HISTORY or HOLLYWOOD: Lawrence of Arabia

In honor of the great Omar Sharif, here is my "History or Hollywood" analysis of his best movie - "Lawrence of Arabia".

1.        Lawrence was killed when his speeding motorcycle ran off the road.  

2.       Lawrence was working as an intelligence officer for the Arab Bureau in Cairo before being tapped for his role in the Arab Revolt.  

3.       The British authorities wanted Lawrence to meet Prince Faisal and encourage him to unite the Bedouin tribes against the Turks.  

4.       Gen. Murray was anti-Lawrence.  

5.       Lawrence’s guide is killed by Ali because he was drinking from Ali’s water well.  

6.       Faisal’s camp was bombed by the Turkish air force.  

7.       Lawrence proposed the attack on Aqaba.  

8.       Lawrence and Ali led a force across the Negev Desert and Lawrence rescued Gasim.  

9.       Lawrence was rewarded with white Arabic clothing.  

10.    Lawrence met Auda and convinced him to join the cause.  

11.    Lawrence executed Gasim to preserve Bedouin unity.  

12.    Lawrence and Auda captured Aqaba in a surprise cavalry charge.  

13.    Lawrence crossed the Sinai to bring the news of Aqaba to Cairo.  

14.    An American newspaperman named Bentley publicized Lawrence’s adventures.  

15.    Lawrence led guerrilla attacks on the Turkish railway.  

16.    Lawrence was arrested and tortured by a Turkish commander in Daraa.  

17.     Lawrence reacted to the sacking of Tafas by ordering a “no prisoners” vengeance.  

18.    Lawrence tried to circumvent British plans by having the Arab Council take control of Damascus, but the Arabs proved incapable of governing themselves.  

ANSWERS

1.        Lawrence was killed when his speeding motorcycle ran off the road.  History

2.       Lawrence was working as an intelligence officer for the Arab Bureau in Cairo before being tapped for his role in the Arab Revolt.  History

3.       The British authorities wanted Lawrence to meet Prince Faisal and encourage him to unite the Bedouin tribes against the Turks.  History

4.       Gen. Murray was anti-Lawrence.  Histywood  Murray was at first skeptical of Lawrence, but soon became a fan (although Lawrence never warmed to him).

5.       Lawrence’s guide is killed by Ali because he was drinking from Ali’s water well.  Hollywood  The guide is based on a real person and Lawrence did meet Sherif Ali at a well, but there was no violence.

6.       Faisal’s camp was bombed by the Turkish air force.  History  Lawrence was not there to witness the event.  Faisal told him about it when they met.  The Arabs were having trouble coping with the Turks’ modern weaponry.

7.       Lawrence proposed the attack on Aqaba.  Histywood  The plan was a group effort by several British officers including Lawrence.

8.       Lawrence and Ali led a force across the Negev Desert and Lawrence rescued Gasim.  Histywood  Auda was with them at this point.  Lawrence did rescue Gasim, but it was because it was his responsibility to take care of his servant.  Lawrence did not like Gasim because he was a bad character.

9.       Lawrence was rewarded with white Arabic clothing.  History  However, Lawrence was already wearing Arabic clothing before the movie shows this.

10.    Lawrence met Auda and convinced him to join the cause.  Hollywood  Auda was already on board when he first met Lawrence at Faisal’s camp.  Auda was a ruthless warrior, but was not motivated by greed.  He was a sincere patriot.

11.    Lawrence executed Gasim to preserve Bedouin unity.  Histywood  Lawrence did have to execute a murderer, but it was not Gasim.  It did take him several shots.

12.    Lawrence and Auda captured Aqaba in a surprise cavalry charge.  History  The attack was not as much of a surprise as the movie shows.  The Turks had already lost some outposts and a surrender had been negotiated when Arab reinforcements arrived and insisted on a charge.  The charge is accurately depicted as brief and almost unopposed.  Auda was not upset at the lack of treasure and in fact turned down Turkish bribes to switch sides.

