Well, worry not, because we have the answers. atcb_action( { Secrets held for decades in the clandestine realms of the CIA are now being surfaced on the big screen.Actor and director Ben Affleck stopped by msnbc Wednesday, Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace. The concept art was created by world famous comic book artist Jack Kirby. A monthly digest of the top articles read by FP subscribers. New Zealand diplomats organized a place for the diplomats to hide if they needed to change their location,[46] and drove the Americans to the airport when they made their escape from Tehran. Although it is not shown in the film (likely to avoid confusion and to sustain believability), the actual Swissair plane that the Americans flew out on had the name "Argau" lettered on its nose. }. "Yahoo" Outnumbered 100-to-1, one operative paid the ultimate price. ", Tony kept in close contact with Chambers, who advised him as he developed the cover story that involved the six Americans leaving Iran as part of a movie production company that had been scouting shooting locations in the country. But how can such a plan work when domestic politics on both sides seem in favor of tougher rhetoric and policy? { (11) 29min 2012 ALL. [26] University of Michigan history professor Juan Cole had a similar assessment, writing that the film's narrative fails to provide adequate historical context for the events it portrays, and such errors of omission lead all of the Iranian characters in the film to be depicted as ethnic stereotypes. ] "iCal", "Outlook.com", The six diplomats were given different roles in Mendez's crew. "timeZone": "America/New_York", With its good fighters out of the picture, Russias manpower problems get worse. ct a primary geopolitical concern. In reality, the group of five (Lee Schatz joined the Lijeks and Bob Anders about ten days later) was split between the Taylor house and the home of another Canadian official. The latest news, analysis, and data from the country each week. "I thought if I could even execute in abasicway on this, this would be the best thing that I've ever done so far," Affleck said on Morning Joe. The real Bob Anders, Mark Lijek, It does not mean to diminish anyone. } ); But more recently, an alternative school of thought has become popular: China has already peaked. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. And the movie gives almost full credit to the American CIA. "[36], After the film was previewed at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival,[37] many critics said that it unfairly glorified the CIA's role and minimized the Canadian government's role (particularly that of Ambassador Taylor) in the extraction operation. Posing as a producer for Argo, Mendez enters Iran under the alias Kevin Harkins and meets with the six escapees. "[48], The then-British charg d'affaires in Tehran said that, had the Americans been discovered in the British embassy, "I can assure you we'd all have been for the high jump. -CIA.gov, No. -CIA.gov Ben Affleck heard this criticism, and made a point tochange in the language of a note in the post-script credits, per The Toronto Star, to better reflect reality. Argo (2012) - Turner Classic Movies }, button ) "And no one's saying I got snubbed there! Explore the benefits included in your subscription. Delivered Thursday. [4], In 2007, the producers George Clooney, Grant Heslov and David Klawans set up a project based on the article. Various pieces of concept art for the film still exist today and have appeared on display in spy related exhibits around the US. IE 11 is not supported. The CIAs maps also showed the incorrect location of the Canadian Embassy, where the agents were supposed to meet their Canadian contacts. In a CNN interview, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter addressed the controversy: 90% of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian. It also celebrated Islam to a certain degree. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. "[48] Martin Williams, secretary to Sir John Graham in Iran at the time, was the one who found the Americans, after searching for them in his own British car (the only Austin Maxi in Iran) and first sheltered them in his own house. "It's not true we could never go outside. A member of the House select committee on China, Khanna says Washington needs to rebalance its economic relationship with Beijing. When interviewed about the real story, John Sheardown's wife Zena recalls a helicopter hovering over their home for quite a bit of time, which caused significant concern, believing that the Iranians had found out and were looking for their home. [28] The film also ignores the importance of the date of the Embassy takeover. Mendez and his team began by looking for black smuggling routes out of Iran, even studying billionaire Ross Perots successful exfiltration of two of his employees from Iran the year before. The refugees dressed with Hollywood flair and sauntered through the airport, each having been drilled