Movies that taught you something you didn't know.

mako88sb · 08-01-13, 03:16 PM

Title says it all. Of course a lot of them fall into that category but for me, the standout is the baseball movie "61*". I'm not a huge baseball fan, pretty well limiting my viewing to the post season play but I knew enough that Roger Maris held the home runs hit in a single season record until of course 1998 when Mark McGwire broke it. What I didn't know was how much more difficult were the circumstances that Roger played under. My goodness. Your own fans booing you because if anybody were to beat Ruths record, it should be Mickey Mantle, not somebody from North Dakota. Mostly negative support from the media and death threat letters to him and his family on top of all that. He was so stressed that his hair was starting to fall out and he was getting hives. For him to accomplish what he did says a lot about the type of man he was and it was great to see that he and Mickey were good friends throughout the home-run race. For those who don't know, the asterisk was an indication that Maris did not accomplish breaking Babe Ruths record in the same amount of games that The Babe played due to the extended 162 game season that came out that year. Sadly, it wasn't removed until after Roger's death.

Also in regards to Mickey Mantle there was one scene were Mickey pretty well hit a home-run one handed due to a pulled forearm muscle. It's one of those scenes were you wonder if it happened that way or was it something added for dramatics. Well it turns out that in fact, he actually hit two home-runs that day so one of the rare instances when the reality trumped what was put to film. It's funny fact that Thomas Jane who portrays Mickey never played baseball and lied his ass off to persuades Billy Crystal to give him the part.

So what's the movie/movies you feel you learned something from?

Sailor Steve · 08-01-13, 03:22 PM

That's a tough question, and one I don't have an answer for. However, since you brought up 61* I have to admit that it tought me several things I didn't know, most importantly that Mantle and Maris, far from being bitter enemies and rivals, were very good friends. I love the scene in which Mantle asks Maris if they're enemies. Maris replies "We must be. It said so on the TV." Mantle says "Well..." and swears at him, then both laugh.

mako88sb · 08-01-13, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

That's a tough question, and one I don't have an answer for. However, since you brought up 61* I have to admit that it tought me several things I didn't know, most importantly that Mantle and Maris, far from being bitter enemies and rivals, were very good friends. I love the scene in which Mantle asks Maris if they're enemies. Maris replies "We must be. It said so on the TV." Mantle says "Well..." and swears at him, then both laugh.

Yes, I was still in diapers when this all happened so I was surprised to hear they were supposed to be bitter rivals. My favorite scene was when Mickey and Roger are at the bar and because of the hip infection, Mickey is done for the season. Thomas Jane did a great job capturing Mickeys competitiveness. You could tell it was killing him to concede he couldn't go on. Mickey: "And I thought I was taking pretty good care of myself". Roger:
'Damn straight you were."

I must admit, this movie really gets to me every time I see it.

Catfish · 08-01-13, 03:59 PM

'Action in the North Atlantic' told me that a lot of Hollywood films are pure propaganda bull, even if the (by me) much adored Bogart plays in it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_...North_Atlantic

ok ok i still like it for nostalgical reasons ..

In that respect, the real Queen in 'African Queen' should have been the german steamer 'Graf Goetzen', twice times sunk and raised again, still underway under its new name 'Liemba' on Lake Tanganyika. And the 'Kilimanjaro' is of course the 'Kilima Njaro'

Rockstar · 08-01-13, 04:00 PM

This really caught me by surprise. I learned a small ragtag band of rebels destroyed Death Star II which was under construction near someplace called Endor.

Mittelwaechter · 08-01-13, 04:30 PM

HOME

Dowly · 08-01-13, 05:02 PM

That it was the Americans who captured the first naval Enigma machine.

frau kaleun · 08-01-13, 05:15 PM

Rosebud was just a sled.

Platapus · 08-02-13, 12:57 PM

In Apollo 13, I learned that no one sweats in Houston in July.

08-02-13, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

In Apollo 13, I learned that no one sweats in Houston in July.

It's because of all the nicotine closing the pores so no drop of sweat can come out...

razark · 08-02-13, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

In Apollo 13, I learned that no one sweats in Houston in July.

Didn't Apollo 13 occur in April?

