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Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are coming out with a study about how people who watch historical movies remember them better than if they’d read a historical textbook. Which may sound hunky-dory…until you add in something called creative license. Hollywood blockbuster movies, even those based on actual historic events, can sometimes play around with the details. Just a smidge, of course. Only kids and movie makers can get away with such things. The researchers point out this example (among others): In the 2000 movie Tombstone, Doc Holliday kills Johnny Ringo. In reality, they say, he was in a courtroom with witnesses that day, making this event…well, a movie boo-boo. Apparently Ringo committed suicide IRL. True confession: Here at Chez Polka Dot, we like historical movies. Check out my Netflix list … Read entire article »