on the dates and details of their legend. One wore a mod blow dry tight trousers with no pockets and a blue silk shirt unbuttoned down the front with his chest hair cradling a gold chain and medallion his topcoat resting across his shoulders like a cape. The disguises worked to a T. After their fake visas and passports were stamped by the Iranian customs agents, the eight boarded their plane, which took off after a brief mechanical delay. But how can such a plan work when domestic politics on both sides seem in favor of tougher rhetoric and policy? Argo: Declassified Extended Edition [DVD] [2014] No such confrontation with security officials took place at the departure gate. Below, youll find -Wired.com, The CIA team sent it via diplomatic pouch to the Canadian Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Take advantage of our great prices on Blu-ray, merchandise, clothing & more! The British had initially hosted the American diplomats; however, the location was deemed unsafe as the British embassy itself had been targeted and surrounded by mobs and all involved officials from the various nations believed the Canadian ambassador's residence to be a safer location. In reality, the diplomats were divided and hiding in Taylor and another Canadian diplomat's homes. A special in-depth look at the real events that inspired the Academy Award nominated film, ARGO. "[20] The Washington Times said it felt "like a movie from an earlier era less frenetic, less showy, more focused on narrative than sensation," but that the script included "too many characters that he doesn't quite develop."[21]. In reality, when the diplomats safely arrived back home, the American government, due to a fear of retaliation, did not declare the CIA involvement in the rescue. It depends who you ask. Like in the film, it was called Studio Six Productions. With their fake identities as a film crew, the diplomats and Mendez were supposed to simply take a flight out of Iran. The screenplay has the escapeesMark and Cora Lijek, Bob Anders, Lee Schatz, and Joe and Kathy Staffordsettling down to enforced cohabitation at the residence of the Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor. They try to stop them, but the plane is able to take off. -Argo: Inside Story }. Other aspects of the true story were also dramatized (or underplayed) as a part of the creative license of filmmaking. Sixty-six of the embassy staff are taken as hostages, but six avoid capture and are sheltered in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. about going to the Oscars and reflects on "Google", 10 Fascinating CIA Missions - CIA The film ends by explaining what happened after the depicted events: the hostages were freed after 444 days, Mendez and Chambers remained friends until Chambers' death in 2001, Bill Clinton returned Mendez's star in 1997 after the Canadian Caper is declassified, and that he lives with his family in rural Maryland. Yes. A scene in the movie when the group gets confronted by a hostile crowd in a market in Tehran and has to be safely removed from any public sightings was a movie-introduced sub-plot. How will it impact global trade, sanctions, and great-power competition? to rebalance its economic relationship with Beijing. Argo WebOn November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the American embassy in Tehran and captured dozens of American hostages, sparking a 444-day ordeal. Only FP subscribers can submit questions for FP Live interviews. "iCal", "[17] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 86 out of 100, based on 45 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Additionally, the tension with the Iranian guards at the airport is intensified in the movie as the guards call the fake movie production office and eventually chase down the plane when they find out the truth: In reality, though, while the diplomats were (obviously) nervous about getting caught, their plan worked out just as perfectly as they had imagined. ] -CIA.gov In reality, the group was hidden in the two homes. In the movie, Tony (Ben Affleck) and the six are left with no choice but to meet with two men associated with the Iranian film office. They were not sequestered like in the movie. Together with his Danger Zone co-author Hal Brands, Beckley made the term Peak China mainstream. [2], The film debuted in second place with $19.5 million, then made $16.4 million in its sophomore weekend. Something about the glory of Islam would be nice, too. The crew found one that would work at the bottom of the pile; it was based on an award-winning sci-fi novel (Roger Zelaznys Lord of Light). "trigger": "hover", Newly declassified documents reveal how the Nixon White House looked the other way while Israel built the Middle Easts first nukes. Although afraid to trust Mendez's scheme, they reluctantly go along, knowing that he is risking his own life too. [citation needed]. const askQuestionLink = button.parentElement.parentElement.querySelector( '.bigfoot-footnote__button' ); { To