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In 2003's The Last Samurai we learn the story of Captain Nathan Algren, an American soldier who travels to Japan to train the early Imperial Japanese Army to fight off a rebellion against the Emperor. How much of it actually happened? That's what we'll look at in this episode. Dr. Brian Dirck joins us again to separate fact from fiction in the film. Dr. Dirck is a Professor of History at Anderson University. Pick up some of Dr. Dirck's great books: The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780809337026 Lincoln and the Constitution https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Constitution-Concise-Library/dp/0809331179 Lincoln the Lawyer https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Lawyer-Brian-R-Dirck-dp-0252031814/dp/0252031814/   Did you enjoy this episode? You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/180/ Support our sponsors: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/advertisers Or get ad-free content and exclusive bonus content by supporting the show directly: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

In Christianity, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Today we're going to learn about the depiction of that event on screen as we saw in 2004's The Passion of The Christ. To help us learn more, we'll be joined by the Professor of New Testament and Archaeology at Covenant Theological Seminary, Dr. David Chapman. Want to learn more about the crucifixion? Pick up one of David's books: The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus: Ancient Texts and Modern Commentary: https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781683072669 Ancient Jewish and Christian Perceptions of Crucifixion: https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Jewish-Christian-Perceptions-Crucifixion/dp/0801039053 Find more of David's work: https://www.covenantseminary.edu/faculty/david-chapman/   Did you enjoy this episode? You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/179/ Support our sponsors: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/advertisers Or get ad-free content and exclusive bonus content by supporting the show directly: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

On this episode of Based on a True Story, we'll learn from the research consultant on The Highwaymen about the historical accuracy of the film. John Neal Phillips is a historian and author of Running With Bonnie and Clyde: The Fast Yen Years of Ralph Fults and editor of Blanche Barrow's memoir, My Life with Bonnie and Clyde. Did you enjoy this episode? You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/179/ Support our sponsors: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/advertisers Or get ad-free content and exclusive bonus content by supporting the show directly: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

We're going back to 1977 and Ridley Scott's feature film directorial debut, The Duellists. The movie tells the tale of two soldiers in Napoleon's army who duel with each other for over a decade. Historian and professor at Louisiana State University, Alexander Mikaberidze, returns to help us separate fact from fiction in the movie. Want to learn more about the Napoleonic era? Get one (or more) of Alexander's great books: The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780199951062 The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape  https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781844159208 The Battle of Borodino: Napoleon Against Kutuzov  https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781848844049 Russian Eyewitnesses of the Campaign of 1807  https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781848327627 The Russian Officer Corps of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars: 1792-1815 https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781932714029 Find more of Alexander's books at https://bookshop.org/contributors/alexander-mikaberidze   Did you enjoy this episode? You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/177/ Support our sponsors: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/advertisers Or get ad-free content and exclusive bonus content by supporting the show directly: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

Released in 2020, Greyhound was written by Tom Hanks, who also starred in the lead role. The movie was based on a novel by C.S. Forester called The Good Shepherd. Today, we'll be joined by the Naval Consultant on the film, Gordon Laco, to discuss its historical accuracy. Want to learn more? Learn more about Gordon's work as a historical consultant to film and television at gordonlaco.com Did you enjoy this episode? Support this episode's sponsor at Indeed.com/truestory You can also help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get an ad-free version of the show along with exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/174/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/

2010's The Conspirator tells the story of Mary Surratt and her alleged involvement in Lincoln's assassination. Dr. Brian Dirck joins us again to separate fact from fiction in the film. Dr. Dirck is a Professor of History at Anderson University and author of multiple books on President Lincoln, including Lincoln and the Constitution, The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death and Lincoln the Lawyer. Want to learn more about the real story? Here are some resources to get you started: The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780809337026 Lincoln and the Constitution https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Constitution-Concise-Library/dp/0809331179 Lincoln the Lawyer https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Lawyer-Brian-R-Dirck-dp-0252031814/dp/0252031814/   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/175/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

