Real Movies Fake History with Gari and Mel

This month, Real Movies Fake History talk about the Australian heartwarming comedy The Dish! Let's go back to 1969, where we discover how true the movie is to the true story. Did Parkes Observatory really broadcast the moon landing? Did they actually loose Apollo 11 like they show in the movie? And more importantly, did that bloody pie warmer really cut the power? Let's find out! Don't forget you...

Gaz and Mel take you behind the fascinating history of the remarkably powerful 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Telling the harrowing story of the lives of 2 students who try to procure an illegal abortion in 1980s communist Romania, it's a gripping experience offering insight into what the lives of women were really like during Ceaușescu's reign. We find out the truth for why abortion was banned in...

Finally it's time to find out the true story behind the famous outlaw Robin Hood! This month Gaz and Mel take you behind the scenes of 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring the dashing Errol Flynn and the beautiful Olivia de Havilland. Where did the legend of Robin Hood originate from? Was King Richard really as nice as he seems? (Hint - no he wasn't). And what makes this version of Robin...

So just what is the real history behind Aaron Sorkin's Being the Ricardos? Gaz and Mel take you behind the scenes of I Love Lucy to discover the true story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's famous sitcom. We talk about their troubled relationship, the real story behind her on screen pregnancy, and put the context behind the accusations of her being a communist. So what is the real story? Join us to...

This time Gaz and Mel dive into the true story behind the heartbreaking and brilliant film Quo Vadis, Aida? Mel takes us back to Bosnia, 1995 where learn about the context behind this this vital and important history, which is now more relevant than ever. Who were the Bosniaks, and how did they fall victim to troops lead by General Ratko Mladić? We tackle big questions, such as how did Mladić mani...

Discover the true history behind the heart-warming comedy Eddie the Eagle. This month Gaz and Mel go back in time to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary to discover the real story of British Ski-Jumper Michael David Edwards. What was the real story of his journey to compete for Olympic gold? Which characters are fictional and which are real? And just how good was Eddie at Ski-jumping? We also discuss the...

What's the real history behind the animated classic Anastasia (1997)? This time Gaz and Mel head to Russia to talk about the true story of the infamous Grand Duchess! Join us as we go back in time and discover the fascinating story of the Romanovs, the weird life of Rasputin, and ask whether the movie still holds up over 20 years later. We also discuss how the movie was made outside of the Disney...

This month is special. Gaz and Mel review and passionately debate the new James Bond movie No Time to Die, starring Daniel Craig in his final performance as the infamous MI6 agent 007. Can it possibly live up to our expectations? And just where does it sit in the legacy of the James Bond series? Listen as we talk gender representation in the Bond franchise, rate Daniel Craig's best Bond movies, an...

This month Gaz and Mel dive into the real history behind Adam McKay's Vice (2018). We know the professional life of controversial Vice President Dick Cheney, but do we really know the man behind the history? To understand more we discuss Cheney's rise to power, the Iraq War, and corruption during the Bush administration. Does Vice really portray the real history accurately? And does it really succ...

It made Cate Blanchett a star, but just how true is the movie Elizabeth? This month Gaz and Mel discover the real history behind the Virgin Queen herself, Elizabeth I. We dive into how the movie Elizabeth modernises the stuffy period drama and instead tells us a story of sex, scandal and power. Mel reveals the answers to the big historical questions behind this iconic monarch. Why did she never ma...

Learn about the true story behind Mao's Last Dancer. This month discover the real history behind the incredible and inspiring story of ballet legend Li Cunxin. Mel and Gaz discuss Li's remarkable journey, including his humble upbringing in China, how he was chosen to join the Beijing Dance Academy, and his defection to the United States. What does it really take to become one of the greatest balle...

You'll never take our Freedom! This month Gaz and Mel head to Scotland to take on the historical epic Braveheart (1995). It may be a compelling movie, but just how accurate is it to the true story? Let's discover the real history of William Wallace, learn about the real King Edward Longshanks, and find out what it would have been like to be there to see the real Battle of Stirling Bridge! Don't fo...

