Movies Based On Real Life: Cool Runnings
- 10 years ago
While "Cool Runnings" is revered as one of Disney's best feel-good sports movies, it's also based on one of the Olympics must interesting stories; the debut of the Jamaican bobsled team. Yet the surprising fact here is that much of the movie is actually more the result of creative license as some of its most memorable scenes didn't happen. For one, the Jamaican team was not treated as outcasts, they were warmly welcomed and the team wasn't comprised of athletes as depicted but soldiers from the Jamaican army.
The most interesting difference though was the portrayal of George Fisk, who co-founded the team and was portrayed by John Candy in the film. In reality Fitch wasn't a disgraced drunk, but the Commercial Attaché for the American embassy in Kingston from 1985-86 who was inspired to put together a team after seeing a local pushcart derby.
That's Hollywood.
The most interesting difference though was the portrayal of George Fisk, who co-founded the team and was portrayed by John Candy in the film. In reality Fitch wasn't a disgraced drunk, but the Commercial Attaché for the American embassy in Kingston from 1985-86 who was inspired to put together a team after seeing a local pushcart derby.
That's Hollywood.