Based on a True Story

By Dan LeFebvre

TV & Film History

What's Based on a True Story about?

We've all seen movies that claim to be 'based on a true story', but have you ever wondered how accurate they are? That's what we'll find out as we compare Hollywood with history.

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This Week: Little Big Man, ...

11.27.2023

In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as recommendations for movies ...

Based on a True Story episodes:

11.27.2023 This Week: Little Big Man, Public Enemies, Dahmer In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as recommendations for movies ...
11.20.2023 This Week: JFK, LBJ, The Pianist In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as recommendations for movies ...
11.15.2023 The Mafia in Casino, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and The Sopranos with Scott Hoffman Author Scott Hoffman takes us inside how well the movies like Casino, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and the TV series The Sopranos portray the Outfit and the Mafia. To hear more Mafia stories, pick up Scott's book called Inside. Get Scott's ...
11.13.2023 This Week: Silkwood, Young Winston, Saving Lincoln In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a recommendation for ...
11.06.2023 This Week: Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure, From Hell, All Quiet on the Western Front In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a recommendation for ...
10.31.2023 Chaplin with Scott Eyman Classic film historian Scott Eyman's new book is out today! It's called Charlie Chaplin vs. America: When Art, Sex and Politics Collided, so today we'll be chatting with Scott about Charlie Chaplin's life as it was depicted in the 1992 ...
10.30.2023 This Week: Ali, Argo, Gunpowder In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a recommendation for ...
10.23.2023 This Week: Jobs, The Pacific, Tombstone In this episode, we'll learn about historical events from this week in history that were shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as a recommendation for ...
10.17.2023 Gettysburg with Gregory J.W. Urwin We travel back to the 1993 film Gettysburg along with military historian and author Gregory J.W. Urwin to find out how well it does showing the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. Learn more about the true story Get ...
10.16.2023 This Week: The Patriot, MacArthur, X-Men: First Class In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: The Patriot, MacArthur, and X-Men: First Class. Events from This Week in History The Patriot \| BOATS episode #60 ...
10.09.2023 This Week: Eight Men Out, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, The Right Stuff In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: Eight Men Out, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, and The Right Stuff. Events from This Week in History Eight Men ...
10.02.2023 This Week: Black Hawk Down, Sergeant York, Che! In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: Black Hawk Down, Sergeant York, and Che! Events from This Week in History Black Hawk Down Sergeant York Che! ...
09.25.2023 This Week: Robinson Crusoe, Alexander, 61* In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: Robinson Crusoe, Alexander, and 61*. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/276 Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Support ...
09.18.2023 This Week: Patty Hearst, Chaplin, Tolkien, Turn In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies and TV series: Patty Hearst, Chaplin, Tolkien, and Turn: Washington's Spies. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: ...
09.14.2023 JFK with Marty Morgan Conspiracies still swirl around the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Many of those were depicted in Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK, and today we'll dig deep into the true story with historian Marty Morgan. Mentioned ...
09.11.2023 This Week: United 93, A Star-Spangled Story, Frida In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in these movies: United 93, A Star-Spangled Story, and Frida. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/273 Leave a comment: ...
09.04.2023 This Week: Geronimo, The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, All Eyez on Me In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Geromino: An American Legend, The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, and All Eyez On Me. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything ...
08.28.2023 This Week: Krakatoa, From Hell, Rome In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Krakatoa East of Java, From Hell, and Rome. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/271 Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment ...
08.21.2023 This Week: Sweet Dreams, Pompeii, Saving Mr. Banks In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Sweet Dreams, Pompeii, and Saving Mr. Banks. Mentioned in this episode Photo of Pompeii residents as they died: https://links.boatspodcast.com/270pompeii Did you ...
08.14.2023 This Week: The Pacific, The Crucible, The Battle of Britain In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Pacific, The Crucible, and The Battle of Britain. Mentioned in this episode The "Big Three" photo at the Potsdam Conference: ...
08.09.2023 Little Big Man with Gregory J.W. Urwin Historian and author Gregory J.W. Urwin joins Based on a True Story to separate fact from fiction in the 1970 satirical western Little Big Man. Learn more about the true story Get Gregory's book Custer Victorious: https://links.boatspodcast.com/268book Did you enjoy ...
08.07.2023 This Week: Hatfields & McCoys, The Walk, Frost/Nixon In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Hatfields & McCoys, The Walk, and Frost/Nixon. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/267 Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Learn ...
07.31.2023 This Week: Rush, Patton, Braveheart In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Rush, Patton, and Braveheart. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/266 Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Learn more about BOATS ...
07.24.2023 This Week: At Eternity's Gate, Bonnie and Clyde, USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in At Eternity's Gate, Bonnie and Clyde, and USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/265 ...