13.    Lawrence crossed the Sinai to bring the news of Aqaba to Cairo.  Histywood  Lawrence was accompanied by seven others (including Daud and Farraj).  Daud did not die in quick sand.  He died a tear later of typhus and Lawrence was not with him.

14.    An American newspaperman named Bentley publicized Lawrence’s adventures.  Hollywood  Bentley was based on Lowell Thomas.  Thomas met Lawrence after the U.S. entered the war.  He was only with Lawrence for a short time and did not witness any train attacks.  He was not cynical or critical of Lawrence.  In fact, he made Lawrence famous after the war.

15.    Lawrence led guerrilla attacks on the Turkish railway.  Histywood  The train attacks started before Aqaba and it was other British officers that originated them.  Lawrence was never wounded in any attack.  Farraj was not injured by an explosive.  He was actually wounded in a raid on the Turks.  Lawrence did put him out of his misery and the dialogue was authentic.

16.    Lawrence was arrested and tortured by a Turkish commander in Daraa.  History  The incident in the movie is accurate as far as it goes, if you take “Seven Pillars” at face value.  The movie implies that there was a rape.  This seems likely, although there are historians who believe the entire story was made up by Lawrence.

17.     Lawrence reacted to the sacking of Tafas by ordering a “no prisoners” vengeance.  History  The initial charge was initiated solo by Talal as shown in the film.  Lawrence did participate in the killing.  His supporters insist he took responsibility for the killings because that is what a leader does.

18.    Lawrence tried to circumvent British plans by having the Arab Council take control of Damascus, but the Arabs proved incapable of governing themselves.  Histywood  Lawrence was aware of the Sykes-Picot agreement to create British and French spheres of influence in the region, but he hoped to preempt the plan.  There were electricity and other public services problems, but the Arab administration was not deposed until 1920.

RATING  =  .64

HISTORY or HOLLYWOOD: Zulu (1964)

 

         "Zulu" is often mentioned when the most historically accurate war movie is discussed.  Let's see how it holds up to scrutiny.

1.       The Witts are visiting the village of Cetewayo and witness a mass marriage ceremony when word arrives about the Zulu victory at Isandhlwana.

2.       Chard is an engineer building a pont at Rorke’s Drift.

3.       Bromhead returns from a hunting trip and meets Chard for the first time.

4.       Word of the defeat at Isandhlwana arrives from a Boer named Adendorff.

5.       Rorke’s Drift is a supply depot/camp that is also the site of the Witts’ mission.

6.       Chard takes command because of his seniority of just two monthes.

7.       Witt claims Cetewayo is part of his parish and he wants to take the sick to safety.  Witt is an alcoholic.

8.       Adendorf describes the Zulu “buffalo horn” tactic.

9.       Bromhead suggests going into the hills and ambushing the Zulu.  Chard decides to defend the post by building walls out of mealy bags and wagons.

10.    A unit of Boer cavalry arrives, but refuses to stay and reinforce the garrison.

11.    Witt encourages the native troops to run away.  Chard arrests him and later sends him away.

12.    The Zulu sneak up and then stand clashing their spears on their shields.  They advance, but stop to take fire.  Adendorf explains that the Zulu leaders are determining the strength of the British garrison.  They then withdraw.  Adendorf estimates that there are 4,000 Zulu.

13.    A Zulu unit armed with rifles start firing from a ridge overlooking the camp.  It is implied that the Zulu are armed with Martini-Henrys taken at Isandhlwana.  The British return fire (including Chard with his pistol at 300 yards).

14.    The Zulu attack in waves.  Chard shifts men to hot spots.  Bromhead leads a reserve squad.  The fighting is bayonet to assegai.  Some of the Zulu break through the walls.

15.    Cpl. Schiess leaves the hospital to help and ends up saving Chard’s life.  Chard is wounded in the neck and is taken to the hospital where Surgeon-Major Reynolds is taking care of the wounded.

16.    The Zulu assault the hospital and set fire to the roof.  Bromhead climbs on the roof to fight.  The Zulu get into the hospital and the patients and soldiers cut holes in the walls to escape from room to room.

