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American Morning

"Black Hawk Down": History, Current Events, Movies

Aired December 28, 2001 - 08:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There are a handful of new movies at the theaters this week. Among them, the military drama "Black Hawk Down."

CNN's Paula Zahn talked with the director about the connection between history and current events.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: From "Alien" to "Thelma and Louise," to last year's Oscar run away, "Gladiator," Ridley Scott has directed some of Hollywood's most memorable and profitable films. And he has high hopes for his latest, the combat thriller "Black Hawk Down."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "BLACK HAWK DOWN")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SCREAMING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: The movie opens in New York and Los Angeles today, and nationwide next month. Ridley Scott joins me now. A pleasure to have you with us, welcome.

So how closely does your movie mirror what happened in Mogadishu in 1993?

RIDLEY SCOTT, DIRECTOR: Based on Mark -- Mark Bowden's book, "Black Hawk Down," which I found to be eventually a very accurate portrayal of the events that went down in '93. That became my bible, so I just stuck to the book as closely as possible. Of course, the book was adapted into a screenplay.

ZAHN: There is a feeling that, of course, this film mirrors, in some way, what is going on in Afghanistan. And there has been some concern -- I've talked with people in your industry -- that perhaps it's going to be too much reality for folks who are enduring our daily coverage of the war on terrorism. Do you have any thoughts on that?

SCOTT: Well, I think it's also to do with awareness and I think most of us are not sufficiently aware. I think the final course of this year made us aware of the fact we should be more aware, and not practice the process of putting blinkers on. And I think the -- where our guys are now, in Afghanistan, you know, they're there for a different reason. Now it's for, I think, retribution and justice. 1993 Was all about humanitarian reasons. But the events that -- the way they play out on the ground in urban guerrilla warfare are very similiar.

ZAHN: If you could, and I know this hard to do in 30 seconds or so, describe for audience what they're going to see in this movie. What particular part of that 1993 event will unfold on your screen?

SCOTT: Yes, well the book doesn't dwell on any past tense or any side stories or back stories, or who these characters are. The book begins, as it should, on the threshold of the eve of going into actually beginning of this actual process and event. And it ends at what was then perceived either as a disaster or a success. I think press and government saw this as a kind of disaster. I think the militia supported as a -- success?

ZAHN: In the end, how many soldiers died?

SCOTT: There were 18 died and then another died the next day. Which was a character -- a gentleman who was actually at the military base, and RPG's were flying and he got hit by an RPG. So, in effect, they lost 19. But if you put parallel up today in saying, "Well, we've got forces in -- now in Afghanistan. If they had gone in after two tier-1 personalities, which are the supporters, you know, maybe two of the mainstays of their men and they got them, the last 19, and killed a thousand Taliban, that would be regarded as a success.

ZAHN: I guess what might be so hard for the audience to appreciate, is this code that the special forces has, about not leaving one of their injured behind. Now, you focus in on that in the movie. Just a quick thought on what people will see during that scene.

SCOTT: Coda. It could almost be written in Latin as a motto. It's a a subtext of the way they think, and it's what binds them all -- using a much overused word -- bonds them, but the bonding is absolutely real. And I became very respectful of that. And because it's such a high end group, in parts of the militia, it's all, you know, undercover, and, they have -- I think they often have this comfort zone in the fact that when they go in, each man is looking out for the other man. And I think that's part of the subtext of the movie.

ZAHN: And just once again, a reminder, for people who haven't read about this lately. The chopper goes down, it's quickly surrounded by a band of tribal -- chiefs -- local -- tribal members.

SCOTT: Local -- Mogadishan Militia. You know. We think of only in terms of that event of civilians. There's a lot of militia and a lot of very organized militia. Just because guys aren't rushing around in pressed khakis, you know, it doesn't mean they're not really as efficient and agile as our best. And, in fact, there were two choppers went down. They went in there to go, you know, secure what they classify as Tier 1 personalities. There were two important guys attached to General Aidid. And they got them, but while they in there, there were 20 other individuals, so, they weren't quite sure who was who. So they had to take the lot, and as that happened, we have the first black hawk gets hit and goes down, and then 8 minutes later another black hawk gets hit and goes down. So the idea of saying, you know, the efficiency of the operation was then went down to -- went up, three notches in terms of, if you take on the context of "leave no man behind," suddenly the 100 was split into three groups going to the different sites, as well as doing the job.

ZAHN: Before I let you go, a personal question for you. About the Scott genes. Okay, we've talked about your professional accomplishments.

SCOTT: Sure.

ZAHN: Your brother Tony, has directed "Spy Game," "Crimson Tide" and "Top Gun," among others. And I understand your son, Jake, has an impressive resume at this stage of his career.

SCOTT: Yeah.

ZAHN: What's in the blood in your household?

SCOTT: Well, my ma, I think. I think it's probably my ma, you know. She's 96 and a tough guy, and she kind of ran the roost, and it was part of that -- she gave us a king of ethic which was actually very close to -- almost military, I think.

ZAHN: Well, she raised you all well.

SCOTT: She sure did.

ZAHN: Best of luck to you.

SCOTT: Thank you very much.

ZAHN: Thank you very much for joining us to talk about "Black Hawk Down." Coming to a theater near you -- if you live outside New York and Los Angeles, but it opens this weekend in those two cities. We'll be right back.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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