The Monuments Men: Film Analysis

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The Monuments Men was released in 2014, is rated PG-13, and was directed by George Clooney. The movie begins with Frank Stokes convincing President Roosevelt that even when they win the war, if the artwork from throughout history is lost, the victory would not mean much. Roosevelt gives his approval, and Stokes begins to gather a team. He puts together a ragtag team of middle-aged art enthusiasts and curators to help save artwork from the Nazis. The film focuses on 7 Monuments Men and their journey throughout Europe to recover the essence of Western civilization. The movie was historically accurate mainly in the larger events; the director said 80% of this movie is factual. The Nero Decree by Hitler was factual, as well as the Monuments Men finding the artwork in the mine at Altaussee because of a dentist. While the causes of the deaths were not the same, it is true that only two Monuments Men died in combat (Donald Jeffries and Jean-Claude Clermont in the movie, Ronald Balfour and Captain Walter Huchthausen in history). …show more content…

The main characters in the movie were all made up characters, yet most were based loosely on historical figures. For example, George Clooney plays Frank Stokes, who is based on George Stout, the founder of the Monuments Men. Stout was an expert at art restoration and enlisted in the navy in 1943. Originally, the historic Monuments Men simply provided information to the Allies about areas and buildings they should not bomb in order to preserve art. Later, they began the more rigorous work of actually going out and rescuing the artwork. Stout was near the front lines of combat often, such as in Normandy, to be the first to protect the invaluable artwork they came

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