The movies of World War II: Fact vs. fiction
Lincoln Presidential Library compares Hollywood war movies to the reality of the battlefield Sept. 26

 

[September 25, 2019] 

How much of “Tora! Tora! Tora!” matches the real events of Pearl Harbor? Were the D-Day seas really as calm as depicted in “The Longest Day”? Did Allied troops build and then destroy a bridge on the river Kwai? And how about all those love stories that found their way into so many Hollywood war movies?

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will answer those questions with a special event at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 26.

“Fact vs. Fiction: World War II” features Dr. Mark DePue examining famous war movies to see what they got right and what they got wrong – sometimes laughably wrong.

“War movies can be exciting, inspirational and emotional, but they’re often not accurate – even the ones that claim to be,” said DePue, an Army veteran, military historian and head of the presidential library’s Oral History Program. “We’re going to take a look at where some of your favorite movies hit the target and where they veered off into complete fiction.”

This free event also includes admission to “In This Great Struggle: The Greatest Generation Remembers World War II.”

The special exhibit features an amazing array of documents and artifacts (including a military motorcycle, Eisenhower’s helmet and a D-Day flag), as well as videos of veterans recalling their World War II experiences.

To reserve seats, visit www.President Lincoln.Illinois.gov  and click on “special event reservations.”

The Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum uses a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship to immerse visitors in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln. Visitors can see ghosts come to life on stage, watch TV coverage of the 1860 presidential election, roam through the Lincoln White House, experience booming cannons in a Civil War battle and come face to face with priceless original Lincoln artifacts.

The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to all aspects of Illinois history.

For more information, visit www. PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov. 

[Christopher Wills]