or


[07/23/12 - 08:25 AM]
"The Real Story" Season 4 Premieres This Sunday at 9pm on Smithsonian Channel
"Saving Private Ryan," "True Grit," "Apollo 13," "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" and "Braveheart" are among the films featured this season.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

BEHIND HOLLYWOOD'S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTERS THERE IS ALWAYS... THE REAL STORY SEASON FOUR PREMIERES SUNDAY, JULY 29 AT 9 PM ET/PT

Find Out True-Life Inspirations Behind Classic Films Saving Private Ryan, True Grit, Apollo 13, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Braveheart and Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World

New York, NY - July 23, 2012 - Brutal medieval warfare of epic proportion, a failed mission to the moon, an invincible warship, Omaha Beach on D-Day, UFO sightings, the real Wild West. These historic events have all inspired successful Hollywood hits but the facts didn't always make it to the silver screen. The Smithsonian Channel original series, THE REAL STORY, which debuts its fourth season on Sunday, July 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, separates fact from fiction and real life from reel life.

Kicking off the season is THE REAL STORY: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. In 1998, "Saving Private Ryan" captured audiences with its violent depiction of the horror that American troops faced on Omaha Beach. Under the direction of Steven Spielberg, the film's realistic portrayal of D-Day earned an Oscar for Best Picture. THE REAL STORY puts those action scenes to the test with experiments to see how accurate they really were. It also explores two family tragedies that inspired the movie: the Sullivans, who lost five brothers and led the military to create the Sole Survivor Rule; and the Nilands, whose four brothers from Tonawanda, New York inspired the fictional Ryan family.

Other THE REAL STORY episodes this season include:

THE REAL STORY: TRUE GRIT - Premieres Sunday, August 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

"True Grit" has the foundation of a typical Western - revenge, retribution and redemption. The story centers on the unlikely partnership between a 14 year-old girl and a one-eyed Deputy Marshal, who join forces to avenge her father's death. "True Grit" may be fiction but it's closer to truth than many imagine. THE REAL STORY shows how the character of Rooster was inspired by a gun-toting Deputy Marshal; introduces "Hanging Judge" Parker, who delighted in sending legions of men to the gallows; and leaves the viewer with no illusions about what really happened in the Wild West.

THE REAL STORY: APOLLO 13 - Premieres Sunday, August 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

It was nominated for nine academy awards and grossed 62 million dollars at the box office. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, "Apollo 13" told the story of America's ill-fated third mission to the moon in the summer of 1970. The film forever changed the way people relate to what has been called the most successful failure in the history of space exploration. Now, THE REAL STORY will reveal how closely Hollywood portrayed the extraordinary events that ensured the miraculous survival of the astronauts on Apollo 13.

THE REAL STORY: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND - Premieres Sunday, August 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

The worldwide phenomenon, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," landed in our cinemas over thirty years ago, lifting the lid on UFO sightings. As the biggest box office smash of 1977, it took a stab at answering the eternal question - are we alone in the universe? "Close Encounters" was a work of fiction, but the story was inspired by real people, real science and real-life witness testimonies. THE REAL STORY investigates the original cases that inspired the film, from the Michigan UFO chase to the first and most famous case of alien abduction in the US - the Betty and Barney Hill abduction.

THE REAL STORY: BRAVEHEART - Premieres Sunday, August 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning box office smash "Braveheart" tells the story of real-life Scottish rebel and freedom fighter William Wallace. The savage battle scenes and cast of thousands created a film of epic proportion, but ever since it was first shown historians have challenged the accuracy of the movie. Did William Wallace really live the life that "Braveheart" depicts? THE REAL STORY draws on medieval accounts and uses forensic evidence and weapons testing to build a picture of the real man and his times.

THE REAL STORY: MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD - Premieres Sunday, September 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Receiving 10 Oscar nominations, Master and Commander follows the exploits of Captain Jack Aubrey and his close friend, surgeon Stephen Maturin - two characters based on the 20-volume series of seafaring novels by Patrick O'Brian. Although these novels were supported by fact and meticulously researched, this $150 million film had to bend the historical framework for creative effect. THE REAL STORY reveals the extraordinary real-life story of Admiral Lord Cochran, the swashbuckling nobleman who inspired the classic movie of combat on the high seas.