reiterate, John and his wife are not represented in the movie, despite hiding four of the six Americans. In its third weekend the film made $12.1 million, finishing in first place. It won the award for the Best Picture, not only at the Oscars but also at the Golden Globes (Best Motion Picture: Drama) and the British Film Academy Awards (Best Film). In 1997, the rescue was declassified and the CIA's involvement was revealed. To discuss his lead essay in FPs summer print issue, The Scramble for AI, join FPs Ravi Agrawal in conversation with Paul Scharre, author of Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. ditch efforts to get the hostages released But while most public conversations about AI center around productivity and jobs, the race to dominate technology is in fact a primary geopolitical concern. } ); "label": "Register and Add to Calendar", The movie also toned down the amount of Canadian aid given in the entire mission quite a bit. Upon the film's release, Canadian critics, such as Brian D. Johnson of Maclean's, took note of the fact their country's contribution to the rescue and Taylor's important role in the entire effort was severely downplayed in the movie. Argo fuck yourself. "Apple", [18] CinemaScore reported that audiences gave the film a rare "A+" grade. Crimea sounds a lot like Reagan's for invading Grenada. There's a spirit of truth . the kinds of things that are really important to be true arefor example, the relationship between the U.S. and Canada. They did, however, smuggle the CIAs documents and disguises to Tehran in a diplomatic pouch the size of a pillowcase.. And with that exception, the movie is very good. Academy Award for Best Picture. } ); For starters, "Argo" is centered around real events and people. According to the CIAs account, The Mafia and many shady foreign investors were notorious for backing productions in Hollywood, so it was the perfect spot for the CIA to operate. ARGO: Declassified : Warner Bros. Entertainment : Free Download, remove-circle Share This Collection. -CIA.gov, Yes. -CIA.gov, Tony Mendez and his partner in the Iran operation each received the CIA's Intelligence Star award. -CIA.gov, Studio Six Productions closed its doors several weeks after Tony Mendez and his team helped the six Americans escape from Iran, however, not without grabbing Hollywood's attention. During the operation, Tony's full alias was "Kevin Costa Harkins". ARGO | "location": "https://foreignpolicy.com/live/what-ai-means-for-global-power/", After all, who in their right mind would believe a space opera was being filmed in Iran during the hostage crisis? Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors. askQuestionLink || ( askQuestionLink && ! and a CIA Headquarters scene shot in Virginia, shooting for the movie took place in Istanbul, Turkey which stood in for Iran. -CIA.gov, The title "Argo" that Tony and John Chambers gave to the screenplay came from Greek mythology, specifically it is the name of Jason and the Argonauts' ship that they sailed to the sacred garden to rescue the Golden Fleece from the clutches of the many-headed dragon. The real Tony Mendez woke up forty-five minutes late the morning he was to meet up with the six Americans at the airport. The mission had never been called off at the last minute, forcing Tony Mendez to make a passionate call to his boss to tell him he was going through with it anyway. Argo earned $136 million in the United States, and $96.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of$232.3 million. The film debuted in second place with $19.5 million, then made $16.4 million in its sophomore weekend. In its third weekend the film made $12.1 million, finishing in first place. 2012 American historical drama thriller film by Ben Affleck, Toggle Historical inaccuracies subsection, Higgins, Bill; Kit, Borys. For much of the past three decades, there was widespread consensus that Chinas continued rise was inevitable. In 2021, Michael Beckley argued in FP that Chinas demographic challenges and a decline in productivity would lead to economic stagnation. In reality, the diplomats never appeared to be in imminent danger. Yes, Tony thought of the Hollywood angle himself one night while he was at home in Maryland packing. "options": [ Youre on the list! Together with his Danger Zone co-author Hal Brands, Beckley made the term Peak China mainstream. Secrets held for decades in the clandestine realms of the CIA are now being surfaced on the big screen. Noticing the name on the nose as the group walked up the ramp to board the plane, Bob Anders punched Tony Mendez in the arm and said, "You arranged for everything, didn't you?" [19], Naming Argo one of the best 11 films of 2012, critic Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote: "Ben Affleck's seamless direction catapults him to the forefront of Hollywood filmmakers turning out thoughtful entertainment. Pat Taylor, the wife of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor, received a strange phone call during which the caller, who would not identify himself, asked to speak with Joe Stafford, who had been hiding with his wife Kathy at the Taylor home. { Argo -CIA.gov, Yes. "name": "How to Reset the U.S.