Certainly! Here is a revised version of the text:
Indeed, Roone Arledge went on to achieve legendary status at ABC, ultimately leading the network’s news division until his passing in 2002 at the age of 71. Over his extensive career, Geoffrey Mason has garnered numerous Emmy awards for his work in sports event production across various networks. In the film “September 5,” Peter Sarsgaard portrays Arledge, while John Magaro plays Mason. Director Fehlbaum acknowledges Mason’s invaluable contribution to the film, although some characters in the story are composites created to maintain narrative flow. For instance, the character Marianne Gebhardt, a German staffer at ABC Sports portrayed by Leonie Benesch, plays a crucial role by translating German radio reports during a crisis. However, in reality, this task was handled by multiple employees on that day. Fehlbaum explains, “There were many instances where different people performed various functions in the television production.”
In “September 5,” the film depicts ABC Sports executive Roone Arledge (played by Peter Sarsgaard) defying orders from ABC headquarters to transfer the story to New York. When the Munich Olympic Games coverage was interrupted by the hostage situation, Arledge refused to relinquish control. He made bold decisions such as deploying massive cameras and instructing staff to smuggle footage out of the Olympic Village. Additionally, he resisted pressure to hand over the story to a news desk thousands of miles away, opting to lead the coverage on-site.
The film incorporates authentic ABC footage of renowned sports broadcaster Jim McKay to recreate the atmosphere of the 1972 Munich Olympics. McKay’s updates and interviews during the event are integrated into the film, providing a sense of realism to the storytelling. Peter Jennings, played by Benjamin Walker, is also featured in a scene where he advocates for field reporting near the hostage location.
During the Munich Olympics crisis, there was a moment of confusion when reports erroneously suggested that the hostages had been rescued. German officials initially announced a successful police operation at an airbase, leading to premature celebrations. However, it was later revealed that the hostages and terrorists had tragically perished in a firefight with the authorities, prompting a correction of the misinformation by news agencies. Jim McKay broke the devastating news to viewers, stating, “They’re all gone.”
The production designer Julian Wagner meticulously sourced authentic broadcast equipment from the 1970s era to create a realistic portrayal in “September 5.” Despite the challenges of acquiring obsolete gear, Wagner managed to procure significant pieces that contributed to the film’s authenticity.
“We had to refurbish all the equipment because it wasn’t working as it should,” Wagner explained. “There was a concern that it might either explode on camera or be too loud during filming, but everything turned out fine. I remember asking my team if we had everything we needed, and they assured me that we had everything necessary. It was a good feeling.”
The film “September 5” portrays the events of the hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Summer Games, but does it show actual footage of the incident? In addition to recreating the team’s crowded newsroom, Wagner also created smaller spaces where Fehlbaum could immerse the actors in intense discussions in the midst of broadcasting.
Some of these discussions revolved around fundamental journalism questions, such as the decision to have live cameras capturing potentially dangerous situations, and the ethical considerations of showcasing terrorists in action, potentially fulfilling their objectives.
On September 6, 1972, the Israeli delegation participated in a memorial ceremony for the victims of the hostage crisis at the Munich Olympic stadium.
Regarding the portrayal of the terrorists in “September 5,” Wagner noted that Fehlbaum utilized a blend of authentic images from the actual event and filmed reenactments. “It’s a seamless mix, to the point where some actors couldn’t differentiate between the two,” Wagner remarked. “However, out of respect for the real victims, we made a conscious decision to refrain from using genuine images of them. It was the only appropriate course of action.”
The accuracy of the Munich Olympics movie “September 5” has been a topic of discussion. This article originally appeared in USA TODAY to address the factual credibility of the film.
