Podcast · Film & TV

That's Not How It Went Down

by Lewis Howard & Elliot Fitzpatrick · English · Film & TV

*Winners of Best TV & Film Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards 2025 Many movies claim to be 'based on a true story', but how much truth actually makes it onto the silver screen? Whilst one of us queries the less believable moments from the film, the other takes a deep dive into the fact

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 2 minNew

'Donnie Brasco' (1997)

"Forget about it!"... or don't, as this week we're heading back to that fruitful pasture for gangster movies - New York's Five Families, AKA the mafia. With syndicated crime seemingly taking over the Big Apple by the end of the 1970s it was decided a sea change was necessary, leading to the FBI's infiltration of the Bonnano crime family and the mythologisation of one of New York's finest, Donnie Brasco. Whilst Don The Jeweller's real name (Joseph D. Pistone) was no secret once the story broke, there's no doubt that his pseudoynm has become known the world over for his daring exploits during…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E104 · 6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr
'Pressure' (2026)
Returning to the fertile fields of WWII cinema, we explore one of the more unique storylines of this era. The most common form of artistic translation into film today is probably from the good old fashioned book. But wind the clock back nearly a century and many stories for the silver screen were lifted directly from the stage and it's a path less commonly trod in the 21st century. The story of Lieutenant James Stagg's challenge to present key information to the Allied leadership in the build-up to D-Day regarding weather conditions in the English Channel and beyond, is the perfect scenario…
S1 · E103 · 29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'Anastasia' (1997)
The collection of animated movies that are "based on a true story" is perhaps unsurprisingly thin. Having already tackled several of these on our investigative journey through film so far a common theme has occurred: stories with much darker origins finding themselves rewritten and revised to suit the preferences of modern audiences - as well as their offspring. And so it would appear with 1997's NOT Disney musical animation, "Anastasia" - the magical story of a missing princess who manages to rediscover her regal roots on a journey to the past. But as with those movies alluded to above, a…
S1 · E102 · 22 Sep 2026 · 59 min
'The Iron Claw' (2023)
Having gotten up off the canvas over the strange motives behind A24's most recent ring-set movie, The Smashing Machine, we've mustered the stamina to dive head first into another world of yellow-tinted bleakness, this time exploring the misfortune of the Von Erich dynasty. WWE has had its fair share of unwanted stories surrounding its lack of support for its athletes during and after their time with the company, but wind the clock back half a century before it became the behemoth that it is, and it could be argued the world of sports entertainment came from a more pure place. But it still…
S1 · E101 · 15 Sep 2026 · 59 min
'Julie & Julia' (2009)
Bonjour et bienvenue dans That's Not How It Went Down. We will be your maître d's and for your aperitif today we will perusing the 2009 comedy biopic "Julie & Julia". Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the film before we get to the meat and bones of the episode. You can choose between the menus of renowned television cook - the French Chef herself - Julia Child, or the up and coming young talent from New York City, blogger and avid recipe-follower, Julie Powell. In the meantime, relax and unwind as we dissect your meal being careful to remove any faux pas the director may have…
S1 · E100 · 8 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
'The Last King of Scotland' (2006)
Some actors were born to play certain roles, but perhaps it's a bit of a shame if that role happens to be one of the worst dictators in human history. At least in Forest Whitaker's case, the performance bagged him some serious accolades. Standing opposite Whitaker was the fresh faced James McAvoy, playing a man increasingly out of his depth in Idi Amin's turbulent, bloody reign of Uganda. Based on a 'semi-fictionalised' book, it would be easy to assume many sequences from this film are the conjurings of a well-researched writer, but even the characters and moments that are confirmed somewhat…
S1 · E99 · 1 Sep 2026 · 59 min
'Chariots of Fire' (1981)
On your marks, get set... TRUTH! In this episode we're passing the baton to perhaps the most iconic British sports film of all. Turning the lives and times of two of Britain's most fabled Olympians into an award-winning movie was always going to be a high bar to clear with plenty of hurdles along the way, but with Chariots of Fire taking the USA by storm it found its way to the top of the podium to achieve Oscars immortality in 1982. Nevertheless, one has to wonder whether the filmmakers, in relaying the facts, made it to the finishing tape in one piece or if they just got off to a false…
S1 · E98 · 25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
