

Based on a True Story
Dan LeFebvre
We've all seen movies that claim to be 'based on a true story', but have you ever wondered how accurate they are? That's what we'll find out as we compare Hollywood with history.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 16, 2024 • 19min
Today: Men in Black 3 and the Apollo 11 Launch
BOATS TODAY (JULY 16, 1969/2024) — We'll introduce the concept of BOATS Today while we learn about Apollo 11's launch sequence from today in history as it was shown in the movie Men in Black 3.Until next time, here's where you can continue the story.Mentioned in this episode
Movie: Find where Men in Black is streaming
True Story: Watch NASA's footage of Apollo 11's launch
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Jul 15, 2024 • 57min
This Week: Napoleon, Men in Black 3, Barbieheimer
BOATS THIS WEEK (JULY 15-21,2024) — Events from this week in history include Napoleon’s surrender aboard HMS Bellerophon that happened on July 15th, 1815, and we'll learn how it was shown in the 2023 biopic. Then, we'll learn about the Apollo 11 miniseries that we’ll launch tomorrow on the exact anniversary of the launch from July 16th, 1969, before finishing up in the animated classic Anastasia for the murder of the Romanovs on July 17th, 1918. In the birthday segment, “Machine Gun” Kelly, Lizzie Borden, Alexander the Great, and my mom (remember to say "hi" to your mom this week). And last but certainly not least, we did our own special Barbieheimer mashup to celebrate those two movies releasing exactly one year ago this week, on July 21st, 2023.Until next time, here's where you can continue the story.Events from this week in history
Monday: Napoleon | BOATS Napoleon Miniseries
Tuesday: Men in Black 3
Wednesday: Anastasia | BOATS #94
Birthdays from this week in history
Thursday: "Machine Gun" Kelly in Machine-Gun Kelly
Friday: Lizzie Bordeon in Lizzie
Saturday: Alexander the Great in Alexander| BOATS #157
A historical movie released this week in history
Sunday: Barbie
Sunday: Oppenheimer
Mentioned in this episode
Napoleon: The Surrender of Napoleon by Frederick Lewis Maitland
Men in Black 3: Convert time zones with World Time Buddy
Oppenheimer: US Army's Trinity Test Site Open House
Oppenheimer: Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium
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Jul 8, 2024 • 42min
This Week: The Battle of Britain, Hamilton, One Nation, One King
In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between July 8th and July 14th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history.Events from This Week in History
Wednesday: The Battle of Britain
Thursday: Hamilton
Sunday: One Nation, One King
Birthdays from This Week in History
Wednesday: Nikola Tesla in Tesla | BOATS #201
Thursday: Robert the Bruce in Braveheart | BOATS #45
Sunday: Woody Guthrie in Bound for Glory
A Historical Movie Released This Week in HistoryTuesday: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl | BOATS #216
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Jul 1, 2024 • 1h 13min
This Week: The Trench, 1776, The Pride of the Yankees, Lawrence of Arabia, Project Blue Book
In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between July 1st and July 7th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history.Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this into your browser: https://links.boatspodcast.com/330Events from This Week in History
Monday: The Trench
Wednesday/Thursday: 1776
Thursday: The Pride of the Yankees
Saturday: Lawrence of Arabia | BOATS #49
Sunday: Project Blue Book | BOATS Series
Birthdays from This Week in History
Monday: Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (my favorite, what's yours?)
Monday: Seretse Khama in A United Kingdom
Friday: P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman
Saturday: John Paul Jones in John Paul Jones
Sunday: Satchel Paige in Don't Look Back
A Historical Movie Released This Week in History
Monday: Public Enemies (2009)
Tuesday: Boneyard (2024)
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Jun 24, 2024 • 1h 28min
Black Sails with Colin Woodard
The Starz TV series Black Sails is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel "Treasure Island." It's a story filled with squashbuckling pirates who dare to wage war against self-described civilized nations. Are you ready to travel back to the Golden Age of Piracy? We'll be joined today by Colin Woodard, the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Republic of Pirates.Get Colin's book:
The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down https://links.boatspodcast.com/329book
Find more of Colin's work: https://links.boatspodcast.com/329guest
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Jun 24, 2024 • 35min
This Week: They Died with Their Boots On, 37 Days, Gettysburg
In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 24th and June 30th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history.Events from This Week in History
Tuesday: They Died with Their Boots On | BOATS #198
Friday: 37 Days
Sunday: Gettysburg | BOATS #280
Birthdays from This Week in History
Monday: General Kitchener | Young Winston | BOATS #259
Tuesday: George Orwell | Mr. Jones
Friday: King Henry VIII | The Other Boleyn Girl | BOATS #92
A Historical Movie Released This Week in HistoryLanskyDid you enjoy this episode?
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Jun 17, 2024 • 36min
This Week: Amelia, All the President's Men, Lizzie
In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 17th and June 23rd as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies, along with a recommendation for a movie that was released this week in history.Events from This Week in History
Monday: Amelia
Monday: All the President's Men | BOATS #122
Thursday: Lizzie
Saturday: The Hobbit | BOATS LoTR Series
Birthdays from This Week in History
Wednesday: Lou Gehrig | The Pride of the Yankees
Saturday: John Dillinger | Public Enemies
Sunday: Alan Turing | The Imitation Game | BOATS #147
A Historical Movie Released This Week in HistorySurroundedDid you enjoy this episode?
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Jun 10, 2024 • 34min
This Week: Loving, Waterloo, J. Edgar
In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 10th and June 16th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as recommendations for a movie that was released this week in history.Events from This Week in History
Wednesday: Loving | BOATS #76
Saturday: Waterloo | BOATS #174
Saturday: J. Edgar | BOATS #185
Birthdays from This Week in History
Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank | BOATS #253
John Nash in A Beautiful Mind | BOATS #32
Ernesto "Che" Guevara in Che! | BOATS #115
A Historical Movie Released This Week in History
Tag | BOATS #140
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Jun 4, 2024 • 2h 33min
Midway (1976) with Jon Parshall's Historical Commentary
On this, the anniversary of the Battle of Midway, we'll bring Jon Parshall back on the podcast to provide a historical commentary on the 1976 movie. Watch the video version here: https://links.boatspodcast.com/325Get Jon's book:
Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway: https://links.boatspodcast.com/325book
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Jun 3, 2024 • 54min
This Week: The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan
In this episode, we'll learn about historical events between June 3rd and June 9th as they're shown in the movies. We'll also learn about birthdays from historical figures who have been portrayed in the movies as well as recommendations for a movie that was released this week in history.Events from This Week in History
Tuesday: The Longest Day | BOATS #134
Thursday: The Longest Day | BOATS #134
Thursday: Saving Private Ryan | BOATS #159
Birthdays from This Week in History
Nathan Hale in Turn: Washington's Spies | BOATS #139
Paul Gauguin in At Eternity's Gate | BOATS #193
Donald Duck in The Wise Little Hen
A Historical Movie Released This Week in HistoryA Sunday HorseDid you enjoy this episode?
Find the transcript and full show notes: https://links.boatspodcast.com/324
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