Based on a True Story

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Based on a True Story

Dan LeFebvre

The podcast that compares Hollywood with history

1 hour 47 seconds

Captain Phillips with Brian Beckcom
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 380) — Today we dive into the 2013 film Captain Phillips directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks—and discover how much of Hollywood's version actually matches the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking. Trial attorney Brian Beckcom, who represented the crew of the container ship after the Somali pirate attack, shares accounts of what really happened during this dramatic rescue operation and reveals the major inaccuracies that made it to the screen.
Lessons from Leaders with Brian Beckcom
Find where to watch the movie

Chapters
0:00 Intro
3:38 Today's Movie: Captain Phillips
5:19 The True Context of Somali Piracy
12:17 Why Captain Phillips Made His Fateful Decision
15:46 Security Protocols vs. Hollywood Drama
19:42 The First Pirate Attack
24:43 Pirates Board the Maersk Alabama
30:18 The Crew's True Heroism in the Engine Room
34:29 Captain Phillips' Role in the Crisis
40:35 The Navy Enters the Picture
43:22 The Truth Behind the Rescue Operation
49:47 Captain Phillips' Escape Attempt (Fact vs. Fiction)
54:51 The Final Navy Seal Operation
57:31 About Brian Beckcom's Podcast
59:03 Two Truths and a Lie Answer

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16 December 2025, 11:00 am
1 hour 24 minutes

Beyond Pearl Harbor in the Movies 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, and military installations across Oahu that extended far beyond the harbor itself. From civilian casualties to pilot heroics to the international scope of Japan's ambitious assault, we separate fact from fiction across multiple Pearl Harbor films.

Josh's Latest Work
- Embattled Marines at Air Station Ewa
Chapters
0:00 Intro & Two Truths and a Lie Game
3:16 From Here to Eternity: Life Before the Attack
10:20 The Global Scope of Japan's Offensive
12:40 Wake Island Under Siege
20:04 Oahu's Airfields and Widespread Attacks
28:23 American Aircraft in the Air During the Attack
43:20 Civilian Casualties and Friendly Fire
58:23 American Morale and the Movies' Coverage
1:05:02 Pilots Beyond Pearl Harbor
1:11:13 The Final Countdown: What If Scenario
1:22:32 Two Truths and a Lie Answer Reveal

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7 December 2025, 5:48 pm
52 minutes 29 seconds

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."
Get Jack'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 the filmmakers get right and what did they change from the true story? Tune in to find out!

Also Mentioned
Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:35 Movie Overview - Nuremberg and Main Characters
5:45 Historical Grade and Book Comparison
9:10 Goering's Capture by Allied Forces
14:20 Douglas Kelley's Role as Psychiatrist
18:55 Goering and Rudolf Hess Relationship
23:45 Goering's Narcissism and Motivations
29:00 Concentration Camp Films and Kelley's Turning Point
33:15 Reporter Character and Kelley's Departure
37:00 Howie Trieste's Story as German-Jewish Translator
41:45 Kelley Handing Over Research to Prosecutors
45:15 Goering's Cyanide Pill and Suicide
48:00 Final Lessons and Democracy Warnings
50:30 Behind-the-Scenes Film Production Story
52:15 Two Truths and a Lie Answer Reveal

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25 November 2025, 11:00 am
1 hour 20 minutes

Feud: Bette and Joan with Scott Eyman
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 377) — The first season of FX’s “Feud” chronicles the turbulent making of the 1962 thriller “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” Over eight episodes set against Hollywood's fading Golden Age, “Feud” focuses on a simmering resentment between aging stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, on-set clashes over performances and camera work, and the film’s premiere.
Get Scott's book
Where to watch Feud
To help us separate fact from fiction in the series today is Scott Eyman, whose new biography Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face reveals Crawford’s journey from orphan to screen legend using thorough research from personal papers, studio records, and the Robert Aldrich archives at UCLA.

Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:39 TV series synopsis
00:03:16 Two truths and a lie
00:04:07 Interview
01:19:11 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode
- Joan Crawford: A Woman's Face by Scott Eyman
Support my work
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/377
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
18 November 2025, 11:00 am
3 hours 37 minutes

Project Blue Book
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 376) — This special three-in-one episode is a thorough exploration of the true story behind the U.S. government's top secret program investigating UFOs called Project Blue Book. In 2019, the History Channel released a dramatized version of Project Blue Book's reports starring Aidan Gillen as Dr. J. Allen Hynek.
Ufologist Rob Kristoffersen will help us uncover the true story behind each episode of the twenty episodes in the TV series. Then, the third part of our episode today is to talk to David O'Leary (Creator of Project Blue Book) and Sean Jablonski (Showrunner of Project Blue Book) to go behind what it took to make a series about UFOs that is based on true events.