Today we'll learn about the classic 1970 film Waterloo and its depiction of Napoleon's final defeat. Joining us to discuss the historical accuracy of Waterloo is historian and professor at Louisiana State University, Alexander Mikaberidze. Alexander has also written numerous books on the Napoleonic era, including his latest which is called The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History. Want to learn more about the Napoleonic era? Get one (or more) of Alexander's great books: The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780199951062 The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape  https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781844159208 The Battle of Borodino: Napoleon Against Kutuzov  https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781848844049 Russian Eyewitnesses of the Campaign of 1807  https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781848327627 The Russian Officer Corps of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars: 1792-1815 https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781932714029 Find more of Alexander's books at https://bookshop.org/contributors/alexander-mikaberidze   Want to learn how to make your own podcast? Check out my podcasting course this week only: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/infostack

In the movie Donnie Brasco we see the story of an FBI agent who goes into deep cover infiltrating the New York mafia families. The truth is Donnie Brasco was the under cover name for Joe Pistone. He joins us today along with actor and Joe's co-host on the Deep Cover Podcast, Leo Rossi. Want to learn more about the real story? Listen to Joe and Leo's podcast, Deep Cover Podcast, at https://www.deepcoverpodcast.com/   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/173/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

How much of 2014's The Alamo really happened? To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie, we’ll be chatting with professor, historian and author Stephen L. Hardin. Stephen was also a historical consultant on the movie we’ll be chatting about today, so we’ll get some extra insight into the production of the film as well. Want to learn more about the real story? Here are some resources to get you started: Lust for Glory: An Epic Story of Early Texasand the Sacrifice That Defined a Nation https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781933337753 Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836 https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780292731028 Texian Macabre: A Melancholy Tale of a Hanging in Early Houston https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781933337562 Houston Displayed, or, Who Won the Battle of San Jacinto? https://secure.touchnet.net/C21403_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=19&CATID=22&SINGLESTORE=true Find more of Stephen's work on his website https://stephenlhardin.com/   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/172/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

Wake Island was attacked on the same day as Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 (December 8th on Wake Island across the International Date Line). A few months later, on August 11th, 1942, Paramount Pictures released the war propaganda film Wake Island. To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie, we’ll be chatting with Professor Gregory J. W. Urwin from Temple University. Gregory is a military historian who has written two fantastic books about Wake, including Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island, which is a book that many consider to be the definitive account of the battle. Want to learn more about the real story? Here are some resources to get you started: Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780803295629 Victory in Defeat: The Wake Island Defenders in Captivity, 1941-1945 https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781591148999   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/171/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

How historically accurate was 2012's Lincoln? To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie, we’ll be chatting with Dr. Brian Dirck, who is a Professor of History at Anderson University and author of multiple books on President Lincoln, including Lincoln and the Constitution, The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death and Lincoln the Lawyer. Want to learn more about the real story? Here are some resources to get you started: The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780809337026 Lincoln and the Constitution https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Constitution-Concise-Library/dp/0809331179 Lincoln the Lawyer https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Lawyer-Brian-R-Dirck-dp-0252031814/dp/0252031814/   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/170/ Get a peek at upcoming episodes with the email newsletter.https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/newsletter/ Want a chance to be heard on the show? Leave a voicemail at +1 (405) 334-4672.

