Was Bob DeNiro's character real?
Was there an actual person he was based off of, or was he made up?
shareYep... very real. :)
shareSorry, love.
De Niro's character, Billy Sunday, was not real.
He was a combination of all the commanding officers Brashear encountered.
"Every man must go through hell to reach paradise." - Robert De Niro, "Cape Fear"
No way! I didn't know that!
Are you sure? Cause I think i remember seeing an interview with the real Carl Brashear, in which he spoke about the real Billy Sunday. But i might be wrong.
Thanks for the correction MrBlond... learn somethin new every day! :)
I think I see a romance blossoming here. ;)
shareMaybe Billy Sunday, the person existed, but in the movie he was a combination of all the diffrent officers.
shareHe was fictitious but an alter ego of Brashear who in real life had alcohol problems and went to Navy rehab like Billy did in the movie.
shareGo here to learn if De Niro's character, Bill Sunday, was a real person?
http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/menofhonor.php
See pics of Carl Brashear.
Enjoy.
Hey deadzone, thanks for the link to reelfaces - Cool Site!
share[deleted]
Billy Sunday was not a Commanding Officer, so how could he be a combination of various CO's?. He was a Chief, which is far from a CO. If that Character did exist in the movie, it would Most likely be David Conrads character.
shareExcuse me that I don't know the correct, proper term for whatever kind of officer De Niro's character was. My point is the character was not real but a composite of Brashaer's superior officers. And I think you know that is what I meant.
Thank you.
"A facility for quotation reveals the absence of original thought." - Lord Peter Wimsey
Also, keep in mind that, until 1958 there was no such thing as a "Master" (or Senior) Chief. Of course this doesn't prove the character wasn't real but it is a glaring error for those of us with naval service.
In case anyone is interested, an enlisted career has three possible stages. First stage is E1-E3. S/he can be a Fireman, Seaman or Airman. Then we have the great early moment when an enlisted member becomes a Petty Officer (gets one or more chevron stripes). The best of these folk go on to become Chiefs (E-7). It's a very special moment when you "put on your anchors." In the old days, this was the highest rank an enlisted could attain (not Master Chief, as the Powers Boothe character proclaims dramatically in the movie). Now we have Senior Chiefs (E-8) and Master Chief (E9). The Navy's seniormost enlisted is Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, often referred to as MCPON ("mic-pon"). You informally address these members as "Chief," "Senior," or "Master Chief."