MovieChat Forums > Sniper (1993) Discussion > I think this movie is loosely based on a...

I think this movie is loosely based on a real person/event.

posted 21 years ago by brandtleyland
47 replies | jump to latest

I just watched a documentary on real military snipers on the history channel. They mentioned a sniper called Carlos Hathcock who was one of the best snipers in history. The way they described him and his missions resembled Thomas Beckett in the movie Sniper and his missions. Example: Carlos Hathcock shot another enemy sniper who was stalking him through the scope and killed him. Thomas Beckett did the same to the enemy sniper who was stalking him. There was also mention of a mission that Hathcock went on that was very very top secret to kill a high level military offical and it had him crawling through high grass on this stomach for 3 days to the compound where he would make his shot. After he took his shot it raised all hell and everyone went after him. This is exactly what happened at the end of the movie Sniper too.
There are other similarities mentioned in the documentary as well but it really seem too much of a coincidience if it wasn't loosely based on this real life sniper. Anyone know for sure?

[–] iLeto 19 years ago

anyway,I think it is a good movie.very impresive.

[–] jaynorwoodlake 19 years ago

yes the record was broken by a canadian 3 man team........but a 1 man team is a better record than a 3 man team any day of the week.

here is a link to the greatest sniper that ever was.

http://oldbluejacket.com/CarlosHathcock.htm

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] leylandcrash 18 years ago

As the Co-Writer of Sniper, I can tell you the answer is "yes".

The origins of the idea came from an article in a magazine (published by Larry Flynt I believe) about Carlos Hathcock and some research I was doing about Stalingrad.

In Stalingrad, there is the legendary tale of the two snipers and the notion of a war being distilled down to just two men hunting each other appealed to me. (In ancient times, two armies would sometimes each select their greatest warrior to battle on their behalf. The losing army would then accept defeat without the senseless slaughter.)

When I read the magazine, there was the spark for my lead character-- in fact the original script that was sold to Tri-Star was set in Vietnam!

[–] theninjamark 18 years ago

leylandcrash, any chances of doing a novel based on the original script or movie?

[–] leylandcrash 18 years ago

There was talk of doing a comic book with Dark Horse, but that has passed.
Separating the rights from the studio and my former partner would be too complicated. They have moved on to other things. As have I.

I am working on something for the BBC however, so watch this space.

[–] crossini-1 18 years ago

He must be thinking of the Royal Marines. You know how the limeys fancy a drink.

[–] Rasbenek 18 years ago

Don't start levelling criticisms at the British Army or other armed services - have been for a long time and still are the finest trained armed services in the world. We might have to beg, borrow, and steal cos our government is too tight fisted to give us any decent equipment but the Brits always have been top of the fighting pile. And that is acknowledged fact! Why else do the elite regimentsd of the world who really want top flight fighting units rely upon the SAS for training? And which two regiments/corps makes up most of the entrants to the regiment - yeah, you got it, the Paras and the Marines! So back off!

R
ex 2Lt 2Btn PR

[–] crossini-1 18 years ago

Settle down big fella. I have had the privlege of working with British military several times in my career and have a tremendous amount of respect for them. I am always amazed at how you can go spend 30 days in the desert and come back looking shaved, fit, untanned and somehow still have prefectly pressed uniforms. The Royal Marines are more than a match for most of the military outfits in the world.

One thing confuses me though, I didn't think that saying that a man enjoyed a drink was an insult. Shouldn't you be proud of being fit in the field and fun on liberty?

[–] Rasbenek 18 years ago

Enjoying a drink is one thing - being drunk and chasing women in the field is something else. That implies a lack of professional standards and if anyone should have the highest military standards it's the British. After all we been at it a long time!

The Royal Marines don't need me to stand up for them. They can do that themselves, and they'd do it with style. I just take exception to any slight on the British Armed services - "drunk to ever be in combat on Israeli ground, they were mostly guarding their fancy equipment and walking around half naked, hoping to impress our female soldiers" - the original poster never referenced it was the Royal Marines - that was your suggestion!

The Americans could learn, and have already been taught much, about the finer points of military tactics, training, and planning from the British. Oh for the resources available to the Americans. Still we're more than holding our own in Afghanistan.With financial backing the size of the US military budget, the equipment, and the numbers of personnel - the British Armed Services would be unmatched anywhere in the world. Our government is the reason behind the demise in strength.

Socially, we'll drink til you fall drop.
In the field, we'll fight til the enemy do.
We'll leave the womanising to the yanks!
And the Pizza Xpress in the US XP where it belongs!

But on one note of unity and hands in greeting across the pond. I have great admiration for the Deltas - a pleasure being on co-ops with them - tough, fast, lean, and hungry. The US/UK will always be brothers-in-arms. History has shown us the way!

[–] tywagner08 18 years ago

Maybe you could have all that US military budget and numbers if we didn't beat your ass in the American Revolution. Ever think about that Limey? The Union Jack flying over Texas and California and the other 48? I bet you would like that, wouldn't you? Too bad, I guess your "fine military tactics" were just too sophisticated and superior to fight small numbers of American farmers with old muskets and pitchforks. You couldn't hold on to India, either. You got beat by an old bald guy in a white robe.

[–] Rasbenek 18 years ago

How current of you! If you all got is the American Revolution, and a 'limey' insult to throw back at us then you're as pathetic as your answer. When you've got a history to shout about come back to me with a decent argument! The tactics of one man, don't make a nation defeated. Your obtuse nature and elitist self-servance are just the kinds of attitudes that left you licking your wounds after Vietnam! But then you obviously have never served in the military so you personally have nothing to shout about either.

R

[–] tywagner08 18 years ago

No, the M16A1 and A3 models have full auto. A2s and A4s only have 3-shot burst capability. Stop googling things you don't know about and passing them off as experience.

[–] wildcard600 17 years ago

Wow ... i never thought so many 8th grade douchebags could be packed into such a small thread but i seem to have been proven wrong.

First all you "Marines" are soldiers. There are three classes of combatants, Sailors, Soldiers and Pilots. Get over it.

Second, this pissing contest about who is tougher, faster, better, less gay whatever, is *beep* retarded. The Royal Marines are probably just as badass on the whole as the IDF. The Army can be just as tough as the Air Force, depending on the induvidual unit. Get a life cause no one cares.

Third, stop talking about guns unless you actually know about them, not if you think you know after 20 mins of googling the entire history of small arms and weapons technology of the last 90 years cause anyone in the know, knows your a douchbag and the only people who are impressed with your "knowledge" are people who are even stupider than you, if that is indeed possible.

On a lighter note thanks to everyone who actually contributed something intelligent to this thread ... you know who you are ... :P