"Based on a true story...."

I learned sharing information, because I learned here on a2k that not many knew about the Japanese-Americans who volunteered from concentration camps to fight in the war. They became the most decorated in WWII.

You're absolutely right. Too many people think it was all John Wayne stuff. It's sad they don't realize what people of all ethnic groups endured during WWII or how Europe suffered even longer after the war. I'm not sure what year the British were able to move past rationing, but I remember how much of a panic it was during the gasoline shortages of the early 70's.

I still remember the long lines at the gas stations. Wow, that was 45 years ago!

Hard to believe, but people got into fistfights at gas stations.

Americans are poor at proper queuing. That's where the Brits beat us in spades.

Brits rationed until 1953 as per a conversation with a former co-worker who lived through it although I have seen staggered dates, so that the rationing of meat ended after, I believe, other rations.

They beat us at other things, among them humor or humour.

The italians, on the other hand....

at least in my time there, they were 'worse' than us in the US. I admit there was one post office where people did line up; that was in Parma.

That's an old movie I remember there was quite a lot of publicity about it before it was released.

Midnight Express by Billy Hayes for me is a very powerful movie based on a true story of a kid trying to smuggle drugs out of Turkey (he was caught). He paid the price for it, should be required viewing for much of the youth of today so they can see the consequences of doing such things!

I am not going to be able to get my head through my front door soon with all these complements!!

OMG, what r u talking about, it is the best of breed.

Dangal movie is based on a true story. It is the movie in India and was also popular in China. It is my favourite movie.

The Social Network—hilarious, especially the pre-trial meeting and attitudes of Winkleviess twins. Of course, now I hate that asshole, but ... haha...loved watching him stick it to other assholes back in the day.

The Longest Day, mentioned earlier.

Freedom Writers—filled with teacherly lessons on how to make kids care about learning.

Out of Africa—just because the main character was not a traditional ‘pleasing woman’, the kind I was used to and grew up around. I was fascinated by her personality, Streep’s way of inhabiting this strange creature, the lovely cinematography, and Redford’s (and his character’s) behavior. Huh. Time for a rewatch.

American Hustle—Incredible cast, each turning in killer performances, stupid government.

The Big Short—creatively actually helped me understand what happened. Great performances.

So, I did look around for Out of Africa, and, weaker sister to be sure, but I’m enjoying Gertrude Bell’s lovely, forthright excursions through Lawrence of Arabia’s Arabia.

Queen of the Desert. Nicole Kidman. Cool wind floating in dark room, thanks to overcast sky. Mood. 🙂

Many of the movies mentioned in this thread are based on actual fiction.

You know, I don't believe anyone ever made a movie about them. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii lost an arm serving the 442/100 Infantry Battalion Regimental Combat Team. He returned to Hawaii, earned a law degree and became the first Japanese-American to serve in the House, and the first Japanese-American to serve in the Senate. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving Senator in the nation. There was an interview of him on 60 Minutes, and he told the story of his despair after he lost his arm. But one of the nurses asked him if he had ever heard the piano concerto for the left hand by Maurice Ravel. The Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein (brother of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein) has lost his right arm in the Great War, and he commission the piece by Ravel. Inouye said that when he learned to play that, it gave him new hope, and he never looked back.

The 442nd Infantry Regiment was raised exclusively from volunteers in the prison camps in the mainland United States, and 100th Infantry Battalion was raised exclusively from volunteers from Hawaii. They were combined to form a regimental combat team, which was like a miniature division, with its own artillery, heavy weapons, transport and supply units. They suffered in excess of 350% casualties in the war, and as CI has pointed out, they were the most decorated unit in the army.

A television movie was made about the Tuskegee airmen. They were African-Americans who had not initially been allowed to take flight training in the Army Air Corps. The military and Federal government were segregated, thanks to Woodrow Wilson. But when they deployed overseas (not until 1943) they quickly developed a reputation for doggedly defending the bombers they escorted. Only one of them became an ace (meaning he had five confirmed kills). U.S. Army Air corps policy was tougher than that of other air forces, but that wasn't the only reason they had few "kills." They didn't go whoring after kills. If a Bf109 or FW190 broke off contact, instead of chasing them, they flew back to the bomber formation. Their job was to escort those bombers, and they took that job very seriously.

. It's also my understanding that many squadrons requested the Tuskegee squadron to escort them, because of their excellent record in protecting them. The irony of racism in our military.

The Shawshank Redemption.

The Shawshank Redemption is a novel by Stephen King, it's based on a short story by Tolstoy.

It's as true as his other novels, like his post apocalyptic novel The Stand. Remember that, when the Antichrist took up residence in Las Vegas? What a week that was.