As far as American Revolution movies go, The Patriot is likely the most popular one ever made. For many, the 2000 film starring Mel Gibson captures the spirit of the revolution, even though it misses some key details.

The Hollywood vs. History series returns to examine the film’s key figures, uniforms, military maneuvers, and more. Brian Steed, the college’s associate professor of military history, uses clips and his own research to separate facts from fiction.

He sorts through questions like: Was protagonist Benjamin Martin a real person? Were his guerrilla warfare tactics plausible? And where did screenwriters find his famous line: “Why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants one mile away?”

Steed served in the Army as an armor officer and Middle East foreign area officer, living and working there for more than eight years. He retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel and has taught at the CGSC since 2013.