17.    Hooks is a malingerer, but becomes a hero in the defense of the hospital.

18.    At a crucial point in the battle, the cattle get loose from the kraal and blunt a Zulu attack.

19.    During the night, to the light of the burning hospital, the attacks continue.  The movie implies that the attacks are piecemeal and held off by gunfire.

20.    The next morning the two sides serenade each other.  The British sing “Men of Harlech”.

21.    The Zulu launch one last assault and the British retreat to the last wall.  Volleys end the attack.

22.    A calling of the roll leaves the impression that the percentage dead is high.

23.    The Zulu salute the British and then leave.

 

1.    The Witts are visiting the village of Cetewayo and witness a mass marriage ceremony when word arrives about the Zulu victory at Isandhlwana.  HOLLYWOOD  Otto Witt was a Swedish Lutheran pastor who had purchased Rorke’s Drift and established a mission.  His attempts to Christianize the Zulu’s on the other side of the border had been unsuccessful and he attributed this to the traditionalism of Cetewayo.  He actually favored the British invasion and would not have been a guest at a Zulu ritual on the eve of the battle.  Witt was at Rorke’s Drift the whole time and he had sent his family away.  He did not have an adult daughter.  The movie implies that when the King hears of the battle, he orders the attack on Rorke’s Drift.  Actually, Ceteswayo had given orders for the Zulu army to stay on its side of the border.

2.  Chard is an engineer building a pont at Rorke’s Drift.  HISTORY  Chard was assigned the task of constructing the pont and actually had been to the camp at Isandhlwana and returned the morning of the battle. 

3.  Bromhead returns from a hunting trip and meets Chard for the first time.  HOLLYWOOD  The two officers had met earlier and their relationship was not adversarial as depicted in the film.

4.  Word of the defeat at Isandhlwana arrives from a Boer named Adendorff.  HISTORY  Adendorf was one of several survivors who stopped at the camp and reported the disaster.  He was the only one to stay and was thus the only person to fight in both battles. 

5.  Rorke’s Drift is a supply depot/camp that is also the site of the Witts’ mission.  HISTORY

6.  Chard takes command because of his seniority of just two months.  HOLLYWOOD  Maj. Spalding         was in command and when he left to get reinforcements, he left Chard in command after checking who had seniority.  Chard was three years senior to Bromhead.

7.  Witt claims Cetewayo is part of his parish and he wants to take the sick to safety.  Witt is an alcoholic.   HOLLYWOOD  Witt left to go to his family after witnessing the Zulu army approaching from a hillside.  A Reverend Smith stayed for the battle.  He helped hand out ammunition and gave moral support.  There is no evidence Witt was an alcoholic.  

8.  Adendorf describes the Zulu “buffalo horn” tactic.  HISTORY  The Zulu’s are famous for using a tactic that involved double envelopment.  They did use this tactic at Isandhlwana, but the movie includes this scene to imply they used it at Rorke’s Drift when in reality it was mainly piecemeal frontal attacks.

9.  Bromhead suggests going into the hills and ambushing the Zulu.  Chard decides to defend the post by building walls out of mealy bags and wagons.  HISTYWOOD  Bromhead and Chard did consider evacuating the post, but it was Assistant Commissary Dalton who insisted that leaving in a column with the wounded would play into Zulu hands.  The British did construct walls out of mealie bags, biscuit boxes, and overturned wagons.  This process had already been started by Bromhead and Dalton by the time Chard returned from the pont.

10.  A unit of Boer cavalry arrives, but refuses to stay and reinforce the garrison.  HISTYWOOD  A unit of Durnford’s native cavalry (they would have been mostly black) did arrive and was posted forward, but they withdrew when the Zulu approached because they were low on ammunition and felt the situation was hopeless.  They were not led by Stephenson, he was the leader of the native infantry that runs away.

