Is American Made based on a true story
Is American Made based on a true story – “American Made” is a thrilling crime drama starring Tom Cruise, set to be released on September 29. It’s a story filled with drug running, arms smuggling, FBI stings, and a hefty dose of cash. But the movie is not just about action; it’s based on the real-life story of Adler Berriman “Barry” Seal, a TWA pilot who became a drug smuggler for the Medellín Cartel and later an informant for the DEA.
Barry Seal’s journey into aviation started early. He got his student pilot license at just 15 and became a fully licensed pilot at 16. His talent for flying was evident, and he quickly became one of the youngest command pilots to operate a Boeing 707 for TWA.
Colorful Personality
Seal was known for his daring and adventurous personality. He loved taking risks and didn’t think too much about the consequences. His high school yearbook photo had the inscription, “Full of fun, full of folly.” However, some sources suggest that he may not have been as smart as he thought he was.
Marriages and Family
In the movie, Sarah Wright plays Seal’s wife, but in reality, he was married three times and had five children. He married Barbara Bottoms in 1963 and later divorced. After that, he married Linda McGarrh Ross but divorced a year later. Finally, he married Deborah Ann DuBois in 1974, with whom he had three children.
Smuggling Beginnings
While the movie portrays Seal’s smuggling career as starting with Cuban cigars, his first documented smuggling offense was in 1972 when he was part of a plot to smuggle explosives out of the U.S. He wasn’t convicted, but he lost his job with TWA. By 1976, he had moved on to smuggling marijuana and then cocaine, which was more profitable.
Seal and his team of pilots trafficked drugs through the Louisiana coast, often dropping packed duffel bags from planes into the Atchafalaya basin, where partners on the ground would retrieve them.
Connections to the Medellín Cartel
In the movie, Seal interacts directly with the leaders of the Medellín Cartel, including Pablo Escobar. However, according to sources, Seal did not deal directly with them, and they referred to him as “El Gordo,” or “The Fat Man.” He only met them in April 1984 when he was working with the DEA on a sting operation.
Cooperating with the DEA
Seal’s legal troubles started mounting, leading to an indictment in March 1983 on several counts related to drug distribution. As depicted in the movie, he attempted to make a deal with a U.S. attorney to provide information on the Ochoa family, but this was initially rejected. However, in March 1984, he cut a deal with the DEA, offering his intel and connections to the cartel in exchange for a lighter sentence.
CIA Involvement
The film suggests that Seal’s involvement with the CIA began in the late 1970s, early in his smuggling career. He gathered intelligence for the CIA by flying low over Guatemala and Nicaragua, snapping photos from his plane. Later, the CIA seemingly turned a blind eye to his drug smuggling in exchange for his delivery of arms to the Contras in Nicaragua. The movie even hints that the CIA helped him establish his airport in Mena, Arkansas.
However, according to research, the only confirmed connection between Seal and the CIA was in 1984, after he had started working as an informant for the DEA. The CIA placed a hidden camera in one of Seal’s cargo planes, leading to crucial intelligence regarding the link between the Sandinistas and the cartel. Still, the planned arrest of cartel leaders never happened due to the revelation of Seal’s status as an informant.
Conclusion
“American Made” takes inspiration from the incredible life of Barry Seal, a pilot turned drug smuggler and DEA informant. While the movie blends fact and fiction for an exciting cinematic experience, the real story of Barry Seal is equally captivating and filled with daring adventures, legal troubles, and his role as a crucial informant in the fight against drug trafficking.
What is the true story behind American Made?
In the movie “American Made” from 2017, Tom Cruise played a real-life pilot named Barry Seal. Barry Seal was a guy who turned to smuggling drugs in the 1980s. The film had lots of scenes with airplanes and high-flying stunts, and Tom Cruise did many of these stunts himself. But there was a sad event during the movie’s production on September 11, 2015.
Is American Made All true?
The movie “American Made” with Tom Cruise was inspired by different stories about Barry Seal, but it’s not a biographical film. That means while it takes some real events and ideas from Barry Seal’s life, it’s not an exact retelling of everything that happened.
What drug movie is based on a true story?
There’s a movie called “Cocaine Bear” that’s inspired by a true story. It’s got a lot of crazy action, and it even has some famous actors like Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and the late Ray Liotta. This movie is based on a real story, which makes it even more interesting.
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