Based on a True Story?

[deleted]

I would say that the story is based on fact, but is overall a fictionalized story based on historical events.

It's not a "mess up" on the account of anybody. It's just "artistic license".

First of all, this film obviously takes place in the late Victorian era, what looks to me like the 1880's or 1890's. Kellogg would have been in his 40's, 50's at the latest in these days. We also see flashbacks involving his misfit adopted son (Dana Carvey's carachter) in what would have been 15, 20 years earlier. Kellogg is shown in these flashbacks as younger, but still nearing middle age.

During the main action of the film, Kellogg is depicted as quite a health nut, but still in middle age, and though not quite to the twilight of his life, still coming on in years, when in fact, he wouldn't have been quite as old as he was shown, especially considering that flashback segments that were meant to take place 15-20 years prior to the main action of the film, still show him as a maturing adult rather than an adult in his prime.

Now, the fact that Hopkins, who was in his late 50's at the time, is playing the part and that it need not totally depict total accuracy in such aspects, even if the film was supposed to be a narrative of actual events, wouldn't be a major transgression of film making.

I can't find any resources that say anything about Kellogg dieing mid-dive into a lake, I do know that he wasn't "three score plus ten years old" as Hopkins states just before taking the dive in the closing montage. In fact, Kellogg lived to be 92 years old.

I think the movie is a clever narrative, mostly fictionalized, that makes use of actual events and themes that were common in the 19th century. Yes, John Kellogg was a real person, yes, he had a Sanitarium at Battle Creek that had well-meaning ideas of mental and physical health (some of which were quite helpful, and probably just as many that were crackpot ideas, as was shown in the film) and he really did have a lot of competitors in the commercial breakfast cereal business, and his brother really was one of them, and yes, Dr. Kellogg really was a 7th Day Adventist for much of his life (though he did abandon the church later in life, in fact not long after the time that the film would have taken place).

But did a man who partnered with a snake-oil salesman and Kellogg's adopted son to make another competing breakfast cereal in Battle Creek ultimately end up making a popular cola drink in the early 20th century? Probably not.

Was there ever any such people as William and Elenor Lightbody? Probably not.

Was the Battle Creek Sanitarium burned to the ground by Dr. Kellogg's nutty adopted son? Probably not.

Was there really a Dr. Lionel Badger or Dr. Spitzvogel? Probably not.

Other than Kellogg and some of the other verifiable characters that he makes reference to in the opening sequence with the reporters, I think all of the characters are entirely fictional, and simply represent historical themes from the era that help contribute to a humorous and interesting narrative.

So whereas the major plot lines that take place in the movie may have never actually happened, they are based on real events and historical themes.

Twelve years since my original reply! Here is to another 12 years of health and happiness...Hopefully in another 12 years I can make another post just as this!

A great deal of this story is true. The movie is based on a book of the same name which is more factual and less fanciful. However, much of what we see on the screen reflects the attitudes of the times, especially toward eating and sex. The references to masturbation and sexual toys represent the attitudes of that day.

I love this film because of the look and feel of it. It so accurately portrays the sites and sounds of the time it takes place in. The acting is excellent, although a bit over the top, and there are many good laughs, provided one is able to see the subtle truths underlying the parody.

Mike Presman

So your saying that the Titanic wasn't real? Because if you are your sadly mistaken, my Great Uncle died on that thing. However, if you meant the characters in the movie, then that I understand.

No, this movie is an adaptation of a book conjured solely out of the imagination of one T.C. Boyle. True, it's historical fiction, but like his other works in that genre, Boyle has taken a fair amount of liberties. If you haven't read it, and enjoyed the movie, I highly suggest checking it out. Once you're finished you'll be obsessed and want to read everything else the man has ever written. I'd also suggest "Water Music" and "Budding Prospects," both of which would also make excellent movies, in my opinion.

The most inacurate thing about this story is that "John Harvey Kellog" (who was chief doctor at the "health farm")did not invent breakfast cerials, his younger brother "William kellog" did. He was the manager/book keeper of the "health farm", and went on to establish the Kellog's company. he does not seem to be in the story at all.

Green Sickness is a common name for a form of anemia, not what anyone above posted, though those are common misconceptions/myths
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorosis_(medicine)