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 […]
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 […]
369: Classic: Saving Private Ryan with Marty Morgan
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 369) — This Friday marks the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings. Arguably the most popular movie depicting the fighting on the beaches of Normandy is 1998’s Saving Private Ryan. a True Story, we’ll compare the movie with what really happened with historian Marty Morgan. What did Saving […]
368: Behind the True Story: Not a Real Enemy with Robert Wolf
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 368) — Go behind the true stories shown in Holocaust movies through the experiences of Robert Wolf’s family. Since we’ll be talking about the Holocaust, listener discretion is advised. Get Robert’s Book Not a Real Enemy Find Robert on Social robertjwolfmd.com Disclaimer: Dan LeFebvre and/or Based on a […]
366: Troy with Neil Laird
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 366) — Homer’s “The Iliad” tells the story of the Trojan War, a tale brought to the big screen in the 2004 film “Troy.” But with an ancient epic as its foundation—and Hollywood’s creative liberties—how much of the story is real? Get Neil’s Latest Book Prime Time Pompeii […]
365: Black Hawk Down with Joshua Donohue
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 365) — Discover the behind-the-scenes story of Black Hawk Down, as historian Josh Donohue shares insights on the chaotic 1993 mission in Mogadishu. Learn what truly happened versus what Hollywood depicted. Follow Josh on YouTube The Freelance Historian on YouTube Also mentioned in this episode Embattled Marines At […]
364: The Bridge on the River Kwai with Jon Parshall
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 364) — Acclaimed historian Jon Parshall separates fact from fiction in the classic film “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and the brutal realities of the Thai-Burma Railway during World War II, also known as the Death Railway. We’ll contrast the film’s fictional Colonel Nicholson with his real-life […]
359: Battle of the Bulge with Robert B. O’Connor
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 359) — Today is the 80th anniversary (January 25, 1945) of the official end of the Battle of the Bulge campaign during World War II. On our episode today, we’ll learn about the classic film from 60 years ago (1965) that has often been criticized for many of […]