That's Not How It Went Down

On your marks, get set... TRUTH! In this episode we're passing the baton to perhaps the most iconic British sports film of all. Turning the lives and times of two of Britain's most fabled Olympians into an award-winning movie was always going to be a high bar to clear with plenty of hurdles along the way, but with Chariots of Fire taking the USA by storm it found its way to the top of the podium to achieve Oscars immortality in 1982. Nevertheless, one has to wonder whether the filmmakers, in relaying the facts, made it to the finishing tape in one piece or if they just got off to a false start. Did Harold Abrahams complete the Great Court Run? Did Eric Liddell really refuse to run on a Sunday? And is that man at the back Stephen Fry?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

"YES! Say it a million times. Then say it a million more. And the word you will have said two million times is...?" Saying 'yes' isn't always as easy as it might seem. But for a man who has previously played someone unable to tell a lie you might feel as though answering solely in the affirmative would be bit of a step down. Although the obligation of Fletcher Reede is entirely fictitious, the predicament of "Yes Man"'s Carl Allen actually finds its roots in historical fact. What began as an experiment in personal growth by a down-and-out radio producer very quickly evolved into a life-changing experience for not just one person but a whole host of yes-people across the world. But did the filmmakers of the 2008 movie adaptation really say "yes" when it came to historical accuracy? Was Carl really such a terrible friend? Was he indoctrinated into the cult of "Yes"? And what is so great about Lincoln, Nebraska?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

After minor roles in Black Hawk Down, Layer Cake and RocknRolla, Tom Hardy made his biggest entrance to audiences when he beefed up for the role of Britain's most violent inmate. It's now hard to imagine anyone else in the role, but even though it launched his now stellar career, it arguably remains his most outlandish performance. But there is surely no other way to play a man who has lived almost his entire adult life in conditions and circumstances most of us would not want to spend a second in. And since so many of the stories from inside the prison system are under lock and key, it's the inmate we have to rely on when sifting through the facts. What made Michael Peterson so violent? How was he ever released? And how many times can one prisoner climb onto the prisom roof without being stopped?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

What's your favourite scary movie? If it happens to be 1996's revival slasher horror, "Scream", then stick around because you just might be scared witless. Small-town America is something many of us film buffs would have grown up imagining and idolising. A paradise of charming neighbourhoods and family-filled streets. But what if the place you perceived to be the safest in the world was suddenly plunged into darkness in the midst of some of the worst crimes imaginable? That was the reality for the residents of Gainesville, Florida in 1990 just as students were preparing to return to college after summer break. What followed were 4 days of terror that led to the birth of an anonymous madman on the loose and students barricading themselves in their dorms for fear of becoming the next victim. Ready to hide behind that sofa? Was there really a masked killer targeting students? Did Sidney manage to escape? And were the authorities really this inept at catching the killer?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

Archaeology is the search for fact, as is the goal of this podcast. But facts can be hard to come by when dealing with something as genuinely legendary as the Holy Grail. The true magic of the best Indiana Jones moments, lies in the historical half-truths that resonate with us, whether we are believers or not in the faith they are attributed to. After unearthing some fascinating parallels in stories that may have inspired the film that kicked off this franchise, surely we would find similar origins here. After all, we do find ourselves in very similar circumstances against the backdrop of the Nazi's rise to power. Who was the real grail hunter of the time? Where was the grail located? And does anyone here speak English?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

This week we're dribbling at the prospect of another sports movie slam dunk. Basketball may be a relatively unknown sport where we come from, but across the pond its presence is undeniable with 170 million fans tuning in to follow their team. And that journey to the NBA begins at high school with around 50,000 students offered scholarships to attend university for their excellence on court. But in 1999 an unusual story emerged of a coach's refusal to let his students play unless their grades improved ensuring that, even without a scholarship, they could still move on to higher education. His name was Coach Ken Carter. But with the film adaptation of this story released 6 years later were moviegoers treated sharpshooting display or did the studio fumble the ball? Was Coach Carter a former student at Richmond High? Did his son really switch schools to play for his dad? And did he really lock the gym to prevent his players from training?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

The history of space exploration is often dominated by men. Movies like "Apollo 13" and "First Man" - while captivating - seem to only show the perseverance of the male members of NASA, crucially omitting the thousands of hours of dedication from female mathematicians and engineers. But in 2015, a relatively unknown woman was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, highlighting an extraordinary career that began at the height of the Space Race in the 1950s and revealed to audiences a year later in the Oscar-nominated, "Hidden Figures". But this time it's our turn to check the numbers and see just how accurate the filmmakers' calculations were. Did the ladies of NASA really carpool together? Did Katherine Johnson have to cross the entire campus to go to the bathroom? And did John Glenn really request that Katherine "check the numbers"?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

When it comes to the miners' strike of 1984/85, there isn't much positivity to be found. Families in communities solely reliant upon the income generated from the coal-mining industry were effectively starved into desperation as Margaret Thatcher's brutal tactics attempted to break the Unions. But as those standing up to the crisis had to find new ways to generate funds for their union members, a relationship based on mutual understanding and marginalisation formed between a group of gays and lesbians in London and a small town in South Wales. The fruits of the fruits of these labours were immortalised in a touching 2014 film with a stellar cast mainly from England, Ireland and Scotland - but what else wasn't quite right? What were Mark Ashton's political involvments before this venture? And how many guests is too many for a sleepover..? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

This week we're embodying the inimitable sense of British wartime spirit with a look at many people's all-time favourite war movie. Despite experiencing the harrowing conditions of near starvation inside POW camp Stalag Luft III, the unbreakable resilience of 600 men led to perhaps the most infamous prison escape in cinematic history. But with the events depicted undeniably embellished by Hollywood and featuring a whole host of dashing young American actors in leading roles did the filmmakers tip the scales too much in their quest for action and adventure? And, like the heroes of The Great Escape, what truth can we unearth which lies hidden beneath the surface? How were the inmates able to plan such a daring escape? Was there really a 'cooler king' like Hilts? And just how far did some of the escapees make it?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!