Based on a True Story | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/based-true-story/RSS feed for Based on a True StoryenWed, 09 Sep 2026 17:10:33 +0000The Real Story Behind 'The Uprising' and the 1381 Peasants' Revolt, When Thousands Marched on London to Demand a Fairer Societyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-story-behind-the-uprising-and-the-1381-peasants-revolt-when-thousands-marched-on-london-to-demand-a-fairer-society-180989464/Paul Greengrass' new film stars Andrew Garfield as a fictionalized, unnamed farmer who leads a rebellion against unfair taxes and the system of serfdomWed, 09 Sep 2026 17:10:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-story-behind-the-uprising-and-the-1381-peasants-revolt-when-thousands-marched-on-london-to-demand-a-fairer-society-180989464/‘Rocky’ Is the Story of an Underdog, Created by an Underdog, That Has Spawned Box-Office Champions for Half a Centuryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/rocky-story-underdog-created-underdog-spawned-box-office-champions-half-century-180989274/Sylvester Stallone was a struggling actor when he was inspired by a real boxing match to write the film that became a legend. This year, the origin story of the franchise turns 50.Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/rocky-story-underdog-created-underdog-spawned-box-office-champions-half-century-180989274/We All Know the Story of the Pompeii Victims Who Died When Mount Vesuvius Erupted 2,000 Years Ago. Archaeologists Are Still Learning About Those Who Made It Out Alivehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/we-all-know-the-story-of-the-pompeii-victims-who-died-when-mount-vesuvius-erupted-2000-years-ago-archaeologists-are-still-learning-about-those-who-made-it-out-alive-180989207/A semi-fictionalized documentary series hosted by actor Tom Hiddleston follows three people in the ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum who experienced the disaster in 79 C.E.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:41:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/we-all-know-the-story-of-the-pompeii-victims-who-died-when-mount-vesuvius-erupted-2000-years-ago-archaeologists-are-still-learning-about-those-who-made-it-out-alive-180989207/Was There Ever an Original Version of 'The Odyssey,' and Do We Need to Worry About What Homer Would Think?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/was-there-ever-an-original-version-of-the-odyssey-and-do-we-need-to-worry-about-what-homer-would-think-180989143/The earliest surviving fragments of the epic poem—the subject of Christopher Nolan's latest Hollywood blockbuster—date back more than 2,000 years. But oral storytelling about a hero named Odysseus is much olderFri, 17 Jul 2026 18:40:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/was-there-ever-an-original-version-of-the-odyssey-and-do-we-need-to-worry-about-what-homer-would-think-180989143/