247. The War Movie Tropes that Won't Die with Rob Hutton & Duncan Weldon | Imperial War Museum Podcast Live Festival

Is Tom Hanks too old to storm Omaha Beach?Host Paul Bavill welcomes Rob Hutton and Duncan Weldon, hosts of the War Movie Theatre podcast, to kick off a series of previews for the Imperial War Museum’s (IWM) Podcast Live Festival. This week, they are raising the curtain on movies in a historical setting with a fierce debate on the one historical inaccuracy that Hollywood keeps getting away with.Rob and Duncan unleash their rage on the persistent and problematic trend in war cinema: the casting of much older actors as young combat soldiers in World War II movies.The Saving Private Ryan Problem: Discover exactly why Tom Hanks (mid-to-late 40s) as a Ranger Captain, and Matt Damon (27) as Private Ryan, were both fundamentally too old for their D-Day roles—in some cases by 20 years.The hosts argue that casting older actors fundamentally changes how we perceive the Second World War, overshadowing the reality that the fighting was overwhelmingly done by fresh-faced 19-year-olds.But is historical accuracy the real goal? The discussion turns to the industry's love for "whizzy ideas" and the notorious trope of a writer or director "struggling to get the green light"—and whether this pursuit of a marketable story is the real reason historical truth gets sacrificed for Hollywood blockbusters.Find out which TV series, like Band of Brothers, got the ages right, and whether Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk managed to break the mold.Plus, a fascinating discussion on how the youthful, risk-taking mindset applies not just to infantry and Luftwaffe pilots, but even to Formula 1 drivers.Don't miss this heated discussion!Listen to War Movie Theatre: Find Rob and Duncan’s podcast everywhere you get your podcasts and follow on all social media channels @warmovietheatreSee them Live: This episode previews the IWM Podcast Live Festival on the 1st of November. Be sure to grab your tickets for the live discussion on movies in a historical setting!Tickets available at: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/podcast-liveSupport History Rage: Love the show? Check the links for how to support Paul Bavill's podcast, including getting ad-free listening and the coveted History Rage mug.Subscribe at www.patreon.com/historyrage Follow History Rage on Social Media @historyrage  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.