The Film: Hollywoodland (2006)

The Hollywood Version: “Based on the true story of Hollywood's most notorious unsolved mystery.” In this case, the death of George Reeves (Ben Affleck), one of the more famous examples of the “Superman curse”.

When the LAPD closes the case, Reeves’ mother Helen Bessolo hires Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) a private eye, to investigate further.

He uncovers a web of lies and untruths stretching deep into Hollywood high society.

Just The Facts: To its credit, the film hues pretty closely to the “truth” of the matter, with a few exceptions.

And given the elusive nature of the story itself, it’s not surprising that director Allen Coulter had to invent some of the details.

Take Simo. "He's a creation inspired by real people but really a completely fictitious character,” Coulter told Dark Horizons.

Bessolo did hire lawyers and private detectives, but no one like the character in the film.

And while the film shows him auditioning to be a wrestler, this never happened.

In reality, Reeves was scheduled to go on tour dressed as Superman and box former light-heavyweight champ Archie Moore in an exhibition match.

Reeves, who had aspired to become a boxer in his youth, was excited about the match. "The Archie Moore fight will be the highlight of my life," Reeves told reporters.

Next: Boys Don't Cry