'Yes Man' (2008)
"YES! Say it a million times. Then say it a million more. And the word you will have said two million times is...?" Saying 'yes' isn't always as easy as it might seem. But for a man who has previously played someone unable to tell a lie you might feel as though answering solely in the affirmative would be bit of a step down. Although the obligation of Fletcher Reede is entirely fictitious, the predicament of "Yes Man"'s Carl Allen actually finds its roots in historical fact. What began as an experiment in personal growth by a down-and-out radio producer very quickly evolved into a…
S1 · E97 · 18 Aug 2026 · 58 min
'Bronson' (2008)
After minor roles in Black Hawk Down, Layer Cake and RocknRolla, Tom Hardy made his biggest entrance to audiences when he beefed up for the role of Britain's most violent inmate. It's now hard to imagine anyone else in the role, but even though it launched his now stellar career, it arguably remains his most outlandish performance. But there is surely no other way to play a man who has lived almost his entire adult life in conditions and circumstances most of us would not want to spend a second in. And since so many of the stories from inside the prison system are under lock and key, it's…
S1 · E96 · 11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
'Scream' (1996)
What's your favourite scary movie? If it happens to be 1996's revival slasher horror, "Scream", then stick around because you just might be scared witless. Small-town America is something many of us film buffs would have grown up imagining and idolising. A paradise of charming neighbourhoods and family-filled streets. But what if the place you perceived to be the safest in the world was suddenly plunged into darkness in the midst of some of the worst crimes imaginable? That was the reality for the residents of Gainesville, Florida in 1990 just as students were preparing to return to college…
S1 · E95 · 4 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade' (1989)
Archaeology is the search for fact, as is the goal of this podcast. But facts can be hard to come by when dealing with something as genuinely legendary as the Holy Grail. The true magic of the best Indiana Jones moments, lies in the historical half-truths that resonate with us, whether we are believers or not in the faith they are attributed to. After unearthing some fascinating parallels in stories that may have inspired the film that kicked off this franchise, surely we would find similar origins here. After all, we do find ourselves in very similar circumstances against the backdrop of…
S1 · E94 · 28 Jul 2026 · 59 min
'Coach Carter' (2005)
This week we're dribbling at the prospect of another sports movie slam dunk. Basketball may be a relatively unknown sport where we come from, but across the pond its presence is undeniable with 170 million fans tuning in to follow their team. And that journey to the NBA begins at high school with around 50,000 students offered scholarships to attend university for their excellence on court. But in 1999 an unusual story emerged of a coach's refusal to let his students play unless their grades improved ensuring that, even without a scholarship, they could still move on to higher education. His…
S1 · E93 · 21 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
'Hidden Figures' (2016)
The history of space exploration is often dominated by men. Movies like "Apollo 13" and "First Man" - while captivating - seem to only show the perseverance of the male members of NASA, crucially omitting the thousands of hours of dedication from female mathematicians and engineers. But in 2015, a relatively unknown woman was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, highlighting an extraordinary career that began at the height of the Space Race in the 1950s and revealed to audiences a year later in the Oscar-nominated, "Hidden Figures". But this time it's our turn to check the…
S1 · E92 · 14 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
'Pride' (2014)
When it comes to the miners' strike of 1984/85, there isn't much positivity to be found. Families in communities solely reliant upon the income generated from the coal-mining industry were effectively starved into desperation as Margaret Thatcher's brutal tactics attempted to break the Unions. But as those standing up to the crisis had to find new ways to generate funds for their union members, a relationship based on mutual understanding and marginalisation formed between a group of gays and lesbians in London and a small town in South Wales. The fruits of the fruits of these labours were…
S1 · E91 · 7 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
'The Great Escape' (1963)
This week we're embodying the inimitable sense of British wartime spirit with a look at many people's all-time favourite war movie. Despite experiencing the harrowing conditions of near starvation inside POW camp Stalag Luft III, the unbreakable resilience of 600 men led to perhaps the most infamous prison escape in cinematic history. But with the events depicted undeniably embellished by Hollywood and featuring a whole host of dashing young American actors in leading roles did the filmmakers tip the scales too much in their quest for action and adventure? And, like the heroes of The Great…
