383: The Manhattan Project in Oppenheimer with Alice Lovejoy
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 383) — Did the Oppenheimer movie get the Manhattan Project right? Today, we’ll dig into the film’s portrayal of the project. Learn More of the True Story Tales of Militant Chemistry by Alice Lovejoy Army Film and the Avant Garde Remapping Cold War Media Alice Lovejoy’s Website BOATS: […]
382: Oppenheimer
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 382) — Join me in this throwback style BOATS episode without any guests. It’ll just be you and I learning about the true story behind 2023’s Oppenheimer. Learn More of the True Story Tales of Militant Chemistry by Alice Lovejoy American Prometheus Oppenheimer Official Screenplay 109 East Palace: […]
381: King Arthur with Dorsey Armstrong
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 381) — My love of history started with the legend of King Arthur. While there are many King Arthur movies to pick from, today we’ll learn about the one that marketed itself as being more historically accurate than the others. Dorsey Armstrong on Wondrium Disclaimer: Dan LeFebvre and/or […]
380: Captain Phillips with Brian Beckcom
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 380) — Today we dive into the 2013 film Captain Phillips directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks, and discover how much of Hollywood’s version actually matches the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking. Trial attorney Brian Beckcom, who represented the crew of the container ship […]
379: Beyond Pearl Harbor with Joshua Donohue
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 379) — Most movies focus on the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, but the true story of December 7th, 1941, involves a coordinated global offensive across the Pacific. In this episode, history professor Joshua Donohue returns to explore what the movies miss—including attacks on Wake Island, the Philippines, […]
378: Nuremberg with Jack El-Hai
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 378) — Discover the historical accuracy behind the 2025 film “Nuremberg” which is adapted from Jack El-Hai’s book “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist.” Learn about the real Dr. Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) and his complex relationship with Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) during the historic Nuremberg trials. What did […]
377: Feud: Bette and Joan with Scott Eyman
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 377) — The first season of FX’s “Feud” chronicles the turbulent making of the 1962 thriller “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” Over eight episodes set against Hollywood’s fading Golden Age, “Feud” focuses on a simmering resentment between aging stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, on-set clashes over performances […]
376: Project Blue Book
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 376) — This special three-in-one episode is a thorough exploration of the true story behind the U.S. government’s top secret program investigating UFOs called Project Blue Book. In 2019, the History Channel released a dramatized version of Project Blue Book’s reports starring Aidan Gillen as Dr. J. Allen […]
375: Donald Rumsfeld in the Movies with William Cooper
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 375) — Donald Rumsfeld served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense twice in his career, including during the 9/11 attacks. Today, we’ll learn how the movies “Vice”, “W.” bring a fictional portrayal of Rumsfeld. We’ll also look into the accuracy of the documentary “The Unknown Known” which interviews […]
374: Young Guns II with Josh from The Wild West Extravaganza
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 374) — Today we’ll rejoin Billy the Kid’s outlaw gang as they continue their attempts to escape the law following the events in Young Guns (BOATS EP. 146). Was Brushy Bill Roberts a real person? Was he Billy the Kid? What other creative liberties did the filmmakers take […]
373: Amelia with Chris Williamson
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 373) — Learn about legendary aviator Amelia Earhart as she was portrayed onscreen by Hilary Swank in the 2009 biopic. To uncover the true story, today we’ll talk with author, documentarian, and host of Chasing Earhart , the only podcast dedicated entirely to Amelia Earhart: Chris Williamson. Get […]