With the festive season upon us once again it seemed fitting to not just look into the veracity of a classic Yuletide movie, but perhaps even the very origins of our modern Christmas itself. There are very few amongst us who won't be aware of the source material for lines such as "Bah! Humbug!" and "God bless us, every one!" but when a movie was produced in 2017 exploring the genesis of Dickens' enduring festive fairytale it seemed ripe material to discuss just how much truth there was on this Victorian journey of self-discovery. Was Marley a venerable waiter at Dickens' club? Was Dickens' father really sent to debtors prison? And was there a real Ebenezer Scrooge?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'In the Heart of the Sea' (2015)
He may admit to having a slight fear of the ocean, but that didn't stop Ron Howard tackling the huge budget and epic story that is said to have inspired Herman Melville's Moby Dick. For the 'thalassaphobic' (sic) among us, this film is a challenging watch - and for those that struggle hearing inconsistent accents, this film is a challenging watch. But putting aside petty grievances, pursuing the truth in the vast ocean of Hollywood surrounding such a classic novel is too good to miss. Was there a white whale? Should Chase have been captain? And seriously, some of these accents... Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'Saturday Night Fever' (1977)
"Listen to the ground. There is movement all around. There is something goin' down and I can feel it". The iconic opening lyrics to The Bee Gees smash hit, "Night Fever", hint at something of a cultural revolution. With vast swathes of America's youth feeling increasingly hopeless by the end of the 1970s, disco dancing on a Saturday night became a surefire outlet where under the thumb young people could shine. With producers on the hunt for a vehicle for their up-and-coming new star, John Travolta, an article in New York magazine about Brooklyn down and outs cutting loose at the weekend seemed like the perfect jumping off point. But just how truthful was this so-called "honest" account? Did Tony really work in a paint store? Were The Faces at war with a Puerto Rican gang? And was 2001 Odyssey a real club?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'Roofman' (2025)
As we've explored before, there's a small part of the human psyche that wants the fugitive to escape when we watch crime capers. Maybe not those films where the crimes committed are particularly evil, but how can you not feel for the cheeky and charming Channing Tatum attempting to start a brand new life, whilst hiding in the now nostalgia-inducing Toys "Я" Us? But then again, he did threaten innocent McDonald's employees at gunpoint... Was his escape so seamless? Was his recapture so seamless? And does it all seem less serious, because we're in a toy store?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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'Cheaper By The Dozen' (2003)
Family movies featuring innumerable children are a dime a dozen. But whilst The Sound of Music, The Swiss Family Robinson and Home Alone might boast extraordinarily large family units, nothing compares to Cheaper by the Dozen. And upon learning that this unfeasibly large clan was based on a real household I felt it was my domestic duty to investigate this unusual brood. Were there really twelve children living under one roof? How did the parents support their litter financially? And what exactly is a "Therblig"? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
*Winners of Best TV & Film Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2025Many movies claim to be 'based on a true story', but how much truth actually makes it onto the silver screen? Whilst one of us queries the less believable moments from the film, the other takes a deep dive into the fact behind the fiction to educate us and answer… is that really how it went down?Produced by 2020 Recordings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.