Reference guides for Film and TV

[Tarbicus]

As for accuracy, the lack of authentic Roman uniforms and other costumes did not stop this film being the most successful Biblical epic of all time.

Absolutely nothing to do with the costume design, I'm 100% certain.

As David Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton) said on why he wore the Raccoon hat in 'The Alamo', "people expect things". That film too was more accurate than the John Wayne version and it was especially interesting to hear the DVD commentary by two historians which basically agreed with everything shown on the screen, but the film bombed probably because the audience wanted to see Crockett die with flaming torch in hand not killed by an execution squad, Travis breaking his sword across his knee in an heroic gesture defiance not shot early on in the battle and Bowie bedridden with his wounds not dying of consumption. 'People expect things'.

I saw that film a while ago and thought it good, but not brilliant. 'People expect things' is a 'half' truth. Remember when Excalibur was first released? Everyone, including me, was blown away by the completely different vision of Arthur and his knights, in super-gleaming armour, etc. Forget the history, but it was a fresh take on the subject matter and did well for it. In fact Excalibur is one of the reasons I roll my eyes when I hear the reason filmmakers dislike shiny armour is because of reflections, thinking of that film and how it was handled so well. If films were made only with people expecting things in mind, then we'd have never seen Apocalypse Now, The French Connection, The Exorcist, Alien, Star Wars, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Boston Strangler, Psycho or The Birds, Citizen Kane, Paths of Glory, Metropolis, Amadeus, Touch of Evil, Life of Brian, or even Die Hard; all those films that had everyone who'd seen one saying afterwards "I never expected that!"

In a way, The Alamo seemed a safe bet, and perhaps that was the problem all along. The public only know what they don't like, but don't know what they like until they've seen it.