S1 · E90 · 30 Jun 2026 · 1 hr
'Saving Mr. Banks' (2013)
We've said before that the story of how a legacy was created doesn't necessarily guarantee compelling viewing. But in this dramatised making of, we are partially spared the knowing winks and nods to the audience when dealing with the most famous elements. Partially... Where this movie soars is when it's telling the story of conflict between the stubborn, grouchy author who wants to keep her vision pure, and the equally stubborn visionary who wants to create pure magic. Did Walt Disney take P.L. Travers on a tour of Disneyland? Did she really not want red in the film? And do the Sherman…
S1 · E89 · 23 Jun 2026 · 1 hr
'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013)
Not many movies can claim to have restarted an actor's career with more success than 2013's biographical drama, "Dallas Buyers Club". With Matthew McConaughey formerly known as a romantic comedy lead it was something of a punt casting a heartthrob in the role of Ron Woodroof, a terminally ill electrician who begins his own quest to provide life-extending drugs to those who share his fate. Having discovered clear differences in the perception of Woodroof between the people that knew him versus the filmmakers themselves however, we decided to do some clandestine research of our own to uncover…
S1 · E88 · 16 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'The Revenant' (2015)
There are many films known for a single scene, but as the limits of what can be achieved on camera continue to be pushed into new territories, it's surely becoming harder and harder to use this as a marketing tool. But the "new DiCaprio film where he gets mauled by a bear" generated serious buzz before its release, and its reputation - much like Hugh Glass himself - has endured. But many may not know this gruesome event actually happened - and those that did, may have contributed to its retelling over the years and bear responsibility for its embellishment. Was Hugh Glass' son murdered? How…
S1 · E87 · 9 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'Quiz Show' (1994)
This time out we're inviting contestants into the hot seat and switching off the air conditioning as we attempt to uncover the mysteries behind the infamous 1950s quiz show scandal. With a brand new genre of TV entertainment came a shocking lack of regulation, allowing viewers to be swept up in the rags to riches stories of their favourite contestants, all the while unaware that what they were watching wasn't just being manipulated… it was downright scripted. Were the players on Twenty-One really given the answers? What made Herb Stempel go public with his accusations? And did he really…
S1 · E86 · 2 Jun 2026 · 42 min
BONUS: 'Gladiator' (2000)
The temptation to parody the speech we all know from this film as a blurb was tempting but would have been too obvious. What perhaps isn't as obvious, is quite how may historical figures made it into this absolute classic. Ancient Rome is an arena that rarely needs augmenting or embellishing, but it was done for this story by taking some archetypal characters and weaving them into a timeless revenge storyline. Did Commodus kill Marcus Aurelius? Did Lucilla conspire against her brother? And who was Maximus? Join us to find out on this bonus episode of That's Not How It Went Down! Subscribe…
S1 · E85 · 26 May 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'Memories of Murder' (2003)
After being recommended this film from many quarters, the time felt right to tackle one of the darkest subject matters when it comes to true stories - serial killings. But this being one of the first films of the visionary behind Parasite, it was always bound to have a certain amount of black comedy, though not as much as one would come to expect from more recent Bong Joon Ho films. As we approach the 25 year anniversary of the film's release, inevitably there will be gaps to fill in on the case explored in its story. Was anyone charged with these murders? How competent were the police…
S1 · E84 · 19 May 2026 · 1 hr
'Battle of the Sexes' (2017)
Thank you ladies and gentlemen, players are ready... to analyse 2017's sport/comedy/drama/docu movie of the now infamous "Battle of the Sexes". Although today finds tennis as one of the world's only major sports offering equal prize money between its male and female competitors, that doesn't mean that the journey to reaching parity was an easy one. And netting two of Hollywood's biggest stars to serve up spot on portrayals of Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is certainly to this film's advantage. But how true is the depiction of this landmark moment in women's sporting history? Did Billie…
S1 · E83 · 12 May 2026 · 1 hr
'Deepwater Horizon' (2016)
We return to the ocean this week and tackle our first true disaster movie. The oil spill from this tragedy still causes damage to this day, and even though we can probably all draw a basic picture of what an oil rig looks like, how much do we really know about how they work and what they do? Fortunately, that's not officially our job - but it was the job of many aboard this rig in the Gulf of Mexico and the failings that occurred were not solely down to bad luck. Why was this disaster not failsafe prevented? Who was really to blame? And does anyone care what BP think of the film?! Join us to…
