That's Not How It Went Down

By the end of World War Two over 120,000 people of Japanese descent found themselves interned in camps across the continental United States, despite the vast majority being US citizens themselves. But as the end of the conflict brought with it a new appreciation for Japanese people and culture, it wasn't long before martial arts began to find their footing in mainstream Hollywood movies and TV sho...

Despite being relentlessly marketed as a film shot in tandem with the actual racing season, "F1: The Movie" is technically not based on a true story. But since I desperately wanted the chance to hold this latest attempt by F1 to prove how exciting it is to account, I thought it best to take a look at one of its most famous rivalries. Sports films are often hit or miss - depending on how much the p...

Listen to me, listen to me! I'm the captain now... This week we return to the country of Somalia and explore the daring efforts of the pirates that boarded the Maersk Alabama in 2009. Not only did this event make waves in the future safeguarding of cargo ship personnel, it also inspired the ship's captain to document his ordeal in a memoir hot on the heels of Columbia Pictures' acquisition of the...

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy episode… as we take a look at the best picture winner from 1950. Regularly lauded as being one of the greatest cinematic triumphs in Hollywood history, this is a tale of paranoia, subterfuge and ageing. It's no secret that age plays a huge part in the career of all actors, but just how much of this story of an ingenue usurping her idol is actually tr...

Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Perseverance is defined as a persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. But when that 'delay' is 30 years and the 'difficulty' is a cocktail of jellyfish, sharks and tidal forces, does the latter drift towards the former? Diana Nyad stopped at nothing to achiev...

At the height of Russell Crowe's movie powers, many were surprised to see him take a step back from playing the Hollywood tough guy and take on the role of the undoubtably genius, but undeniably troubled, mathematician John Nash. It was a gamble that certainly paid dividends for Crowe's career, but just how historically accurate was the end result? Did Nash really imagine his roommate? Did he make...

Despite both being clued up on many sports - we are ignorant when it comes to baseball. So who better than a couple of English newbies to pitch questions about, cover bases on and take swings at the story behind the Oakland Athletics' innovative approach to player data. Was Billy Beane really that superstitious? Why was this approach so contentious? And are there any days in the year where MLB isn...

The tension is running high this week as we take a closer look at would could potentially be deemed one of the biggest "what if?" moments in modern history. There's no denying that not everyone was keen on the idea of a Hollywood spin surrounding one of Germany's most significant war heroes, but just how accurate did the filmmakers get? Did von Stauffenberg really wear an eyepatch? Was a bomb conc...

It's taken us this long to get over Braveheart and we feel energised enough to take on another infamously liberty-robbing telling of 'history'. Attempting to leave plenty in the tank to explore the other umpteen versions of this tale down the road, we do our best to stay on track to focus on what this 90's depiction gets right and, sadly more often, wrong. Who was Robin of Loxley? Where even is Lo...

Keep your eyes peeled for white smoke as we unlock the doors to the Sistine Chapel and take a peek into the world of The Two Popes. With the Catholic Church entering the 268th conclave in its history, the time is surely right to discover just how much truth there was behind the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and the first South American Pope, Francis. Why did Pope Benedict choose to resign...

Magic!? Surely not..? Well, hopefully you'll be as surprised as us to learn the historical accounts that it's hard not to believe the Nolans drew upon for this modern classic which catapulted their names into Hollywood renown; as we pull back the curtain, revealing things to show this story may not be as far-fetched as it first seems. Were magicians really in such fierce competition in this era? D...

With the recent passing of the legendary actor Gene Hackman, it felt only right to revisit the most iconic performance from his stellar career. His turn as Popeye Doyle not only won him an Academy Award, but cemented his place among the greatest actors of his generation. But as the public were introduced to this rough and ready NYPD narcotics detective it begged the question; just how much of the...