07.19.2023 Hotel Rwanda with Jens Heycke The author of Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire, Jens Heycke, joins Based on a True Story to help us separate fact from fiction in the film Hotel Rwanda. Learn more about the true story Out of the ...
07.17.2023 This Week: Anastasia, Eight Men Out, Dahmer In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Anastasia, Eight Men Out, and Dahmer. Did you enjoy this episode? Find everything at: https://links.boatspodcast.com/263 Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Learn more ...
07.10.2023 This Week: Battle of Britain, Hamilton, One Nation, One King In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Battle of Britain, Hamilton, and One Nation, One King. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript ...
07.07.2023 Schindler's List with Dan McMillan Dan McMillan is the author of How Could This Happen: Explaining the Holocaust, and he's joining the podcast to help us separate fact from fiction in the film Schindler's List. Learn more about the true story How Could This Happen: ...
07.03.2023 This Week: 1776, Lawrence of Arabia, Project Blue Book In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in 1776, Lawrence of Arabia, and Project Blue Book. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and ...
06.28.2023 Young Winston with Furman Daniel Today's episode looks at how well the 1972 film Young Winston shows early years of Winston Churchill before he became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Joining us today is Furman Daniel, author of the upcoming book Mud, Blood, ...
06.26.2023 This Week: 37 Days, Gettysburg, The Trench In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in 37 Days, Gettysburg, and The Trench. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full show ...
06.19.2023 This Week: Lizzie, The Hobbit, They Died with Their Boots On In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Lizzie, The Hobbit, and They Died with Their Boots On. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the ...
06.15.2023 The Thin Red Line with Marty Morgan 1998's The Thin Red Line is set during the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. How well did it do telling the true story? Historian and author Marty Morgan joins Based on a True Story to help us separate fact ...
06.12.2023 This Week: Waterloo, J. Edgar, Amelia In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Waterloo, J. Edgar and Amelia. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full show notes: ...
06.05.2023 This Week: The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full ...
06.03.2023 My Place in the Sun with George Stevens, Jr. We'll do something a little different today. Instead of learning about the history behind a movie, we'll learn about the history of Hollywood itself with a man who lived it: George Stevens, Jr. Learn more about the true story Get ...
05.29.2023 This Week: Watchmen, Harriet, Midway In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Watchmen, Harriet and Midway. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/252 ...
05.24.2023 Chernobyl Part 5 HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the final episode in the miniseries called Vichnaya Pamyat. Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/discord Find the ...
05.22.2023 This Week: The Messenger, Bonnie and Clyde, Dunkirk In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Messenger, Bonnie and Clyde and Dunkirk. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full ...
05.17.2023 Chernobyl Part 4 HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the fourth episode in the miniseries called The Happiness of All Mankind. Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: ...
05.15.2023 This Week: The Other Boleyn Girl, The Spirit of St. Louis, Amelia In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Other Boleyn Girl, The Spirit of St. Louis and Amelia. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find ...
05.10.2023 Chernobyl Part 3 HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the third episode in the miniseries called Open Wide, O Earth. Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/discord ...
05.08.2023 This Week: Band of Brothers, Operation Finale, Amazing Grace In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Band of Brothers, Operation Finale and Amazing Grace. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and ...
05.03.2023 Chernobyl Part 2 HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the second episode in the miniseries called Please Remain Calm. Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/discord Find ...
05.01.2023 This Week: Gods and Generals, The Right Stuff, The Hindenburg In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Gods and Generals, The Right Stuff and The Hindenburg. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript ...
04.26.2023 Chernobyl Part 1 HBO's Chernobyl miniseries tells the story of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Today, we'll be looking at the first episode in the miniseries called 1:23:45. Did you enjoy this episode? Join the BOATS Discord community: https://links.boatspodcast.com/discord Find the transcript ...
04.24.2023 This Week: Troy and Chernobyl In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Troy and Chernobyl. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/242 Learn ...
04.17.2023 This Week: The Conspirator, Pearl Harbor, The Red Baron In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Conspirator, Pearl Harbor and The Red Baron. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and ...
04.10.2023 This Week: Apollo 13, The Conspirator, Titanic In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in Apollo 13, The Conspirator and Titanic. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: https://links.boatspodcast.com/comment Find the transcript and full show ...
04.03.2023 This Week: Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Grant and Lincoln In this episode, we'll learn about historical events that happened this week in history as they were depicted in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Grant and Lincoln. Did you enjoy this episode? Leave a comment: ...

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