This month we take on the classic baseball true story A League of Their Own (1992). But how true is it to the real history? Join us as we discuss the remarkable history of the ladies who competed in the first female professional baseball league! We learn about director Penny Marshall's Hollywood legacy, discover if Jimmy Dugan was a real historical figure, and find out how hard it really was to be...

Mel and Gaz discover the true story behind the movie Hotel Rwanda (2004). We dive into the tragic story of the genocide and learn about it's historical context. It's a powerful story about family, division, political corruption, and the repercussions of colonial history. But is it accurate to the real history? Don't forget you can always stop by our website www.realmoviesfakehistory.com You can al...

Discover the true story of the movie Pride (2014). Gaz and Mel take on the real story of how a brave group of gay and lesbian activists unite to raise money for the families affected by the British Miners' Strike. It is 1984 and Margaret Thatcher is in power. A powerful story about unionism, feminism, homophobia, and much more. But is it accurate to the real history? Don't forget you can always st...

What's the real history behind the wonderful, feel-good French hit The Intouchables? This time Gaz and Mel travel to France to talk about the beautiful friendship between Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and Abdel Sellou. Join us as we discuss the true story behind the movie, whether or not the police chase really happened, and why this movie became one of the most successful comedies of all time. Don't fo...

How historically accurate is Stanley Kubrick's epic Spartacus? This time Gaz and Mel dive into the Hollywood classic about the slave that took on the Roman Empire! Starring Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton. Join us as we discuss the real history of the slave rebellion, why the original director had to be fired, and of course that infamous Oysters and Snails scene....

  How historically accurate is Wayne Blair's musical comedy The Sapphires? In this episode Gaz and Mel dive into the true story behind the amazing ladies who sang soul music to the troops in Vietnam. Join us as we discuss 1960s Australia, the secret Tupperware Parties men where never invited to, the soul music of the era, and, of course, the Vietnam War. Don't forget you can always stop by our web...

How historically accurate is Armando Iannucci's political satire The Death of Stalin? In this episode Gaz and Mel dive into the true story of Stalin's last days and compare it to its critically acclaimed film adaptation. Join us as we discuss the dark history of the Soviet Union, the monster that was Lavrentiy Beria, and why being a USSR classical music composer was a very dangerous job. Of course...

How historically accurate is Lin Manuel Miranda's rap musical Hamilton? In this episode film expert Gaz and history expert Mel dive into the true story of Alexander Hamilton and compare it to its extraordinary stage adaptation. Join us as we discover why rap is the perfect way to tell Hamilton's story, learn about the American Revolutionary War, the Irish heritage of Hercules Mulligan, and, of cou...

Join us as we discover the real history behind the sinking of the Titanic. Is James Cameron's epic Hollywood blockbuster Titanic accurate to the true story? In the final part of their Titanic series, Gaz and Mel relive the unsinkable ship's final hours, discover the facts behind the movie, and learn about real life figures Molly Brown, Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews, and Captain Smith. Was there a wa...

The most expensive movie of all time. Winner of 11 Oscars. Time to go back to 1997, to discover the real history behind James Cameron's epic romance Titanic (1997). Join us as we go behind the scenes to understand how it became the most successful movie of all time. But just how historically accurate is it? In part 1 we board Titanic up until the night of its tragic sinking. Who are the real histo...

Film expert Gaz and history expert Mel discuss the true story behind the movie Hidden Figures (2016). We know it's a great movie but just how historically accurate is it? We investigate further into the history of the American civil rights movement, Cold War paranoia, the Space Race, and the true story behind NASA pioneers Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. Don't forget yo...

In this episode film expert Gaz and history expert Mel compare Philip Kaufman's Quills to the infamous and controversial real life figure it's based on, The Marquis De Sade. Quills wants to be sexy and salacious, but how historically accurate is it? We pull the movie apart to understand how it handles gender representation, sexual expression during the French Revolution, and ask, above all, was Na...

It may be a classic but can it live up to history? In this episode Gaz and Mel take on one of Hollywood's classic war movies, The Great Escape (1963). How does it compare to the true story? How difficult was it directing Steve McQueen? We also discuss the true military experiences of Donald Pleasence, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and Hannes Messemer. Don't forget to subscribe to our show fo...