1989's Glory is currently the most requested movie to cover. Gregory J. W. Urwin is an author, military historian and Professor at Temple University. He'll join us today to separate fact from fiction in Glory. Want to learn more about the real story? Here are some resources to get you started: A Brave Black Regiment by Louis F. Emilio with an introduction by Gregory J. W. Urwin https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780306806230 Black Flag Over Dixie: Racial Atrocities and Reprisals in the Civil War, Edited by Gregory J. W. Urwin https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780809326785 Blue-Eyed Child of Fortune: The Civil War Letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, edited by Russell Duncan https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780820321745 A Voice of Thunder: A Black Soldier's Civil War, edited by Donald Yacovone https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Thunder-BLACK-SOLDIERS-Blacks/dp/0252067908 On the Altar of Freedom: A Black Soldier's Civil War Letters from the Front, edited by Virginia Adams https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9781558492028   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/169/

Back on episode #152 of Based on a True Story, we covered season 1 of the History Channel's Project Blue Book. Today, Rob Kristoffersen comes back on the podcast to talk about the events we saw in season 2. Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find the transcript and show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/168/

Dr. Clayborne Carson is the Martin Luther King, Jr., Centennial Professor of History at Stanford University and the founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute at Stanford. He joins us today to compare history with the 2014 movie Selma.    Want to learn more? World House Podcast: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/world-house-podcast Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr edited by Clayborne Carson: https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780446676502 Find thousands of documents, photos and more at the King Institute: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-resources/king-resources-overview   Did you enjoy this episode? Consider supporting the next episode of Based on a True Story here: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/167/

Chris Wimmer is the host and producer of the extremely popular Legends of the Old West and Infamous America podcasts. He joins us today to compare history with the 2007 movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Want to learn more about Jesse James? Listen to an entire season of Legends of the Old West that dives deep into Jesse James: https://blackbarrelmedia.com/legends-of-the-old-west/   Did you enjoy this episode? Consider supporting the next episode of Based on a True Story here: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/166/

Eric Marcus is a journalist, founder and host of The Making Gay History Podcast. He joins us today to compare history with the 2015 Roland Emmerich movie Stonewall.   Want to learn more? Eric provided these resources for you to learn more about the true story of Stonewall. Stonewall Fact Sheet: https://stonewall50consortium.org/stonewallfactsheet.pdf Stonewall First Anniversary Pride March Fact Sheet: https://stonewall50consortium.org/pridemarchfactsheet.pdf Making Gay History Podcast Stonewall Season: https://makinggayhistory.com/season-five/ "Stonewall: The Making of a Monument" NY Times Op-Doc: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/opinion/gay-pride-stonewall.html Stonewall National Monument 3-D Tour: https://cyark.org/projects/stonewall-national-monument/Guided-Tour/snm-en Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter (the definitive book on the Stonewall uprising): https://bookshop.org/a/9789/9780312671938 “The Stonewall You Know is a Myth”: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000006322550/stonewall-lgbt-pride-anniversary.html   Did you enjoy this episode? Consider supporting the next episode of Based on a True Story here: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/165/

The 2002 John Woo movie 'Windtalkers' tells the story of a Navajo code talker during World War II. Is the film historically accurate? Judith Avila is the author of Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII Want to learn more about the real code talkers? Get her book at your local indie bookstore here: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425247853   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/   You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/164/

Author Furman Daniel joins us today to separate fact from fiction in the classic World War II film Patton. Want to learn more about Patton? Buy Furman's latest book Patton: Battling with History at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780826222091   Did you enjoy this episode? Consider supporting the next episode of Based on a True Story here: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/163/

Our story today covers the capture of the notorious Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann. The operation to hunt him down and bring him to justice was depicted in the movie Operation Finale, and today we'll find out how many of the things we saw on screen actually happened.   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/162/

Erica Kelley is the host of the Southern Fried True Crime podcast. She joins us today to separate fact from the fiction in the 2019 movie Just Mercy. Want to learn more about the real story? Listen to Erica's episode on the murder of Rhonda Morrison and the framing of Walter McMillian: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/85-the-murder-of-ronda-morrison-the-framing-of-walter-mcmillian Subscribe to Erica's podcast: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/   Did you enjoy this episode? Help keep Based on a True Story going by supporting the show and get exclusive bonus content: https://basedonatruestorypodcast.com/support/ You can find all the show notes for this episode at:  https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/161/