Platapus · 08-03-13, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

Didn't Apollo 13 occur in April?

But the scene where they watch the first moon landing was in July and despite no air conditioning, none of the actors were sweating.

It is one of the goofs identified with this movie.

razark · 08-03-13, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

But the scene where they watch the first moon landing...

Ah. It's been a while, and I'd forgotten that part.

Gargamel · 08-02-13, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

In Apollo 13, I learned that no one sweats in Houston in July.

Apollo 13 launched April 11, 1970.

But it's still Houston.

08-03-13, 12:56 AM

On April 11th, 1970, the closest available weather station to Houston, TX (HOUSTON ELLINGTON AFB, TX), reported the following conditions:
High Temp: 76.3F
Low Temp: 59.4F
Average Temp: 66.1F
Dewpoint: 60F
Wind Speed: 4.4 Knots
Precipitation Amount: 0 Inches
Snow Depth: n/a
Observations: n/a

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraham Lincoln

There's nothing the internetz doesn't know!

True dat, Abe...

08-01-13, 03:16 PM	#1
mako88sb XO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 423 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Movies that taught you something you didn't know. Title says it all. Of course a lot of them fall into that category but for me, the standout is the baseball movie "61*". I'm not a huge baseball fan, pretty well limiting my viewing to the post season play but I knew enough that Roger Maris held the home runs hit in a single season record until of course 1998 when Mark McGwire broke it. What I didn't know was how much more difficult were the circumstances that Roger played under. My goodness. Your own fans booing you because if anybody were to beat Ruths record, it should be Mickey Mantle, not somebody from North Dakota. Mostly negative support from the media and death threat letters to him and his family on top of all that. He was so stressed that his hair was starting to fall out and he was getting hives. For him to accomplish what he did says a lot about the type of man he was and it was great to see that he and Mickey were good friends throughout the home-run race. For those who don't know, the asterisk was an indication that Maris did not accomplish breaking Babe Ruths record in the same amount of games that The Babe played due to the extended 162 game season that came out that year. Sadly, it wasn't removed until after Roger's death. Also in regards to Mickey Mantle there was one scene were Mickey pretty well hit a home-run one handed due to a pulled forearm muscle. It's one of those scenes were you wonder if it happened that way or was it something added for dramatics. Well it turns out that in fact, he actually hit two home-runs that day so one of the rare instances when the reality trumped what was put to film. It's funny fact that Thomas Jane who portrays Mickey never played baseball and lied his ass off to persuades Billy Crystal to give him the part. So what's the movie/movies you feel you learned something from?

08-01-13, 03:22 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	That's a tough question, and one I don't have an answer for. However, since you brought up 61* I have to admit that it tought me several things I didn't know, most importantly that Mantle and Maris, far from being bitter enemies and rivals, were very good friends. I love the scene in which Mantle asks Maris if they're enemies. Maris replies "We must be. It said so on the TV." Mantle says "Well..." and swears at him, then both laugh. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-01-13, 04:30 PM	#6
Mittelwaechter The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,304 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	HOME __________________ 10 happy wolves rear 90 blinded, ensnared sheep. 90 happy sheep banish the wolves. Arrest the 1% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6hg1oNeGE

08-02-13, 12:57 PM	#9
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,382 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	In Apollo 13, I learned that no one sweats in Houston in July. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-01-13, 03:59 PM	#4
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,784 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	'Action in the North Atlantic' told me that a lot of Hollywood films are pure propaganda bull, even if the (by me) much adored Bogart plays in it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_...North_Atlantic ok ok i still like it for nostalgical reasons .. In that respect, the real Queen in 'African Queen' should have been the german steamer 'Graf Goetzen', twice times sunk and raised again, still underway under its new name 'Liemba' on Lake Tanganyika. And the 'Kilimanjaro' is of course the 'Kilima Njaro'

08-01-13, 04:00 PM	#5
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	This really caught me by surprise. I learned a small ragtag band of rebels destroyed Death Star II which was under construction near someplace called Endor.

08-01-13, 05:02 PM	#7
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,054 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	That it was the Americans who captured the first naval Enigma machine.

08-01-13, 05:15 PM	#8
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	Rosebud was just a sled.