How the movies get it wrong

Photogoof · 08-10-2018, 09:10 AM

Some time ago, I watched the truly terribly movie An American Haunting. The movie is set mostly around the year 1817.

It's bracketed by modern-day events, and at the end of the movie, a character looks at a series of photos of her ancestors. Taken not long after the events in 1817. All of them smiling.

Has anyone else seen a movie with such blatant disregard for photographic history? If so, what was it?

photoptimist · 08-10-2018, 09:19 AM

1817 predates photographic portraiture by a couple of decades.

CDW · 08-10-2018, 09:25 AM

Historical and technical accuracy has never been of much concern with Hollywood script writers.

Not a Number · 08-10-2018, 10:02 AM

As long as it doesn't take away from the story who cares? It's all about storytelling. The film was not billed as a documentary was it?

**grog85361** · 08-10-2018, 10:02 AM

Don't let the facts interfere with a good story.

Photogoof · 08-10-2018, 10:21 AM - **1 Like**

Yeah, but it was a terrible story. This was just one problem with it.

tuco · 08-10-2018, 10:51 AM - **1 Like**

I'm all for the creative licence thing but similarly in Sci Fi movies I wish they would least pretend there is a vacuum in space.

**gump** · 08-10-2018, 12:05 PM

I recommend the Alan Alda movie SWEET LIBERTY for a funny look at what Hollywood does to history.

jgnfld · 08-10-2018, 12:11 PM

Originally posted by Photogoof

Some time ago, I watched the truly terribly movie An American Haunting. The movie is set mostly around the year 1817.

It's bracketed by modern-day events, and at the end of the movie, a character looks at a series of photos of her ancestors. Taken not long after the events in 1817. All of them smiling.

Has anyone else seen a movie with such blatant disregard for photographic history? If so, what was it?

Maybe they reversed the polarity on the pictures to improve resolution???

aitrus3 · 08-10-2018, 12:27 PM

Movies written in haste with no research tend to be the worst. Unfortunately, most people don't know that portraits like that didn't exist in 1817 so to the majority of the public, it doesn't matter.

**pentaxus** · 08-10-2018, 12:44 PM

Many scientists wish that movies would break the laws of physics three times or less. We all have to live with disappointment. Sadly, ignorant people will insist something is true because they saw it in a movie.

Wasp · 08-10-2018, 01:11 PM

Movies are also very bad when it comes to firearms. One of the worst in this regard was Die Hard with the non-existent ceramic Glock 7. Die Hard 2 was even worse, but that is a long story.

Saving Private Ryan was a good movie but two details spoil it. The opening scene with the bullets whizzing through the water. Looks good on screen but real bullets don't do that. The worst was the line about the P51 tankbusters! The P51 Mustang was never used for ground attack in WWII. Every aviation nerd knows that, but it was the only plane they could find to use in the movie. So they came up with that corny line.

Regarding photography, there are more irritations. Why does any old SLR camera have to make a motor drive sound in movies? Even if it doesn't actually have one. How much film does the photographic hero go through with all that clicking going on? And why does he keep making wild adjustments to the focus?

gifthorse · 08-10-2018, 01:28 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Wasp

Regarding photography, there are more irritations. Why does any old SLR camera have to make a motor drive sound in movies? Even if it doesn't actually have one. How much film does the photographic hero go through with all that clicking going on? And why does he keep making wild adjustments to the focus?

I always fiddle with the focus (even with autofocus) and make motor drive sounds so that people think I'm a professional. Try this with an old 110 and nobody will get within 50 feet of you. I never get photobombed!

Photogoof · 08-10-2018, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

Why does any old SLR camera have to make a motor drive sound in movies? Even if it doesn't actually have one. How much film does the photographic hero go through with all that clicking going on? And why does he keep making wild adjustments to the focus?

I was just thinking about that earlier. No motor drive, but it sounds like there is one. And Our Hero never runs out of film. Then there are the movies with extras who are supposed to be photojournalists, but don't know how to hold a camera. And don't even get me started on scenes where someone puts a photo in the developer, watches the image come up, then turns on the lights while it's still in the developer.

**alfa75ts** · 08-10-2018, 02:19 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Wasp

The P51 Mustang was never used for ground attack in WWII. Every aviation nerd knows that

Never is bad word to use.

United Kingdom operational service.

Beyond Pointblank.

Post-World War II.

