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The CIA is setting the record straight.
To mark the 35th anniversary of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, the Central Intelligence Agency posted a series of tweets Friday that playfully called to light several inaccuracies in the 2012 Oscar-winning film Argo.
See more How the CIA Fooled Hollywood With Fake ‘Argo’ Movie
For example (spoiler alert!), the film’s climax involves shredded documents being reassembled to reveal a face of an American, leading to a thrilling chase as the plane manages to barely take off in time.
In reality, “skilled carpet weavers did reconstruct shredded documents, but they didn’t reveal one of the Americans at the last moment.” And what about that dash down the runway? No dice. “There was an hour-long mechanical delay; other than that, the escape could not have gone better. #nochase.”
Watch more Ben Affleck Slams Bill Maher for “Racist,” “Ugly” Views in Heated Islam Debate
Earlier in the film, the Americans are shown getting detained in the airport, with a call being made to the fake movie studio to verify their identities. In real life, no one was detained, as a particularly early flight was chosen so Iranian Revolutionary Guards would be asleep.
Other differences involve where the Americans lived after the embassy is overtaken, and how the the plane tickets were secured. However, the CIA makes a point in its tweets of thanking Argo director Ben Affleck for making a film that portrayed everyone involved in the operation as “innovative, brave and creative.”
Other differences between the “reel” and “real” versions can be seen in the tweets below. Sadly, there was no official word on how the CIA feels about Batfleck.
Reel #Argo: When the US Embassy is overtaken the 6 US diplomats go right to the Canadian ambassador’s residence to live for the 3 months.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: 5 of them went to many different places until they ended up at the homes of the Canadian Ambassador & the Dep. Chief of Mission.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: 1 American slept on the floor of the Swedish embassy before making his way to the Canadian Ambassador’s home after 2 weeks.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Reel #Argo: Airline tickets are not waiting at the counter and have to be rechecked before the tickets are authorized and confirmed.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: The Canadians had already purchased the tickets for the Americans. There were no issues at the counter nor the checkpoints.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Reel #Argo: The Americans are detained at the airport by security guards & a call is made back to “Studio Six” to verify their identity.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: It didn’t happen. An early flight was picked so airline officials would be sleepy & Revolutionary Guards would still be in bed.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Reel #Argo: Shredded documents are pieced together to reveal the face of one of the Americans & the plane is chased down the runway.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: Skilled carpet weavers did reconstruct shredded documents, but they didn’t reveal one of the Americans at the last moment.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: There was an hour long mechanical delay, other than that the escape could not have gone better. #nochase pic.twitter.com/a0TnVeBgBt
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Reel #Argo: The plane clears Iranian air space and the Americans cheer and celebrate.
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Real #Argo: That happened; there was even a round of celebratory Bloody Marys. #ThankYouCanada
— CIA (@CIA) November 7, 2014
Email: Ryan.Gajewski@pgmedia.org
Twitter: @_RyanGajewski
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