11.  Witt encourages the native troops to run away.  Chard arrests him and later sends him away.  HISTYWOOD  Witt had nothing to do with this incident.  They deserted soon after the cavalry left.  Two British officers (including Stephenson) went with them and one of them was shot in the back by a British soldier.  These soldiers would not have been in uniforms, by the way

12.  The Zulu sneak up and then stand clashing their spears on their shields.  They advance, but stop to take fire.  Adendorf explains that the Zulu leaders are determining the strength of the British garrison.  They then withdraw.  Adendorf estimates that there are 4,000 Zulu.  HOLLYWOOD  In the first attack, the Zulu did not attempt to surround the camp.  They came straight on and the British opened fire at 500 meters and the Zulu returned fire.  The Zulu were quiet.  They came on steady until about 50 meters out when they were enfiladed by volleys from wall by the storage building.   This blunted the attack and some of the Zulu regrouped and made a dash for the front of the hospital where some crossed the barricade and there was some bayonet to assegai contact.  This lasted only several minutes before the Zulu retreated to the brush.  Smaller attacks followed.  Adendorf’s estimate is a good one.

13.  A Zulu unit armed with rifles start firing from a ridge overlooking the camp.  It is implied that the Zulu are armed with Martini-Henrys taken at Isandhlwana.  The British return fire (including Chard with his pistol at 300 yards).  HISTYWOOD  The Zulu did fire from the hillside.  It was basically a nuisance due to the inaccuracy of the motley weapons the Zulu had.  They were not armed with captured Martini-Henrys.  The movie implies the Zulu were the army coming on after its success at Isandhlwana when actually the force was the Zulu reserve which had not tasted blood in that battle and wanted some glory of its own.

14.  The Zulu attack in waves.  Chard shifts men to hot spots.  Bromhead leads a reserve squad.  The fighting is bayonet to assegai.  Some of the Zulu break through the walls.  HISTYWOOD  The movie accurately reflects the intensity of the fighting, but exaggerates the number of bayonet and assegai wounds.  Most of the deaths were caused by bullets.  Eventually, Chard withdraws to the wall by the storage building abandoning the hospital.

15.  Cpl. Schiess leaves the hospital to help and ends up saving Chard’s life.  Chard is wounded in the neck and is taken to the hospital where Surgeon-Major Reynolds is taking care of the wounded.  HISTYWOOD  Schiess is one of the heroes of the battle.  He was in the hospital with blisters and was subsequently shot in the foot, but at one point he left the hospital to kill several Zulu who had approached the wall.  I found no evidence that he saved Chard’s life or that Chard was wounded and went to the hospital.  Reynolds did do great work with the wounded, but it is unlikely that he was not cynical as portrayed in the movie.  He even left the hospital area occasionally to deliver ammunition.  His fox terrier Dick was by his side throughout the fight. 

16.  The Zulu assault the hospital and set fire to the roof.  Bromhead climbs on the roof to fight.  The Zulu get into the hospital and the patients and soldiers cut holes in the walls to escape from room to room.  HISTORY  The Zulu did concentrate on the hospital and managed to capture it after several assaults.  Bromhead fighting on the roof is pure Hollywood, but the depiction of the chaotic fighting in the hospital is a strength of the movie.

17.  Hooks is a malingerer, but becomes a hero in the defense of the hospital.  HISTYWOOD  The character assassination of Hooks is the biggest canard in the movie.  He was actually a good soldier and a teetotaller.  He was assigned to help defend the hospital.  His family was incensed with his portrayal.  As far as his actions once the battle began, they are well done.  By the time Hook escaped from the building it was dark and Chard had withdrawn to the inner perimeter.

18.  At a crucial point in the battle, the cattle get loose from the kraal and blunt a Zulu attack.  HOLLYWOOD  The Zulu captured the kraal after several attempts, but I found no reference to patriotic cattle helping the Brits.

19.  During the night, to the light of the burning hospital, the attacks continue.  The movie implies that the attacks are piecemeal and held off by gunfire.  HISTORY  The movie downplays the numerous attacks during the night by the light of the burning hospital.  These assaults were held off by rifle fire.  The attacks died down after 2 A.M. and there were only desultory shots ceasing around 4 A.M.   