-China Relationship", [9], As a historical piece, the film made use of archival news footage from ABC, CBS and NBC; and included popular songs from the era, such as "Little T&A" by The Rolling Stones (an anachronism, as it was not released until the following year), "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits, "Dance the Night Away" by Van Halen and "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin. Essential analysis of the stories shaping geopolitics on the continent. In addition to various locations in California (Warner Bros. Studios, etc.) This documentary is told through the eyes As previously reported, Warner Brothers is working on 'Argo: The Declassified Extended Edition' for Blu-ray, and now the release date has been set for December 3. "[39] The postscript text said that the CIA let Taylor take the credit for political purposes, which some critics thought implied that he did not deserve the accolades he received. WebThe Academy Award winner for Best Picture will be getting an ultimate extended Blu-ray box set in December! Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. [38] Maclean's asserted that "the movie rewrites history at Canada's expense, making Hollywood and the CIA the saga's heroic saviours while Taylor is demoted to a kindly concierge. -Canadian Caper, PBS Documentary, Yes. He conducted the mock interrogations dressed in military fatigues, complete with a hat, jack boots, sunglasses and a swagger stick. CIA specialists, who pretended to be part of the Studio Six Production team, traveled to Iran to make final arrangements and complete the travel documents. It was meant to emphasize the urgency of the rescue and the threat that the diplomats faced staying in Tehran. As such, the CIAs Directorate of Operations decided to smuggle the employees in plain sight., But Langley was not immediately sold on the film production cover; initially it tossed around disguises such as food economists or unemployed school teachers. No matter the cover, the Americans needed the help of Canadians. Argo In 2021, Michael Beckley argued in FP that Chinas demographic challenges and a decline in productivity would lead to economic stagnation. Mendez is awarded the Intelligence Star, but due to the mission's classified nature, he receives the medal in secret and has to return it afterward. AI is already impacting warfare and deterrence, and the immense amount of computing power required to stay ahead of the curve is driving foreign-policy choices for major economies. [25] Jian Ghomeshi, a Canadian writer and radio figure of Iranian descent, thought the film had a "deeply troubling portrayal of the Iranian people." Tony departed Iran with the six Americans three days later on Monday morning, January 28. Based on a Wired article that recounted the effort in its entirety, the movie also took important details from books, like Mendez's memoir, "The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA.". Declassified CIA secrets fuel story in Ben Affleck's latest, Actor and director Ben Affleck stopped by msnbc Wednesday to talk about Argo, his latest film that had the Morning Joe hosts raving. How will it impact global trade, sanctions, and great-power competition? In 1981, Taylor was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal by President Ronald Reagan. Despite a pledge at COP26, large-scale clearing increased by 10 percent last year. "MicrosoftTeams", While the basic plot and premise of the movie seem accurate, though, some details were certainly not. It is unclear whether the moment described above is the same instance that the real Lee Schatz describes in the PBS Documentary, where his passport was momentarily taken into a side room. When the problem was resolved they took the airport bus out to where they boarded the plane and it lifted off for Zurich, Switzerland. CIA Declassified } Notwithstanding this easy exit, the account written by CIA agent Antonio J. Mendez who is played by Ben Affleck in the film still reads like le Carr. The origin of the title Argo stemmed from a profane knock-knock joke: Argo who? Entertainment Weekly wrote about this controversy: Standing in the Golden Globe pressroom with his directing trophy, Affleck acknowledged that it was frustrating not to get an Oscar nod when many felt he deserved one. I hope no one in Britain will be offended by what's said in the film. \nIn 2021, Michael Beckley argued in FP that Chinas demographic challenges and a decline in productivity would lead to economic stagnation. Ben Affleck directs and stars in this extended cut of the Academy Award-winning political thriller based on real events that took place during the 1979 Iran hostage Separate the Argo real story from the Ben Affleck Argo movie fiction. His cover occupation was "production manager" for a film crew that was in Iran scouting