The movie Argo is based off of the story of six American workers escaping Iran during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. This movie relates mostly with 12 Years a Slave because while it is based on a primary source and real information, there is also some events that were dramatized and exaggerated to make the movie more interesting than just simply a documentary. It also relates to the movie Glory because while most of the information was accurate, some of the names were changed and small things like that, and some parts seemed to be tugging at an emotional side rather than telling the truth. Also, the movie was based off of the story of these people in the Iranian Hostage Crisis, but the movie seems to be focused more around the life and experience of Tony Mendez, the CIA agent. In total I think that the movie Argo was mostly accurate with some minor details that were changed or exaggerated in order to make it have more of a personal touch.
The beginning of the movie Argo begins by a narrator filling you in on the history in Iran, and the reasons for the tensions between the United States and Iran at the time. I knew the information being told in the beginning was accurate because it matches directly with what I read in my history text book about the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Both my history text book and the beginning of Argo reference the resentment of the Iranians towards the Shah due to his treatment, then that they overthrew the Shah, and then that the Shah came into the United States for cancer treatment. Due to the Iranian's anger with the United States for protecting and supporting him, they took 53 Americans hostage at their embassy in Tehran. The movie begins with accurate history about the event in order to set up the movie and inform the viewer of the history behind the film that is about to play. This relates to both 12 Years a Slave and Glory because it shows the reliance of a primary source and the involvement of true history in the movie.
Throughout the movie it shows bits and pieces of news broadcasts and discussions in the CIA that truly took place. It shows the presidential election taking place(which really was going on) on TV as well as discussing the turmoil in Iran. The movie also shows the people in the CIA debating how to get six Americans out of Iran that escaped and are staying in the Canadian Embassy in Tehran. I found that those discussions really did happen, and about the decisions they had to make after they decided on a plan. The movie accurately displays this process. I found in my research a quote from the former CIA chief os disguise that says,"Normally we make a cover that is very boring, very forgettable. But we couldn't go as teachers as the international schools were closed." This matches directly to a conversation that the CIA had in the movie. One of the options was pretending that they were teachers in order to get out, but it was decided that this was not plausible because the schools were closed. I also found something on the CIA website that discusses the worrying they had about public embarrassment if the Argo plan were to go wrong, which is also accurately displayed in the movie. This relates to 12 Years a Slave due to the very accurate dialogue and discussions in the movie.
While the background story and the discussions in the movie between CIA members were portrayed accurately through the movie, some of the scenes were added in order to create suspense and excitement within the person watching. For example, the airport scene was strongly embellished. In the movie the six Americans and Tony get held up by guards before their flight and questioned. The guards would not let them go until they were in contact with their "studio" in order to make them valid. Then the Hollywood men were not in the office to answer the phone and it was oh so dramatic. Also, as they were on the airplane, the Iranians figured out who they were and chased down the airplane to stop them, unsuccessfully of course. But no, even though this ending scene was very intense, none of it really happened. In reality they got an early flight so that the officials would be tired and there wouldn't be that many people, and despite a technical delay they passed through the airport with ease. Ben Affleck said that telling the true story about the airport would "feel a little clumsy and not very exciting." Which I think everyone could agree on. Although the movie was pretty accurate, there were some scenes like this one that added excitement to it. Just like there were scenes and dialogue in both 12 Years a Slave and Glory added in order to embellish and entrance the viewer.
Argo is no where near a documentary, but for the most part I would say that the history and facts behind the story are pretty accurate. There was a fake movie named Argo, the six people did have fake identities, there was much debate over the plan, Tony did get the Star of Intelligence.... and many other things in the movie were true too. The purposes of the movies Argo, 12 Years a Slave, and Glory are not to spit facts at you. These movies were created to tell a truth about American history as well as create a story line with it. Argo's events were based off of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the escaping of the six Americans but it also tied in emotional aspects with Tony and his personal life. Argo does a great job of portraying a crazy plan that tied in both the CIA and the movie industry in order to successfully get people out of the chaos of Tehran, and I also think the drama added in made the story even better. There is a difference between a documentary and a movie based off of history, which is obviously shown by all of these films. Although they missed some facts and embellished here and there, they did a great job of portraying American history through heart-wrenching stories.
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