It’s a story of faith, standing up for what you believe, grit, compassion, and serving one’s nation. The Hacksaw Ridge movie released in 2016 remains a modern war drama classic directed by Mel Gibson. It stars Andrew Garfield as Private Desmond T. Doss. If you haven’t seen the film just yet, be sure to stop reading now because we have plenty of spoilers ahead. Below, we’re taking a closer look at what the movie got wrong in its pursuit of a story.
Is the Movie Hacksaw Ridge a True Story?
While the Hacksaw Ridge movie we all know and love is a true story, several inaccuracies accompany the film.
This is far from surprising as Hollywood is known for taking some creative liberties in order to tell a good story. From an entertainment standpoint, most viewers are thankful.
However, the truth matters, and the story of what really happened is important to keep in perspective.
If you’re looking to learn more about some of the facts surrounding Desmond Doss, be sure to click the link. Continue below to find out more about some things the film got wrong.
How True Is the Movie Hacksaw Ridge?
If you compare the Hacksaw Ridge movie with the true story, you’re going to find a few inaccuracies between the two. However, the film largely sticks to the events that unfolded during World War II.
Maintaining historical accuracy was an intentional decision by the filmmakers to deliver an authentic story. But, there are still times in which some details were shuffled around a bit so that the end result is still entertaining.
Speaking on this process, director Bill Mechanic mentioned in an interview with PEOPLE Magazine that he and Mel Gibson, “…were very accurate with Desmond and what happened to him. (However,) we were not accurate on some of the details around it. If you’re a slave to the complete facts, then you’re not making a movie that is compelling.”
These are a few areas when the true story of Hacksaw Ridge took a backseat to the needs of the movie:
Misrepresented Military Facts
The minor details of military life aren’t as cut and dry to the civilian world as they are within the military community itself.
For example, you’re likely going to see the word “Soldier” used broadly outside of the military by civilians to generally describe any troop. It’s not just those serving in the Army.
So, when you have a bit of oversight on a movie, it’s understandable that there are bigger issues than smaller flubs related to the wrong procedure or uniform:
- Doss is in uniform with the others on his way to basic training. However, they would have been in civilian clothes at this time. Also, everyone is missing the right haircut, a clear oversight to Army barbers everywhere.
- Although Harold Doss is a Sailor in the Navy, he is shown wearing an Army uniform when sitting at the kitchen table.
- Two Soldiers communicate in the heat of battle but one is using a BC-611 Handie Talkie. The other is using an SCR-300 backpack. However, the AM and FM frequencies both use wouldn’t allow for this to work.
On Preventing His Court Martial
A cornerstone of the Hacksaw Ridge movie and true story revolves around Desmond’s lack of willingness to kill because of his faith.
The fact that Desmond refused to touch a gun obviously didn’t sit well with those in the Army. Thus, being court-martialed was a real threat.
In the movie, his father, Tom Doss gets in touch with his former CO. He prevents the court martial after writing a letter.
In actuality, his father ended up getting in touch with Carlyle B. Haynes, a major Seventh-day Adventist evangelist and figure within the church.
Haynes ended up calling Col. Stephen S. Hamilton to inquire about a possible investigation into the incident involving Desmond but Hamilton told him it wouldn’t be necessary.
Although there was still a waiting period for Doss, he did receive a 3-day pass. He made it in time to see his brother before he went overseas with the Navy.
On Being Shot by a Sniper
The Battle of Okinawa was brutal in every way imaginable but when it comes to Desmond being shot by a sniper, this is a time when the Hacksaw Ridge moviemakers decided to scale back,
While being carried back and struck by a grenade, Doss also had to deal with being hit by a Japanese sniper.
He was actually being rescued by fellow Soldier Ralph Baker and others when he decided to give up his stretcher to another badly wounded fighter. This is when he was struck by a sniper and was forced to crawl 300 yards to safety.
Desmond’s Relationship With Dorothy Schutte
Finally, while Desmond would meet his wife Dorothy Schutte, she wasn’t a nurse at the time. She didn’t become one until after the war to support their family.
Sadly, the brutal toll of war on Desmond’s body left him with plenty of disabilities. This would lead to Dorothy pursuing a nursing degree.
It’s also worth noting that they were married on August 17, 1942, before Doss went on active duty. They didn’t almost miss their wedding day for being denied a pass or being detained.
These creative differences aside, the Hacksaw Ridge movie remains an inspiring one that stays true to its roots while maintaining its entertainment value.
Suggested reads:
- Medal of Honor Recipients Could Receive $100,000 per Year
- Hidden History: The Search for WWII Remains From Secret Missions
- Desmond Doss Saved Over 75 Lives All While Refusing To Carry a Gun