Where to watch Project Blue Book
Listen to Rob's awesome podcast, Our Strange Skies
Read the U.S. Air Force fact sheet on Project Blue Book

Answer this question from the episode:
What do you think people are seeing when they report UFOs?
Share your opinion in the BOATS Discord

Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:24 Synopsis
00:03:47 Rob Kristoffersen on Project Blue Book season one
01:25:48 Rob Kristoffersen on Project Blue Book season two
02:41:26 David O'Leary and Sean Jablonski on creating Project Blue Book

Support my work
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/376
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7 October 2025, 10:00 am
59 minutes 26 seconds

Donald Rumsfeld in the Movies with William Cooper
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 375) — Donald Rumsfeld served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense twice in his career, including during the 9/11 attacks. Today, we'll learn how the movies "Vice", "W." bring a fictional portrayal of Rumsfeld. We'll also look into the accuracy of the documentary "The Unknown Known" which interviews Rumsfeld himself.
⁠Get William's book⁠
Separating fact from fiction for us today is William Cooper, whose new historical fiction novel "The Trial of Donald H. Rumsfeld" is available now.

⁠Where to watch Vice⁠
⁠Where to watch W.⁠
⁠Where to watch The Unknown Known⁠

Answer this question from the episode: What impact do you think Rumsfeld has had in U.S. politics today?
⁠Share your opinion in the BOATS Discord⁠

Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:15 Movie synopsis
00:02:13 Two truths and a lie
00:03:27 Interview
01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode
Support my work
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: ⁠https://links.boatspodcast.com/375
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
18 September 2025, 2:30 pm
1 hour 27 minutes

Young Guns II with Josh from The Wild West Extravaganza
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 374) — Today we'll rejoin Billy the Kid's outlaw gang as they continue their attempts to escape the law following the events in Young Guns (BOATS EP. 146). Was Brushy Bill Roberts a real person? Was he Billy the Kid? What other creative liberties did the filmmakers take in telling the true story of Billy the Kid?

Where to watch Young Guns II

Follow Josh's podcast

To help us unravel the historical accuracy of Young Guns II, we'll be joined by Josh, the host of The Wild West Extravaganza podcast.

Is Young Guns or Young Guns II a better movie?
Share your opinion in the BOATS Discord

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:15 Movie synopsis

00:02:13 Two truths and a lie

00:03:27 Interview

01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode
Support my work
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/374

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2 September 2025, 10:00 am
1 hour 11 minutes

Amelia with Chris Williamson
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 373) — Learn about legendary aviator Amelia Earhart as she was portrayed onscreen by Hilary Swank in the 2009 biopic. To uncover the true story, today we'll talk with author, documentarian, and host of Chasing Earhart , the only podcast dedicated entirely to Amelia Earhart: Chris Williamson.

Where to watch Amelia

Get Chris's book

Chris Williamson has an array of work with the Chasing Earhart Project, including the book "Rabbit Hole: The Vanishing of Amelia Earhart & Fred Noonan."

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:15 Movie synopsis

00:02:13 Two truths and a lie

00:03:27 Interview

01:09:02 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode
Support my work
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/373

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
19 August 2025, 10:00 am
1 hour 33 minutes

Trail of Vengeance with Rob Hilliard
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 372) — Travel back to the Old West for a tale of revenge, Pinkerton agents, and frontier justice in the wake of the Civil War. One of those former Pinkerton agents in the movie is John Scobell (Gbenga Akinnagbe), making 2025's Trail of Vengeance the first movie to feature John Scobell as one of its main characters.

Where to watch Trail of Vengeance

Get Rob's book

To help us separate fact from fiction in the movie today is author Rob Hilliard, whose book "In Freedom's Shadow" is a historical novel based on John Scobell. How well does the movie tell us John Scobell's true story? Let's find out!

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:09 Movie synopsis

00:02:05 Two truths and a lie

00:03:18 Interview

01:31:54 Two truths and a lie answer

Also mentioned in this episode
- "The Spy of the Rebellion" by Allan Pinkerton
- "The Pinkertons" miniseries with Rob
Support my work
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/372

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5 August 2025, 10:00 am
54 minutes 39 seconds

Classic: Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story with Matthew Polly
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 371) — How well do you know about the real Bruce Lee? There are a lot of myths that came out of the movie "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" so today we'll pull another classic episode from the Based on a True Story vault.

Where to watch Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

⁠Get Matthew's book⁠

Matthew Polly authored "Bruce Lee: A Life," called the definitive biography by The New York Times. His research revealed Lee's more complex humanity, debunking decades of Hollywood myths.

Did you enjoy this episode?
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/371

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
22 July 2025, 10:00 am
1 hour 27 minutes

Titanic with Mark B. Perry
BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 370) — Twentieth Century-Fox's "Titanic" starring Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb claims to draw facts from 1912 congressional inquiries, so how well does it do when we compare it to history?

Where to watch Titanic (1953)

⁠Get Mark's book

Mark B. Perry is the author of the novel "And Introducing Dexter Gaines: A Novel of Old Hollywood", a tale that transports you back to the time when during the film's production. is a Golden Globe and Emmy-winning screenwriter known for Wonder Years, Law & Order, Picket Fences, and more. A self-proclaimed "ship geek" and founding board member of SS United States Conservancy, he ironically wrote his own Titanic screenplay in 1988—rejected by studios because "nobody cares about the Titanic."

Also mentioned in this episode
Did you enjoy this episode?
Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/370

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1 July 2025, 10:00 am
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