20.  The next morning the two sides serenade each other.  The British sing “Men of Harlech”.  HOLLYWOOD  Pure bull shit.  It was not even a Welsh regiment so they would not have sung that particular song.

21.  The Zulu launch one last assault and the British retreat to the last wall.  Volleys end the attack.  HOLLYWOOD  There was no fighting after 4 A.M.

22.  A calling of the roll leaves the impression that the percentage dead is high.  HOLLYWOOD  Out of 140 men, the British lost only 17 killed and 10 wounded.  The Zulu deaths were estimated at over 500. 

23.  The Zulu salute the British and then leave.  HISTYWOOD  A large force of Zulu (probably unrelated to the ones who participated in the battle) did appear on a hill and stayed for about an hour before moving on.  There was no equivalent of a salute.

RATING  =  .46

           I am aware that this rating will upset some people.  Many will be surprised that is much more inaccurate than "Zulu Dawn".  I am a fan of "Zulu" and think it is one of the great war movies, but too many people think that because it combines great entertainment with history that it is great history. It is not.  The treatment of Hooks alone eliminates it from any discussion of the most accurate war movie.  I did a lot of research on the battle, but  I am open to any corrections.

HISTORY or HOLLYWOOD: Zulu Dawn

1.   Frere issues an ultimatum to Cetshwayo accusing him of abusing his people.  He and Chelmsford plot together to bring on the war so the British could invade Zululand.

2.  Chelmsford’s army consists of a mixture of regulars, native militia, Durnsford’s cavalry, and colonial volunteers like Vereker.

3.  A Zulu collaborator delivers the ultimatum to Cetshwayo.

4.  Some of the British are against the invasion and question Frere’s justification.

5.  Norris-Newman is a newspaper correspondent who is critical of Chelmsford.

6.  The first contact comes soon after crossing the Buffalo River when some Zulu scouts are run down and killed.

7.  Three Zulu warriors allow themselves to be captured and tortured in order to give false intelligence about the location of the Zulu army.  They later escape to warn the Zulus.

8.  Chelmsford refuses advice from a Boer about the advisibility of laagering the camp at Isandhlwana.

9.  A Boer rancher arrives and tells Chelmsford that the Zulu army is heading his way, but Chelmsford prefers to believe the tortured captives.

10.  Durnford arrives and tells Chelmsford that the main Zulu army is heading their way seeking a battle before harvest time.  Chelmsford orders Durnford to reinforce Pulleine.

11.  Chelmsford takes part of the army to find the Zulu army and ends up camping eight miles away and stopping for a luncheon.

12.   Durnford sends Vereker to set up some pickets and in the process of chasing some Zulu herders, they run into the Zulu army which immediately moves on the British camp.

13.  The British regulars set up double lines outside the camp.

14.  The Congreve rocket battery is isolated and quickly overrun.

15.  Chelmsford receives a vague message that Pulleine is under attack, but does nothing.

16.  Durnford leads his cavalry forward  and runs into the enemy and makes a stand.

17.  Quartermaster Bloomfield is slow in distributing the ammunition.

18.  Vereker’s unit joins Durnford, but they are forced to withdraw and as soon as they make it back to the camp the Zulu’s come storming in.

19. Melville, Coghill, and Vereker try to save the colors.

20.  Pulleine commits is killed in his tent.

21.  Durnford is shot from on top of a wagon and is then speared.

22.  Chelmsford arrives at dusk to survey the disaster site.

 

1.   Frere issues an ultimatum to Cetshwayo accusing him of abusing his people.  He and Chelmsford plot together to bring on the war so the British could invade Zululand.   HISTORY   A Boundary Commission had found no evidence of Zulu intentions to expand across the border so Frere had to fall back on the killing of two of Cetshwayo’s wifes who had taken refuge in Natal.  Frere decided to take action on his own against government policy because a done deal would be accepted.

