storyline. But what kinda bugs me is when its turns out that the historical facts make a better story (albeit one thats a bit more nauanced, and less “goody-vs-baddy”) than the made up storyline they were replaced with.

One case of this I just came across was Kingdom of Heaven, I was reading Stephen O’Shea’s account of the Second Crusade (and the build up to it) in Sea of Faith (a good book btw). It contains far a ton of movie-worthy drama (double crosses invovling promises of marriage, plucky seductive princesses, and crazy coincidences) all of which omitted were omitted by Ridley Scott in favour of a hammy, invented, back story to Balian of Ibelin.

I’d also mention A Beatiful Mind. The real story of John Nash’s mental illness, while painting a less sympathetic picture, has a ton of drama, invovling trips overseas to renounce his US citizenship and become “a citizen of the world”, and of course affairs, gay encounters, and love children.

Anyone other cases of this people can thing of ?

2

Well, in Deadwood, the real Seth Bullock’s brother didn’t die in the Civil War. He died on an expedition to the North Pole. Why wouldn’t they use that?

3

Read “Enemy at the Gates” and you’ll laugh at the movie.

4

I was gonna include that in the OP actually :slight_smile:

5

“Cinderella Man” was a pretty good movie, but lost me when it made Max Baer out to be evil incarnate.

Max Baer was quite an interesting character himself. He had only a little Jewish blood, but wore a Star of David on his trunks while knocking out Hitler’s hero Max Schmeling. And long before Muhammad Ali, he brought a touch of braggadocio and show biz to boxing.

Baer could have been shown as a fascinating champ in his own right, not as a cartoon villain.

6

Also, from what I’ve read, Baer was devastated by the death of Frankie Campbell. In the movie, he’s portrayed as a bloodthirsty fighter who taunts Braddock and his wife and certainly doesn’t appear to have any qualms about killing someone in the ring.