American history

[TimberWolf]

There were probably a few token Englishmen in the film "The greatest Escape" but apparently in real life no Americans were involved in the actual escape or were actually in the prison camp

Digger' Dowling as played by Charles Bronsen died recently. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...at-Escape.html

[TykeMerc]

I assume you mean the Great Escape film and American characters that I can remember were limited to 3.

Hilts the Cooler King (Steve McQueen)
Henley the Scrounger (James Garner) who was supposed to be an Eagle Squadron pilot
Some guy who hung around with Hilts whose name and actor I can't be bothered to look up

The rest appeared to be British and Commonwealth troops and apart from Bronson (Polish) and Coburn (Australian with a farcical accent) I don't remember any other American actors of note for that matter.

[TimberWolf]

I assume you mean the Great Escape film and American characters that I can remember were limited to 3.

Hilts the Cooler King (Steve McQueen)
Henley the Scrounger (James Garner) who was supposed to be an Eagle Squadron pilot
Some guy who hung around with Hilts whose name and actor I can't be bothered to look up

The rest appeared to be British and Commonwealth troops and apart from Bronson (Polish) and Coburn (Australian with a farcical accent) I don't remember any other American actors of note for that matter.

I think you've just about covered just about everyone aside from the extras

[expat]

There were probably a few token Englishmen in the film "The greatest Escape" but apparently in real life no Americans were involved in the actual escape or were actually in the prison camp

Digger' Dowling as played by Charles Bronsen died recently. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...at-Escape.html

Like the more recent American movie about capturing an Enigma machine. All done (in the film) by Americans, despite the fact that the US wasn't even in the war at the time. Challenged on that, the director said, "It's fiction, for Chrissake!".

Thus showing that he does not know the difference between a fiction and a falsehood. Come to think of it, that might be a common American trait.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Like the more recent American movie about capturing an Enigma machine. All done (in the film) by Americans, despite the fact that the US wasn't even in the war at the time. Challenged on that, the director said, "It's fiction, for Chrissake!".

Thus showing that he does not know the difference between a fiction and a falsehood. Come to think of it, that might be a common American trait.

There is a disclaimer at the end of the film.

I had to watch that film (fracking mrs) and hated it. It’s also over the top PC with the racially integrated crew and their hatred of the Nazi’s.

[expat]

There is a disclaimer at the end of the film.

Oh, what does that say? We know that this was really done by the Brits, but we made it Americans because American audiences wouldn't bother going to see it if it wasn't about American heroes, so we wouldn't take in so much?

[M_B]

Although the Americans did capture an Enigma machine after the one captured by HMS Bulldog.

I'm not sure why we are surprised really. Films are for entertainment - no doubt there are some British films with dubious historical accuracy.

[voodooflux]

Oh, what does that say?

Something like...

OK so the Brits captured the first one...
...BUT THEN WE CAPTURED ONE LATER SO IN YOUR FACE! AMERICA, F**K YEAH!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-571_(...torical_events (Usual disclaimer regarding wikipedia accuracy applies).

[EternalOptimist]

no doubt there are some British films with dubious historical accuracy.

Yep, I remember one British film that portrayed Barbara Windsor as having a massive pair of norks, when in actual fact one is slightly larger than the other

[gingerjedi]

There were probably a few token Englishmen in the film "The greatest Escape" but apparently in real life no Americans were involved in the actual escape or were actually in the prison camp

Digger' Dowling as played by Charles Bronsen died recently. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...at-Escape.html

If you think thats bad you should see Escape to Victory ...Sly Stallone on the same pitch as the great Bobby Moore, let alone Pele and Ossy Ardiles, I'm not sure why they were there? But at least they knew what football was.