History vs Hollywood is about discussing what is true and false when creating movies about the past.

I personally couldn’t get into this book and did not enjoy it.

However, I would recommend this book to any history reader and movie lover.

History vs Hollywood is a fascinating journey through the movie industry's treatment of the facts in its pursuit of the next historical blockbuster. From Spartacus to Bonnie & Clyde, The Longest Day to Cleopatra, the cinema has played fast and loose with the facts of history. Yet historical films continue to draw big crowds, win awards and fascinate the public -- nevermind accuracy. M. J. Trow sets the record straight in a light, easy-to-read book that I found particularly interesting in regard to the movies of the first and second World Wars, but as a history buff, I must say the entire book was engaging. Far more than a dry reference book, the reader can enjoy the author's dry sense of humor and the sense of the inevitablity of the movie process and it's ongoing mission to make our history and heritage better, more visual, more memorable or perhaps more interesting than it might have actually been. A great read for anyone who loves film, history or just wants to take a literary stroll though some of Hollywoods best -- and worst -- efforts.

My thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword publishers for a copy of “History vs Hollywood”

This was an ideal choice for me as I love reading books about cinema and I’m really interested in history.
This was a really informative and entertaining read and I think it was written and researched very well.
I wasn’t surprised because I’m a big fan of the variety of Pen and Sword publications.
Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

History v Hollywood is a fascinating account comparing the delights and inconsistencies between history and the big screen.

Well-written and an interesting account. Recommended.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book that examined different historical themed films over time. It was well written and accessible to audiences regardless of their historical knowledge or their knowledge and understanding of film. It is organised coherently in historical chronology theme (beginning with films set in the ancient world and finishing with films set during the modern historical period).
It covers the film, its themes and some of the issues of concern in a general, straightforward manner. I was hoping for more of a deep dive examination of films, with a detailed examination of some of the inaccuracies. However, I think audiences will be pleased with the great cross-section of themes and contents covered in this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

This was a very interesting to read to learn about the fact vs fiction in Hollywood and see how sometimes they have got it right or very incorrect!

I’ve looked for years for a book about historical inaccuracies in historical films. I still haven’t found the one I’m looking for. This book was too overstuffed. Because there were so many films considered, I never felt any of them were really adequately examined. And, I never got a handle on the author’s opinion about historical accuracy (or inaccuracy) in film. He approves of some films which I know for a fact were riddled with inaccuracies, and dislikes others which were more accurate. Maybe the problem was with me personally (I have extremely strong opinions about historical accuracy in films), but I found this book to be too frustrating to be enjoyable.

The book presents the phenomenon of adaptation of historical events and characters to the screen for more than 100 years, which led to the creation of thousands of films covering the entire human history. It asks some funny questions about the truth of these depictions – were prehistoric women really like Raquel Welch in her fur bikini from One Million Years B.C.? Although the author admits the right to artistic freedom, she notes that Hollywood does not always do an excellent job of translating the depth of historical realities and personages into two hours of film.

Illustrations are given of miscast actors such as Charlton Heston, who is too tall to portray General Charles Gordon authentically, and Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who are too glamorized compared to the real-life Bonnie and Clyde outlaws. The passage recognizes that any attempt by condensers to summarize critical events into palatable narratives for the masses invariably oversimplifies history’s complex details.

However, though the author is willing to admit that Hollywood tends to engage in selective and distorted historical storytelling, generations of moviegoers have been gripped and captivated by the power of cinema to conjure up the past. Therefore, although the typical historical blockbuster should be distinct from high-fidelity history, Hollywood should be given some credit for the ability to captivate historical environments and people for millions of viewers worldwide.

Overall, this is a sober reflection of the fundamental limitations of historical films made in Hollywood while also recognizing their lasting appeal as entertainment and their impact on culture. The prose has a tone of amusement and insight to analyze this tension between historical truth and dramatized interpretation and imagination on-screen.

Thank you to Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I didn't love this one but I also didn't hate this one. However I'm not sure how I feel about this one.

What a unique book! I love Hollywood themed books and acquiring them for our readers and to see this really cool one which combines history with Hollywood is so very cool! Readers are going to love this! I know I do!