possible filming locations for their upcoming movie Argo. The Canadian government issued fake identities to the six diplomats and sent them to the Canadian Embassy. Argo Interviews, News Clips, and Related Video, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, "CIA Goes Hollywood" by Antonio J. Mendez at, "I Was Rescued From Iran" Article by Mark Lijek at. "Outlook.com", Release: Friday, Oct. 12 (Warner Bros.) Production: Smokehouse Pictures Venues: Telluride, Toronto film festivals Based on real events, the dramatic thriller "Argo" chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded A special in-depth look at the real events that inspired the Academy Award nominated film, ARGO. [43], Taylor noted, "In reality, Canada was responsible for the six and the CIA was a junior partner. const button = document.querySelector( '#register-1115971' ); "description": "U.S. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has a proposal for improving the most important relationship in the world. They spent a total of 444 days as captives. ARGO Who will win the AI race? "label": "Register and Add to Calendar", As the credits roll, President Jimmy Carter is heard commenting on the operation. The 2012 Ben Affleck-directed movie "Argo" follows the collaborative effort of the CIA and the Canadian government in helping six American diplomats escape the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979. John Sheardown's house had an interior courtyard with a garden and we could walk there freely," Mark Lijek says. Tony states that John Chambers (John Goodman in the movie) once told a vulgar "knock-knock" joke that had the phrase "Argo f**ck yourself" as the punchline. | On March 12, 2013, the New Zealand House of Representatives censured Affleck by unanimously agreeing to the following motion, initiated by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters: this House acknowledge[s] with gratitude the efforts of former New Zealand diplomats Chris Beeby and Richard Sewell in assisting American hostages in Tehran during the hostage crisis in 1979, and express[es] its regret that the director of the movie Argo saw fit to mislead the world about what actually happened during that crisis when, in reality, our courageous diplomats' inspirational actions were of significant help to the American hostages and deserve the factual and historical record to be corrected. This news piece features Tony Mendez in askQuestionLink.classList.contains( 'is-active' ) ) ) { Tony had arrived ahead of them to make sure that he cleared customs and could check in at the airline counter without any trouble. The Swissair plane had been given the name Argau after a region in Switzerland. Ben Affleck Talks Lessons Learned on Argo Lee said it was and the man believed him and let him through. Khannas plan includes reducing trade deficits and tensions, improving communication, and bolstering deterrence. On November 4, 1979, Iranian Islamists storm the United States Embassy in Tehran in retaliation for President Jimmy Carter giving the Shah, a dictator put in place by Western powers, asylum in the U.S. during the Iranian Revolution, for cancer treatment. Based on the award-winning 1967 Roger Zelazny sci-fi novel Lord of Light, the script was in part chosen because it was complicated and hard to follow. To discuss his lead essay in FPs summer print issue, The Scramble for AI, join FPs Ravi Agrawal in conversation with Paul Scharre, author of Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Which theory is correct? "iCal", Your guide to the most important world stories of the day. The team opened Studio Six Productions and set up shop in offices previously used by Michael Douglas during production of The China Syndrome. How Historically Accurate Is Argo? - Looper "This was really good," Morning Joeco-host Mika Brzezinski gushed. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. atcb_action( { But I realize this is a movie and you have to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Download the FP mobile app to read anytime, anywhere. Argo askQuestionLink || ( askQuestionLink && ! Professional reviewers ranked the film with other releases for 2012, as follows: Argo earned $136 million in the United States, and $96.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $232.3 million. "listStyle": "modal", \nWhich theory is correct? Silver Spring, MD 20915 www.washdiplomat.com Tony Mendez: The CIA Spy Behind Argo by Larry Luxner Its riveting enough watching Ben Afflecks nail-biting political thriller Argo and wondering how in the hell six American diplomats secretly holed up in the Canadian ambassadors residence will ever make it out of Iran amid the 1979 revolution. That is the virtue of an entertainment like this; it doesn't linger in the memory and provoke afterthoughts. "iCalFileName": "how-to-reset-the-u-s-china-relationship", The film received seven nominations at the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
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