ABOUT SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL

Smithsonian Channel is owned by Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution. Its programs are largely inspired by the assets of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex. Smithsonian Channel features award-winning original documentaries, series, and groundbreaking programs highlighting America's historical, cultural and scientific heritage. Smithsonian Channel brings the American experience home in high definition and Dolby Digital 5.1 and is available to customers of DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cablevision, Verizon, AT&T, and more. Learn more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.





  [july 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/25/24 - 02:49 PM]
Hallmark's Critically Acclaimed, Hit Series "The Way Home" Jumps Back Into the Pond When Season 3 Premieres January 2, Exclusively on Hallmark+
Season three picks up where season two left off - with Kat (Chyler Leigh) and her brother Jacob (Spencer Macpherson), who went missing more than two decades ago at the age of eight and is now an adult, poised to walk into the Landry home to an unsuspecting Del (Andie MacDowell).

[11/25/24 - 12:30 PM]
"The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" Returns This January for the Final Chapter
"The Final Chapter" offers a conclusion to Natalia's story as she strives for healing and resolution in her tumultuous journey filled with decades of unexpected twists and turns.

[11/25/24 - 12:00 PM]
Matthew Broderick and Son James Wilkie Broderick to Guest Star on CBS' "Elsbeth" in 2025
This will be the first time the father and son share the screen together.

[11/25/24 - 11:00 AM]
Peacock's "Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes" Exposes the Troubled Man Behind the Dark Myth Through Firsthand Recordings and Accounts from Some of the Women Who Knew Him Best
Collected from more than 25 hours of audio recordings - most of which have never been heard before - and including revealing interviews with his family, friends and wife, the series explores the dark forces that led Ramirez to become the infamous Night Stalker.

[11/25/24 - 10:32 AM]
Video: Tom Hanks Narrates an Extraordinary Journey - "The Americas" - NBC
Narrated by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks comes the extraordinary journey of Earth's great supercontinent.

[11/25/24 - 10:30 AM]
Epic Landmark Natural History Series "Asia" Set to Premiere Saturday, January 25 on BBC America and AMC+
Presented by renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough, the cinematic series explores each corner of this remarkable part of our planet and journeys through Asia's most stunning landscapes, uncovering stories of extraordinary unseen animal behavior.

[11/25/24 - 10:20 AM]
AMC Networks' Launches Inaugural "Celebrating Indigenous Stories" Collection on AMC+
Also included in the special collection, and as part of the company's "Future of Film" initiative, which partners with indie film festivals that feature emerging talent from historically excluded communities, is the company's first-ever "Indigenous Rising Stars" collection.

[11/25/24 - 09:02 AM]
MTV's "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" Rings in the New Year with All-New Episodes Starting Tuesday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT
MTV today announced the return of the popular docuseries, bringing viewers more drama, music, and the personal stories that keep fans hooked.

[11/25/24 - 09:00 AM]
Final Season of "Blue Bloods" to Conclude on Friday, Dec. 13 with Two Remaining Episodes
Amanda Kloots and Edward James Olmos will guest star in the final installments.

[11/25/24 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the First-Look Teaser for "Beast Games" Competition Series
The series is set to debut weekly on Thursday, December 19 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[11/25/24 - 08:00 AM]
Legendary Artist, Actor, Producer, Author and Entrepreneur Queen Latifah to Host "The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" to Be Broadcast Sunday, Dec. 22 on CBS
The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world.

[11/25/24 - 07:16 AM]
Stream Max Today for 70% Off
This limited time deal is available now through Monday, December 2 for both new and returning subscribers on Max.com, Apple, Google Play, Roku, Samsung, and Xumo, and for new Max customers only on Amazon Fire TV.

[11/25/24 - 07:05 AM]
2024 Billboard Music Awards to Air on December 12 in First-of-Its-Kind Multi-Platform Viewing Experience Across FOX, Paramount+ and Amazon's Fire TV Channels
Hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau, the 2024 BBMAs presented by Marriott Bonvoy airs on Thursday, December 12 at 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+, with performances also rolling out across Billboard.com, and via BBMAs and Billboard social channels.

[11/25/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Missing You" - Official Trailer - Netflix
What would you do if your ex disappeared and came back into your life after 11 years? Your next Harlan Coben New Year's Day watch is almost here.

[11/25/24 - 07:01 AM]
5&2 Studios Announces Theatrical Debut of "The Chosen: Last Supper" (Season 5) on March 27, 2025 and Unveils First Look Trailer
Later in 2025, the season will make its streaming debut.