MovieChat Forums > The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) Discussion > A factual error?

A factual error?

posted 15 years ago by PhillyGal
7 replies | jump to latest

I know Hollywood biopics routinely take liberties with the facts, but wouldn't they try to keep historical facts about the era correct? In the film, Francis and Eddie see President Taft. I had thought at that time Woodrow Wilson was president. From the film, the documentary in the DVD extras, and Wikipedia Francis Oimet was 20 years old when he won the U.S. Open in 1913. This means that the date of the championship had to be after May 8, 1913 which would have been his 20th birthday. Taft's last day in office was March 4, 1913. President Wilson was his successor thus making Wilson the current president at the time.

Dear Mr. Newman, Short people DO have a reason to live.

[–] jrat33 15 years ago

Yes, but just because he's not the current president doesn't mean he wouldn't be reffered to as "Mr. President"

[–] gerard-21 15 years ago

No factual error, they never said he was the sitting president. Ex-presidents are still addressed as Mr. President. The real factual error was that the playoff did not come down to the last hole as shown in the movie - Quimet actually beat Vardon by 5 shots.

[–] rasbrryswirl 15 years ago

I agree w/ the above posters. Nowadays, people still call former presidents "Mr. President." And I know I'd still be excited to see certain former presidents if they came to see me do what I'm good at.

Hell, as much as I dislike him, it it'd still be an event if Dubbya came to see something I was doing.

Sans toi, les émotions d'aujourd'hui ne seraient que la peau morte des émotions d'autrefois.

[–] bocat_ur_ma 14 years ago

In the film Ouimet uses a Vardon Flyer golf ball, but the book suggests that the use of that ball would have stoppped 10 years before.

bo ur ma!

[–] rhineline 14 years ago

The 1913 U.S. Open was moved to September that year to accomodate the schedules of Vardon and Ray. You are correct that Taft was no longer President but he was a huge golf fan and came to the Open that year after he had left office. As is the custom today, even ex-presidents are still referred to as President and their name. So President Taft did attend the early stages of the U.S. Open in 1913.

[–] ArchxStanton 12 years ago

PhillyGal? From filthadelphia are ya ? Lol. Thats quite a stretch of trying to find a factual error. Philly. Phwweblughhhgfhh

[–] kaliphornia_dreemin 9 years ago

How old are you, 8? Idiot.