The Most Historically Accurate Hollywood Films

A Replica City

Scorsese wanted to make sure the set design was perfect, so he commissioned a huge replica of New York City to be built on location in Italy. The backdrop for the gang of Irish immigrants has been hailed as one of the best set designs ever. Historian Tyler Anbinder has said, "They couldn't have been much better."

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The More You Know

  • Woolly mammoths were still alive when the pyramids were built.
  • Spartans bathed their newborn babies in red wine instead of warm water.
  • The first-ever animated film to be nominated for Best Picture was Beauty and the Beast in 1981
  • Executive producer of Toy Story and Chief Pixar shareholder Steve Jobs picked Bob Dylan as his first choice to write and perform the soundtrack to the film over Randy Newman.
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