That's Not How It Went Down

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!

"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!

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!

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!

It's a common understanding that Disney only look inwardly for their animation film storylines, and most of them are born from a very small nucleus of an idea before taking our imaginations on a journey beyond reality. Occasionally they can be traced to a period in history but few are based on something quite as dark as this 19th century gothic novel, containing quotes such as: "I bear the dungeon within me; within me is winter, ice, and despair; I have darkness in my soul." But why was Victor Hugo so obsessed with the famous cathedral? What happened to the Romani people in France at this time? And who knew there was so much to learn about bells?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

Whilst Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson might be the highest earning actor on the planet, there was one genre it seemed he was never destined to grace: drama. Until now, that is. Having recently acquired shares in UFC's parent company, it makes sense that an MMA-themed movie with DJ at the helm would follow. The surprise came on the revelation that he would be telling the true story of a UFC pioneer, dogged by a life of substance abuse and battles with anxiety. But just how accurate was the Smashing Machine in portraying the life and times of Mark Kerr? Did he really put himself in hospital after an overdose? Was his relationship with Dawn so fractious? And why exactly was he called The Smashing Machine?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

After probing the 'true' events of the first film in this franchise, I joked we could simply run the same episode again but add a '2' to the title. But in fairness to James Wan, his follow-up horror attempts to carve new ground instead of copying the same format of the first. But even though we're introduced to new scary characters, they are still somewhat familiar - a crooked man and a demonic female figure taking advantage of a vulnerable family? Ed and Lorraine Warren are here as heroes yet again... But how involved were they? Who is Valak(c)? And how on earth does this story still have believers?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!

This week we're holding our commandments dear and pledging our allegiance to the truth. The story of a soldier who refuses to bear arms, whilst saving the lives of dozens of his fellow men in one of the bloodiest battles of WWII was seemingly a tale so inspiring that Mel Gibson couldn't pass it by. But in telling the history of a simple carpenter travelling the world treating the injured, was there a chance of straying too far from the truth? Did Desmond give blood just to visit his future wife? Did his father burst in on his court martial? And was there really just... one... more? Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!