The most historically incorrect movies/books.

[Axis Trooper]

First off, we have all seen a movie about war and said “that’s not right”, “it should be…”.

This thread is for pointing out the historically incorrect, down to the smallest detail.

Any to start off?

- AT

[Gnomey]

U-571, portrayed the American's capturing the Enigma machine when it was infact the British.

[Gibbo]

Pearl Harbor:
Members of the Eagle Squadron portrayed as being serving USAAF personnel, which they weren't.
Germans apparently still carrying out daylight bombing raids on the UK in 1941.
The speed with which the hero gets back home after being shot down over enemy territory.
He returns to Hawaii despite now being a member of the RAF, not the USAAF.
Fighter pilots are transferred to fly bombers, with little conversion time.
In the 1940s nobody smokes! (apparently a deliberate decision by the producers who put modern attitudes above historical accuracy.

[mahross]

Gibbo - don't forget the line up of modern US destroyers!!

Ross

[Axis Trooper]

Isn't there a job to keep these films correct?

If not, they should join a forum... learn some things.

- AT

[mahross]

Technically there is. Usually they employ a historical consultant. However, there role and power in a film really depends on the director and producer. I know spielburg works hard to achieve a certain level of realism. For example, for all its problems SPR 'feels' right and this was down to the historical consultant he had.

Ross

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Gnomey

U-571, portrayed the American's capturing the Enigma machine when it was infact the British.

On a historical note: the real U-571 was sunk in 1944 off the coast of Ireland by depth charges from an Australian Sunderland.

The resupply submarine which was sent by the US was a great idea for a movie, but when the US crew storms the wounded enemy U-boat, there would've been no chance of boarding him. The dive time for a type VIIC was approximately 25 seconds. The attack scene lasted several minutes.

Other parts of the movie weren't detailed correctly either, when the enemys torpedo's "brushed" by Matthew McConaughey's captured U-571, they would've been dead in real life (German torpedo's used a magnetic trigger which went off when close to metal).

[Herroberst]

Originally Posted by Axis Trooper

This thread is for pointing out the historically incorrect, down to the smallest detail.

Battle of the Bulge 1965, to really appreciate my post look at the making of in the special features of the DVD.

I could teach a class on this.

First Milton Sperling lies to the audience in the "Making of" portion of the DVD by saying great pains were taken to find the equipment for this film.

Buzzer sound

He called the Texas National Guard and said, How would you like to paint some tanks with a Kraut scheme?

M 26 Pershing for King Tiger
M 24 Chaffee for Sherman, This is particularly strange because the M 24 was in operation in 1943 and reached Europe in large numbers in late 44.

The German Hanomags were all Whites or Autocars and not authentic, they even mounted M-2s when they had MG34s and MG42s in the film.

The action was a C

The acting, What acting?

Robert Shaw didn't do a bad job but the uniforms were wrong.

He was supposed to be either Remer or Peiper and should have been SS Panzer Truppen.

There is an interesting but brief glimpse of a WWII German General who was an advisor to the film but they don't do a proper interview with him.

The only reason I have this film is I remember it was the first War film I watched with my Dad as a kid.

[Axis Trooper]

Originally Posted by mahross

Technically there is. Usually they employ a historical consultant. However, there role and power in a film really depends on the director and producer. I know spielburg works hard to achieve a certain level of realism. For example, for all its problems SPR 'feels' right and this was down to the historical consultant he had.

Ross

Well, that's why I like him.

Simple.

- AT

[52nd Airborne]

Yep! Definately agree, Battle of the Bulge & U-571.

Or how about 1,000 Plane Raid I can only sum it up as F*****g Awful, who ever wrote that script wants hanging!!!!!
There's that many faults with the film that I would still be here next week listing them!!