The Conservative Cat

I know this because I live with a history buff. Take the most egregious recent example-- Hidalgo. In the movie, real-life horseman Frank Hopkins wins a 3000-mile endurance race across the Sahara desert. Not only is there no evidence that this race ever existed, but there's some question as to whether Hidalgo was a real horse.

Even movies that try to be authentic can't help twisting the truth for dramatic effect. Apollo 13 was based fairly faithfully on astronaut Jim Lovell's own account of the voyage in his book Lost Moon; however, in order to build suspense, the film-makers created a crisis regarding power consumption that wasn't solved until the last minute.

Sometimes movie makers get fooled by their own PR. A trailer for the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre talks about a bizzare fate that befell five teenagers; however, the original film was inspired by the crimes of Eddie Gein (who butchered and ate his victims) and Joe Ball (who actually lived in Texas). Neither had anything to do with a car full of teenagers. It's almost as if the people doing the remake thought the original movie was a true account instead of fiction inspired by real crimes.

Now, I'm sure Hollywood isn't trying to be deceptive, but they've allowed themselves the luxury of sacrificing truth for the sake of drama. It's okay if we go in with our eyes open, but it would be a mistake to rely on movies for our knowledge of history.

In fact, it would be almost as bad as relying on the press for our knowledge of current events.

Respectfully submitted,

Ferdinand T. Cat