2.  Chelmsford’s army consists of a mixture of regulars, native militia, Durnsford’s cavalry, and colonial volunteers like Vereker.   HISTORY  The total force was 6,670 regulars of the 24^th Infantry, 2,000 of the Natal Native Contingent, 2,000 colonials, 17 cannons, and one Congreve battery.  The force was divided into three columns and Chelmsford led the central column which is covered in the movie.  The movie does not accurately depict the hundreds of large wagons pulled by up to twenty oxen.

3.  A Zulu collaborator delivers the ultimatum to Cetshwayo.  UNKNOWN   I could not determine how Cetshwayo found out about the ultimatum, but the movie does accurately show how he decided to call out his impis and fight for their land.

4.  Some of the British are against the invasion and question Frere’s justification.  HISTORY    

5.  Norris-Newman is a newspaper correspondent who is critical of Chelmsford.  HISTYWOOD  There was a Norris-Newman and he exemplifies the embedded Victorian journalist.  They typically sided with the army that they were travelling with and it is unlikely he would have been a cynic.  There public would have been expecting pro-British articles.

6.  The first contact comes soon after crossing the Buffalo River when some Zulu scouts are run down and killed.  HOLLYWOOD  The crossing was watched by Zulu scouts but it was uneventful.

7.  Three Zulu warriors allow themselves to be captured and tortured in order to give false intelligence about the location of the Zulu army.  They later escape to warn the Zulus.  HOLLYWOOD  I assume this was inserted into the movie to develop a recognizable Zulu warrior, to show the craftiness of the Zulu, and to highlight British treatment of Zulu captives.  In fact, when two Zulu scouts were actually captured and reported the position of the Zulu army, Chelmsford insisted it was elsewhere.

8.  Chelmsford refuses advice from a Boer about the advisibility of laagering the camp at Isandhlwana.  HISTORY  Chelmsford had total faith in the power of the Martini-Henry and felt laagering the camp would be an unnecessary waste of time.

9.  A Boer rancher arrives and tells Chelmsford that the Zulu army is heading his way, but Chelmsford prefers to believe the tortured captives.  HOLLYWOOD 

10.  Durnford arrives and tells Chelmsford that the main Zulu army is heading their way seeking a battle before harvest time.  Chelmsford orders Durnford to reinforce Pulleine.   HISTYWOOD  Chelmsford sent out a reconnaissance force under a Maj. Dartnell.  When he encountered Zulus he went on the defensive and called on Chelmsford for reinforcements.  Chelmsford sent orders to Durnford to go to Isandhlwana, Durnford did not receive the orders personally from him.

11.  Chelmsford takes part of the army to find the Zulu army and ends up camping eight miles away and stopping for a breakfast.   HISTORY  Chelmsford left with 2,000 men, but when he made contact with a Zulu force he called for more force and thus ended leaving only 1,350 at Isandhlwana.  The breakfast has been overblown as there was no wagon and no fine china and silverware.

 

12.   Durnford sends Vereker to set up some pickets and in the process of chasing some Zulu herders, they run into the Zulu army which immediately moves on the British camp.  HISTYWOOD  A picket sent out by Durnford led by Lt. Raw (not Vereker) was chasing some Zulu scouts when they crested a ridge and encountered the main Zulu force.  Although the Zulu had not planned on fighting until the next day because of an ominous new moon.  The Zulu quickly adjusted and launched their attack.

13.  The British regulars set up double lines outside the camp.  HISTORY  The lines were advanced further than the movie indicates, but that is no big deal.

14.  The Congreve rocket battery is isolated and quickly overrun.  HISTORY  The rockets went out with Durnford and were only able to get off a few rounds before being swamped.

15.  Chelmsford receives a vague message that Pulleine is under attack, but does nothing.  HISTORY  Chelmsford was confident the camp could take care of itself.  He still felt the main Zulu army was in front of him.  In fact, when another more strident message arrived causing a unit to head toward the camp on its officer’s initiative, Chelmsford recalled the unit!

16.  Durnford leads his cavalry forward and runs into the enemy and makes a stand.  HISTORY  Durnford pushed forward to make contact and was forced to go to ground soon after. 