S1 · E82 · 5 May 2026 · 59 min
'Heat' (1995)
The heat is on this week as we go undercover in LA. If you combine the talents of two of Hollywood's most legendary actors with an up and coming director then… WHADDYA GOT?! Potentially one of the greatest crime movies ever made. But is that where the story ends or is there more truth to discover about a band of renegade crooks and the stop-at-nothing cops on their tail? Perhaps the DVD extras on "Heat" will have the answers. Who is Vincent Hanna based on? Was there a real Neil McCauley? And did the bank job really go south so quickly?! Join us to find out on That's Not How It Went Down!…
S1 · E81 · 28 Apr 2026 · 1 hr
'Philomena' (2013)
It's borderline offensive that it's taken eighty episodes until we explore a film starring the legend that is Dame Judi, but not nearly as offensive as some of the wrongs suffered by the character she portrays. We don't have to work too hard to find a film exploring controversy involving the Catholic church, but this story only really came to light within the last quarter century and even now, people continue to struggle for answers and reparations. How did this corridor to bring Irish children to the US get established? When did her son first start looking for her? And what was the defining…
S1 · E80 · 21 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'The Warriors' (1979)
Today we're on home turf as we take to the streets in gangland New York. For a movie as colourful, comic book-esque and downright bizarre as 1979's "The Warriors" the idea that this could be based on true events feels like a step too far. But with the release of the director's cut in 2005 came a new opening scene revealing that this story isn't just inspired by the warring factions of NYC's various boroughs, but takes its story from a classic tale of endurance from ancient history. Was there really a conference of gangs in New York City? Was one group forced to fight their way back through…
S1 · E79 · 14 Apr 2026 · 54 min
'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006)
Is that all? Maybe not... Miranda Priestley's presence on various lists of the best movie villains may seem unconventional but it's safe to assume it wouldn't be the case were it not for the clout of Meryl Streep. And to a lesser extent, the rest of the cast have allowed this film to endure longer than many may have expected. But the fact the original story here was penned by someone who experienced a similar workplace culture in the world of fashion means much more of this villainy may have existed prior to Streep's ingenious touch. How demanding was this woman? Was Nigel her loyal…
S1 · E78 · 7 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
'Seabiscuit' (2003)
Could the world's greatest underdog story really be about… a horse? With the United States reeling from the hammer blow of the Great Depression, millions found themselves out of work and out of luck. But with the appearance in the mid-30s of an unusual steed with crooked legs and "baseball glove knees" the American public found the unlikeliest of heroes. Whilst Seabiscuit may not be considered the most natural racehorse of all time, his ability to dig in and come through in times of struggle catapulted him and his team to stardom at a time when people needed him most. And what of the…
S1 · E77 · 31 Mar 2026 · 58 min
'American Gangster' (2007)
After cementing his place in the action/thriller genre with an Oscar for his performance as the corrupt Alonzo Harris, Denzel Washington began a period of starring in an action film almost every year for the next decade and a half. Whilst always brilliant in whatever he does, there is one film from this collection that is held in a similar regard to 2001's Training Day, and it's probably unsurprising that it shares similar themes. As we found with Catch Me If You Can, stories that end with cooperation between a criminal and their pursuer can sometimes be exaggerated but so long as you stick…
S1 · E76 · 24 Mar 2026 · 59 min
'Marley & Me' (2008)
They say that a man's best friend is his dog. But surely a filmmaker's best bet is to avoid our four-legged pals. The danger of unpredictability, lack of potty training and a tendency to lean into the sentimentality of pet owning are surely all reasons to steer clear of a canine-centric picture. The challenge of movies like Turner & Hooch, Air Bud and Beethoven all providing evidence that you can't teach an old dog new tricks... but what about a new one? John Grogan's smash-hit memoir "Marley & Me", which spent an incredible 76 weeks on the bestseller chart telling the story of "the worst…

About That's Not How It Went Down

That's Not How It Went Down is a English film & tv podcast from Lewis Howard & Elliot Fitzpatrick. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Lewis Howard & Elliot Fitzpatrick
Language: English
Category: Film & TV
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1777420767
Rights: 2020 Recordings

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