Who congratulated Louis Zamperini?
Adolf Hitler
At the Berlin Olympics, Zamperini finished eighth in the 5000-meter race, but ran the fastest final lap of all the competitors in an unprecedented 56 seconds. His final push even grabbed the attention of Adolf Hitler who personally congratulated Zamperini after the race.
Is Unbroken a true war story?
Yes, Unbroken is based on true events. Zamperini, who died in 2014 at age 97, was a very real person, and the film tells the true story of his capture and perseverance as a prisoner of war.
Who else was on the raft with Louis Zamperini?
Sharing a life raft, Lieutenant Zamperini and two other crash survivors — the co-pilot, Second Lt. Russell Phillips, and the tail gunner, Sgt. Francis McNamara — fought off hunger, thirst, heat, storms and sharks while trying to avoid being shot by Japanese planes.
Did Laura Hillenbrand interview with Louis Zamperini?
Having written her book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, over seven years of extensive research – including 75 phone interviews with Zamperini – Hillenbrand was called on to act as a consultant on the film.
How many days did Mac survive?
When his B-24 bomber crashed into the sea on May 27, 1943, only three men survived: Louie, his pilot Russell Allen “Phil” Phillips, and tail gunner Francis “Mac” McNamara. Over the next 46 days, they struggled to survive in two small, inflatable rafts while drifting across miles and miles of water.
How did Laura Hillenbrand know Louis Zamperini?
“The way I found Louie was through Seabiscuit,” Hillenbrand said in 2012. “When I was researching Seabiscuit, I was perusing a lot of 1930s newspapers – that’s what I like to do, read the whole newspaper.” Hillenbrand said that she had noted Zamperini’s name in the old news coverage and decided to keep him in mind.
Did the actors in Unbroken have to lose weight?
They drifted — without food, water or shelter — for 47 days before being captured by the Japanese. Here his living hell began, as he was starved and tortured. For his role, O’Connell had to lose some 22 pounds. “It was definitely difficult, but for the right reasons.