Citizen Kane (1941)
Fictional: Charles Foster Kane
Real-Life: William Randolph Hearst
◄ IMDb Polls
Poll: Thinnest Veiled Real-Life Fictional Movie?
The industry term, cinema à clef, translates from French to English as "film with a key". The key being a listing that is used to swap out the names of real-life people with their movie character aliases. These stories depict a heavy dose of real life characters and true events, somewhat hidden behind the facade of fiction. However, sharp movie-goers will quickly discern who the fictional story really portrays in many cases. Thus, the end-of-the-film disclaimer stating "This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental." is very ironic. These quasi-biographical movies are never 100% accurate, but their thinly veiled stories mirror real-life historical details enough to blur the line that separates them from true story biopics that often also take liberties with details to enhance the dramatic effect of the story. Source: Wikipedia: Film à Clef Movies
Which of these select* fictional movies, that some claim a thinly veiled line exists between real-life and fiction, is the film à clef that least distinguishes between fact and fiction? * each movie answer option has the Fictional/Real-Life key listed
Make Your Choice
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Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Fictional: Ryan Brothers: Daniel, Peter, Sean and JamesReal-Life: Niland brothers: Edward, Preston, Robert, and Frederick aka "Fritz"
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Casino (1995)
Fictional: Sam "Ace" Rothstein, Nicholas "Nicky" Santor the Tangiers CasinoReal-Life: Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro and the Stardust Casino
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Fictional: Raoul Duke and Dr. GonzoReal-Life: Hunter S. Thompson and Oscar "Zeta" Fierro
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To Die For (1995)
Fictional: Suzanne Stone-Maretto, Larry Maretto and Jimmy EmmettReal-Life: Pamela Wojas-Smart, Greggory Smart and William Flynn
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Primary Colors (1998)
Fictional: Jack Stanton and Susan StantonReal-Life: William "Bill" Clinton and Hillary Clinton
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Dreamgirls (2006)
Fictional: The Dreamettes: Deena Jones, Effie White, Lorrell RobinsonReal-Life: The Supremes: Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson
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The Wave (2008)
Fictional: Rainer WengerReal-Life: William 'Ron' Jones
also The Wave (1981)
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Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
Fictional: Moses Randolph, Paul Randolph and Gabby HorowitzReal-Life: Robert Moses, Paul Moses and Jane Jacobs
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Almost Famous (2000)
Fictional: William MillerReal-Life: Cameron Crowe
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The Great Dictator (1940)
Fictional: Adenoid Hynkel and Benzino NapaloniReal-Life: Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini
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Rope (1948)
Fictional: Brandon Shaw and Phillip MorganReal-Life: Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb
also Compulsion (1959)
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All About Eve (1950)
Fictional: Margo Channing and Eve HarringtonReal-Life: Ruth Hirsch and Elizabeth Bergner
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Alpha Dog (2006)
Fictional: Jesse James Hollywood and Nicholas MarkowitzReal-Life: Johnny Truelove and Zack Mazursky
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8½ (1963)
Fictional: Guido AnselmiReal-Life: Federico Fellini
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21 (2008)
Fictional: Ben Campbell and Mickey RosaReal-Life: Jeff Ma and Bill Kaplan
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The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Fictional: Miranda PriestlyReal-Life: Anna Wintour
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Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Fictional: Brian GladeReal-Life: David Bowie
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Scarface (1932)
Fictional: Tony CamonteReal-Life: Alphonse "Scarface" Capone
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The Fabelmans (2022)
Fictional: Sammy Fabelman, Mitzi Fabelman, Burt Fabelman, Bennie Loewy and othersReal-Life: Steven Spielberg, Leah Adler-Spielberg, Arnold Spielberg, Bernard Adler and others
*added 13 February 2025
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Inherit the Wind (1960)
Fictional: Henry Drummond, Matthew Harrison Brady, Judge John T. Raulston, E. K. Hornbeck, Sara Brady, and Bertram T. CatesReal-Life: Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, Judge Merle Coffey Henry L. Mencken, Mary Baird Bryan, and John Scopes
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Last Days (2005)
Fictional: BlakeReal-Life: Kurt Cobain
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On the Road (2012)
Fictional Beat Movement Icons: Sal Paradise, Old Bull Lee, Carlo Marx, and Neal CassadyReal-Life Beat Movement Icons: Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Dean Moriarty
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Stillwater (2021)
Fictional: Bill Baker and Allison BakerReal-Life: Curt Knox and Amanda Knox
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Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Fictional: Henri VerdouxReal-Life: Henri Désiré Landru.
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All That Jazz (1979)
Fictional: Joseph "Joe" GideonReal-Life: Robert "Bob" Fosse
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All the King's Men (1949)
Fictional: Willie 'The Boss' StarkReal-Life: Huey 'The Kingfish' Long, Jr.
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Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Fictional: J.J. HunseckerReal-Life: Walter Winchell
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White Hunter Black Heart (1990)
Fictional: John Wilson, Pete Verrill, Paul Landers, Katherine "Kay" Gibson, Philip "Phil" Duncan, Boat: The African Trader, and Movie: The African TraitorReal-Life: John Huston, Peter Viertel Samuel "Sam" Spiegel. Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, Boat: The African Queen and Movie: The African Queen
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Z (1969)
Fictional: The Examining Magistrate, The Deputy (Z), and The GeneralReal-Life: Christos Sartzetakis, Grigoris Lambrakis and Konstantinos Mitsou
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A Star Is Born (1937)
Fictional: Vicki Lester and her husband, Norman MaineReal-Life: Barbara Stanwyck and her husband, Frank Fay
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The Last Tycoon (1976)
Fictional: Monroe StahrReal-Life: Irving Thalberg
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The Rose (1979)
Fictional: Mary Rose FosterReal-Life: Janis "Pearl" Joplin
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The Greek Tycoon (1978)
Fictional: Theodore "Theo" Tomasis, Elizabeth "Liz" CassidyReal-Life: Aristotle "Ari" Onassis, Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy-Onassis
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The Last Samurai (2003)
Another Film à Clef Not Listed(pictured example) Fictional: Captain Nathan Algren, Real-Life: Captain Jules Brunet
