Based on a True Story

This Week: Turn, A Bridge Too Far, The Godfather Part III, Remember the Titans

Based on a True Story

Show Notes

BOATS THIS WEEK (SEP 23-29, 2024) — AMC's Turn: Washington's Spies shows us how Benedict Arnold's treason was discovered back on September 24th, 1780. The next day, on Wednesday this week, marks the anniversary of Operation Market Garden coming to a close, which we see in the classic film A Bridge Too Far. And then The Godfather, Part III has a key plot point surrounding a very real event that happened on September 26th, 1978: The death of Pope John Paul I. This week's movie premiere to compare with history is the 2000 sports drama Remember the Titans, which has its 24-year anniversary this Sunday. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story.

Events from this week in history Tuesday: Turn: Washington's Spies | BOATS #139

Wednesday: A Bridge Too Far

Thursday: The Godfather, Part III

Birthdays from this week in history Wednesday: Fletcher Christian in Mutiny on the Bounty | BOATS #156

Thursday: T.S. Eliot in Tom & Viv

Friday: Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici in Medici

Historical movies releasing this week in historySunday: Remember the Titans

Mentioned in this episode Turn: Washington's Spies: The "Treason House" where Arnold and Andre met this week in history

Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter

Leave a comment

Support our sponsors

Unlock ad-free episodes

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/349 Disclaimer: Dan LeFebvre and/or Based on a True Story may earn commissions from qualifying purchases through these links.

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.

More from Based on a True Story

Sep 1, 2026

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 390) — Captain Michael "Mak" Makatura joins us to break down the historical accuracy of Top Gun (1986). Drawing from his own experience in Central Europe during the Cold War, Mak explains what the movie gets right about fighter pilot culture, competition, and danger — including a real-world parallel to Goose's tragic death. The conversation also covers his book The Fightin' Tenth: Cold War to Desert Storm, chronicling the experiences of the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron from the Cold War through Operation Desert Storm.

Aug 11, 2026

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 389) — Are you a baseball fan? Today we're digging into some baseball history as it was depicted in the 1976 movie "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings." Learn about the history of barnstorming baseball teams with Ben Railton, Professor of American Studies at Fitchburg State University. We'll discuss how the movie's characters mirror real legends like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Jackie Robinson. Ben is the host of the podcast Baseball, Bigotry and the Battle for America and author of Of Thee I Sing: Race and American Patriotism.

Jul 31, 2026

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 388) — Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (2026) brings Homer’s epic journey to the screen as we follow Matt Damon’s Odysseus from the Trojan War through monsters, sirens, and a long road home. In this episode, we'll learn from author and former documentary filmmaker Neil Laird about the historical accuracy of the movie and how well it ties into Homer’s Odyssey.

Jul 7, 2026

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 387) — How accurate is the 1990 movie Memphis Belle? Military historian Joshua Donohue returns to Based on a True Story to break down what the movie gets right, where Hollywood takes liberties, and what the real crew of the Memphis Belle actually experienced during World War II. Guest Links Josh's YouTube = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387guest Josh's Wake Island Article = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387wakearticle Josh's Pearl Harbor Article = https://links.boatspodcast.com/387ewaarticle

Jun 18, 2026

What really happened to Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition, and how much of AMC’s The Terror is grounded in the historical record? Today we're joined by Rich Napolitano, host of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, to compare the TV series with the real story of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, from the search for the Northwest Passage to the evidence historians have uncovered about the crew’s fate. Links Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Lost Franklin Expedition w/NEW UPDATES Dr. John Rae The Terror (TV Series)

See all episodes →