This week we do our best to uncover CIA secrets in their relentless pursuit of the world's most wanted man. In Kathryn Bigelow's film, Maya has to wade not only through the mire of the aftermath of America's war on terror, but also against the tide of bureaucracy that tries to suppress her every instinct. Was she really that alone in her pursuit? Why did the helicopter crash at the compound? And w...

As a cohort of citizens stand up in the face of injustice to protect one of their own, we delve deeper into history to discover parallels from the Roman Republic which echo into Cold War-era America. But what does the life of a Thracian-born slave have to do with modern day socialist uprising? Did the gladiators escape from slavery using kitchen utensils? Were they able to hold their own against t...

Some stories are too good to be true and others are too true to be good. Fortunately, this film is great, but the claims of the real Frank Abagnale Jr. are inconsistent and muddled at best and it's time to take a closer look. How much money did he fraudulently make? Did he escape through an aeroplane toilet? And how do I contact the FBI? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscrib...

Ah, jeez! This week we're defrosting the Coen Brothers' classic 90s crime caper, "Fargo" - a movie claimed in the opening scrawl to be based on true events, ooh yah… you betcha! But just how true? Did Jerry organise a bungled kidnapping of his wife? Was there really a murder involving a woodchipper? And who the heck is Paul Bunyan? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now...

It's the turn of arguably our 'greatest' film so far as we do one of my favourite things and track down the truths of the Von Trapps. Something good will come from our discoveries and I have confidence that we won't spoil its legacy when we climb ev'ry mountain of curiosity. Why did the children need a governess? Did the Baroness exist? And what is it Maria can't face? Join us to find out on That'...

"When you're the best of friends you"… start a podcast about the veracity of movies. But surely this is a train bridge too far? A tale of two anthropomorphised animals in rural America with a basis in fact? This week we're keeping our noses to the ground to sniff out the truth. Was there really a fox and a hound with a vendetta? Did an old dog get led onto the train tracks on purpose? And can foxe...

Unfortunately, we can't spend a whole episode talking about 'The Departed', but we'll do our best to tie it into the discoveries we make about Johnny Depp's turn at Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger. Who was informing who? Did he really win the lottery? And what on earth is Jai Alai? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now for further listening: https://tnhiwd.supercast.com/ Hosted o...

Goooooood morning listeners! On this episode we take a look BTS between the US and the VC to discover all that was kept on the QT in this classic Robin Williams comedy. Did he really use THAT intro? Was he almost killed in a restaurant bombing? And did he really teach English to meet girls? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now for further listening: https://tnhiwd.supe...

Come gather round people wherever you roam and listen to us as we fingerpick our way through the formative years of the great Bob Dylan in Hollywood's latest music biopic. Was Chalomet unlucky to miss out on the Oscar? Was Johnny Cash such a major player in Dylan's career? And was there an axe to hand the night Dylan went electric? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now...

Welcome to Facebook. It was the film nobody thought needed making but we had a hunch a story about computer programmers falling out had to have been embellished somehow in some quarters. Did he make Facemash in one night? Did the Winklevoss Twins actually have a claim? And what exactly did Sean Parker even do?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now for further listening...

Have that fly-spray ready as this week the boys take a look at the movie which started perhaps the most bonkers franchise in horror history. What really happened before the Lutzes arrived? What happened once they'd moved in? And what exactly is "Amityville in Space"? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now for further listening: https://tnhiwd.supercast.com/ Hosted on Aca...

As a bonus treat this Valentine's Day, we're brushing up on our pickup lines and revisiting the classic date movie "50 First Dates". With real life inspirations which feel too close to the movie's storyline to just be coincidence, it's time to dig a little deeper. Did Lucy's memory reset every night? Was she really involved in a car crash? And what's with all the Reggae music? Join us to find out...

Surely one of the tallest collaborations was when Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Stephen Merchant tag-teamed to create this feel-good family film - but just how tall was this tale? Did Paige come from a wrestling family? Did The Rock give them a pep talk? And why is a man from Norwich an Arsenal fan? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe now for further listening: https://tn...