17.  Quartermaster Bloomfield is slow in distributing the ammunition.  DISPUTED  Recent scholarship has revised the characterization of Bloomfield as an officious buffoon.  He apparently was just being protective of the Chelmsford’s reserve supply and was under orders.  He was soon convinced that the crisis overrode the orders.  There has also been questioning of the belief that the British regulars were defeated due to a shortage of ammunition.  The movie does do a good job of portraying the popular view of this issue.

18.  Vereker’s unit joins Durnford, but they are forced to withdraw and as soon as they make it back to the camp the Zulu’s come storming in.  HISTYWOOD  Vereker fought on  ridge separate from Durnford.  Durnford’s retreat led to the collapse of the British right.

19. Melvill, Coghill, and Vereker try to save the colors.  HOLLYWOOD   Vereker did not participate in this.  He was in the camp horseless when the final moments arrived.  He found an abandoned horse and was going to attempt to escape when a soldier claimed the horse was his, so he gave it up and that was the last that was seen of him.  Melvill did leave with the colors but they were furled.  Coghill did not accompany him but was in the same group of escapees.  They both died trying to cross the Manzimnyama River and the colors were lost to be recovered downstream later.

20.  Pulleine is killed in his tent.  HISTYWOOD  No one can be completely sure how he died.  A Zulu warrior was eyewitness to the death of a British officer similar to how the movie depicts Pulleine’s death, but it could have been another officer.

21.  Durnford is shot from on top of a wagon and is then speared.  HISTORY  Durnford went down fighting in the chaos of the camp.  The death is a bit enhanced, but it is acceptable.

22.  Chelmsford arrives at dusk to survey the disaster site.  HISTORY   This actually happened after dark.

RATING = .68

 

HISTORY or HOLLYWOOD: Casualties of War (1989)

 

GUESS WHICH ARE HISTORY AND WHICH ARE HOLLYWOOD

1.       Meserve saves Eriksson’s life when he falls into a Viet Cong tunnel during a Viet Cong ambush.

2.       Meserve’s best buddy Brownie is killed by a grenade thrown by a farmer.  Eriksson hits a grenade with his grenade launcher.

3.       Meserve briefs the men on the mission.  They will go on a long range patrol to observe a Viet Cong camp.  He proposes kidnapping a Vietnamese girl for sex.

4.       The squad consists of Meserve, his crony Clark, the malleable Hitch, the new guy Diaz, and the moralistic Eriksson.

5.       They kidnap a girl from her hootch.  She is forced to carry a pack and is coughing a lot.

6.       Hitch shoots at a water buffalo that he mistakes for the enemy and Meserve chews him out.

7.       Eriksson stands up to Meserve who calls him a queer and threatens him with friendly fire.

8.       The rest of the squad take turns raping the girl including Diaz who reluctantly participates because peer pressure.

9.       Eriksson is left alone with the girl and is planning to leave with her when Clark returns.

10.    From their observation post overlooking the Viet Cong camp, Meserve orders Eriksson to kill the girl, then Hitch, then Diaz.

11.    Eriksson opens fire to halt the murder.

12.    Clark stabs the girl.

13.    There is a wild fire fight with numerous enemy casualties.  A gun boat arrives and is hit by friendly fire from helicopters.

14.    During the fire fight, the girl tries to escape down the train track.  Everyone except Eriksson open fire and she is killed and falls to the river bank.

15.    When Eriksson goes to Lt. Riley, Riley relates his baby at the hospital story and tells him “what happened is the way things are, so why try to buck the system?”

16.    Eriksson goes to Capt. Hill and is told that Hill is handling everything, but courts-martial are notoriously lenient.  He is very unsympathetic and mentions that Meserve did save Eriksson’s life.

17.    Clark attempts to frag Eriksson in the latrine and Eriksson confronts his tormentors with a shovel.

18.    Eriksson’s talk with a chaplain gets the courts-martial started.

19.    The four accused get various sentences with Meserve getting ten years hard labor for murder.

 THE ANSWERS

1.  Meserve saves Eriksson’s life when he falls into a Viet Cong tunnel during a Viet Cong ambush.  HOLLYWOOD  This crap was put in to start the movie with some action and establish that Meserve is a good soldier and Eriksson owes his life to him.