08-10-2018, 09:10 AM	#1
Photogoof Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,422	How the movies get it wrong Some time ago, I watched the truly terribly movie An American Haunting. The movie is set mostly around the year 1817. It's bracketed by modern-day events, and at the end of the movie, a character looks at a series of photos of her ancestors. Taken not long after the events in 1817. All of them smiling. Has anyone else seen a movie with such blatant disregard for photographic history? If so, what was it?

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08-10-2018, 09:19 AM	#2
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,126	1817 predates photographic portraiture by a couple of decades.

08-10-2018, 09:25 AM	#3
CDW Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Big Island, Hawaii & Utah Posts: 457	Historical and technical accuracy has never been of much concern with Hollywood script writers.

08-10-2018, 10:02 AM	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	As long as it doesn't take away from the story who cares? It's all about storytelling. The film was not billed as a documentary was it?

08-10-2018, 10:02 AM	#5
grog85361 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Phoenix Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 893	Don't let the facts interfere with a good story.

08-10-2018, 10:21 AM - 1 Like	#6
Photogoof Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,422 Original Poster	Yeah, but it was a terrible story. This was just one problem with it.

08-10-2018, 10:51 AM - 1 Like	#7
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	I'm all for the creative licence thing but similarly in Sci Fi movies I wish they would least pretend there is a vacuum in space.

08-10-2018, 12:05 PM	#8
gump Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,016	I recommend the Alan Alda movie SWEET LIBERTY for a funny look at what Hollywood does to history.

08-10-2018, 12:11 PM	#9
jgnfld Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,789	Originally posted by Photogoof Some time ago, I watched the truly terribly movie An American Haunting. The movie is set mostly around the year 1817. It's bracketed by modern-day events, and at the end of the movie, a character looks at a series of photos of her ancestors. Taken not long after the events in 1817. All of them smiling. Has anyone else seen a movie with such blatant disregard for photographic history? If so, what was it? Maybe they reversed the polarity on the pictures to improve resolution???

08-10-2018, 12:27 PM	#10
aitrus3 Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kamloops B.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,432	Movies written in haste with no research tend to be the worst. Unfortunately, most people don't know that portraits like that didn't exist in 1817 so to the majority of the public, it doesn't matter.

08-10-2018, 12:44 PM	#11
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,313	Many scientists wish that movies would break the laws of physics three times or less. We all have to live with disappointment. Sadly, ignorant people will insist something is true because they saw it in a movie.

08-10-2018, 01:11 PM	#12
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Movies are also very bad when it comes to firearms. One of the worst in this regard was Die Hard with the non-existent ceramic Glock 7. Die Hard 2 was even worse, but that is a long story. Saving Private Ryan was a good movie but two details spoil it. The opening scene with the bullets whizzing through the water. Looks good on screen but real bullets don't do that. The worst was the line about the P51 tankbusters! The P51 Mustang was never used for ground attack in WWII. Every aviation nerd knows that, but it was the only plane they could find to use in the movie. So they came up with that corny line. Regarding photography, there are more irritations. Why does any old SLR camera have to make a motor drive sound in movies? Even if it doesn't actually have one. How much film does the photographic hero go through with all that clicking going on? And why does he keep making wild adjustments to the focus?

08-10-2018, 01:28 PM - 2 Likes	#13
gifthorse Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Nevada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,945	Originally posted by Wasp Regarding photography, there are more irritations. Why does any old SLR camera have to make a motor drive sound in movies? Even if it doesn't actually have one. How much film does the photographic hero go through with all that clicking going on? And why does he keep making wild adjustments to the focus? I always fiddle with the focus (even with autofocus) and make motor drive sounds so that people think I'm a professional. Try this with an old 110 and nobody will get within 50 feet of you. I never get photobombed!

08-10-2018, 01:49 PM	#14
Photogoof Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,422 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wasp Why does any old SLR camera have to make a motor drive sound in movies? Even if it doesn't actually have one. How much film does the photographic hero go through with all that clicking going on? And why does he keep making wild adjustments to the focus? I was just thinking about that earlier. No motor drive, but it sounds like there is one. And Our Hero never runs out of film. Then there are the movies with extras who are supposed to be photojournalists, but don't know how to hold a camera. And don't even get me started on scenes where someone puts a photo in the developer, watches the image come up, then turns on the lights while it's still in the developer.

08-10-2018, 02:19 PM - 2 Likes	#15
alfa75ts Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Melbourne Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,356	Originally posted by Wasp The P51 Mustang was never used for ground attack in WWII. Every aviation nerd knows that Never is bad word to use. United Kingdom operational service. Beyond Pointblank. Post-World War II.