Historical Inspiration
The film bears some resemblance to the experiences of former U.S. Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady, who was shot down over Bosnia on June 2, 1995. He managed to survive for six days before being rescued. He reportedly filed suit against the film's producers for defamation of character, as well as making a film about his ordeal without his permission. However, the film's characters and events are almost entirely fictional. O'Grady never entered populated areas, nor did he interact with civilians. Also, O'Grady never flew an F/A-18F (which wasn't in service in 1995) but rather an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Read more about this topic: Behind Enemy Lines (2001 film)
Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or inspiration:
“After so many historical illustrations of the evil effects of abandoning the policy of protection for that of a revenue tariff, we are again confronted by the suggestion that the principle of protection shall be eliminated from our tariff legislation. Have we not had enough of such experiments?”
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“Shakespeare carries us to such a lofty strain of intelligent activity, as to suggest a wealth which beggars his own; and we then feel that the splendid works which he has created, and which in other hours we extol as a sort of self-existent poetry, take no stronger hold of real nature than the shadow of a passing traveller on the rock. The inspiration which uttered itself in Hamlet and Lear could utter things as good from day to day, for ever.”
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