2.  Meserve’s best buddy Brownie is killed by a grenade thrown by a farmer.  Eriksson hits a grenade with his grenade launcher.  HOLLYWOOD  This scene was totally fabricated, but Eriksson did once hit a grenade with his grenade launcher.

        3.  Meserve briefs the men on the mission.  They will go on a long range patrol to observe a Viet Cong camp.  He proposes kidnapping a Vietnamese girl for sex.  HISTORY  Meserve felt the “boom boom” would be good for unit morale.  In reality, he added that they would kill the girl when they were done with her.

4.  The squad consists of Meserve, his crony Clark, the malleable Hitch, the new guy Diaz, and the moralistic Eriksson.  HISTYWOOD  The movie changed the names of the men and gave them Hollywood stock personalities.  There were actually five men on the mission.

5.  They kidnap a girl from her hootch.  She is forced to carry a pack and is coughing a lot.  HISTORY

6.  Hitch shoots at a water buffalo that he mistakes for the enemy and Meserve chews him out.  HISTYWOOD  The Hitch character did take a shot at a water buffalo, but Sgt. Gervase did not get upset.

        7.  Eriksson stands up to Meserve who calls him a queer and threatens him with friendly fire.  HISTORY

8.  The rest of the squad take turns raping the girl including Diaz who reluctantly participates because peer pressure.   HISTORY  No one showed any reluctance.

         9.  Eriksson is left alone with the girl and is planning to leave with her when Clark returns.  HISTYWOOD  Unbelievably, Storeby was left alone with the girl, but he did not try to let her escape.

         10.  From their observation post overlooking the Viet Cong camp, Meserve orders Eriksson to kill the girl, then Hitch, then Diaz.  HISTYWOOD  During the fire fight, Gervase and Thomas (Clark) began to worry that the girl would be spotted by Americans.  Gervase did not order several men to murder the girl.

         11.  Eriksson opens fire to halt the murder.  HOLLYWOOD

         12.  Clark stabs the girl.  HISTORY  Thomas took the girl into the bushes and stabbed her three times.

         13.  There is a wild fire fight with numerous enemy casualties.  A gun boat arrives and is hit by friendly fire from helicopters.   HOLLYWOOD  It was not much of a fight and only one enemy body was found afterwards.

          14.  During the fire fight, the girl tries to escape down the train track.  Everyone except Eriksson open fire and she is killed and falls to the river bank.  HISTYWOOD  The girl did try to escape, but Thomas chased her down and shot her in the head with his M-16. 

          15.  When Eriksson goes to Lt. Riley, Riley relates his baby at the hospital story and tells him “what happened is the way things are, so why try to buck the system?”  HISTORY 

           16.  Eriksson goes to Capt. Hill and is told that Hill is handling everything, but courts-martial are notoriously lenient.  He is very unsympathetic and mentions that Meserve did save Eriksson’s life.  HISTYWOOD  Hill did not so much cover up the crime as try to overlook it.  He was right about the probable result of a court-martial, but he was not belligerent and did not bring up Meserve saving Eriksson’s like because that had not happened.  Meserve did have a reputation as a good soldier.

          17.  Clark attempts to frag Eriksson in the latrine and Eriksson confronts his tormentors with a shovel.  HOLLYWOOD  There were some veiled warnings, but Storeby was transferred to a new unit as soon as he first told his story and there never was any attempt on his life.

          18.  Eriksson’s talk with a chaplain gets the courts-martial started.  HISTORY 

          19.  The four accused get various sentences with Meserve getting ten years hard labor for murder.  HISTORY  The movie covers the trials as one when actually there were four separate trials and Storeby was the lone prosecution witness at each.   The movie gets the sentences right, but De Palma curiously does not add a post script detailing the shameful reduction of the sentences.  All of the convicted spent substantially less jail time than they were originally sentenced to.  I was not able to find out why Gervase was not charged with rape.

 

RATING  =  .58