A must watch film! 1917 True Story: How Much Of The Movie Was Real. Writer Sam Mendes took “fragments” of stories told by his grandfather, Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes, and turned them into 1917. Sam Mendes was 11 when his grandfather began telling him war stories. Sam Mendes grew up hearing stories of the First World War from his grandfather Alfred H. Mendes, a Lance Corporal who served as a messenger on the Western Front. Sam Mendes grew up hearing stories of the First World War from his grandfather Alfred H. Mendes, a Lance Corporal who served as a messenger on the Western Front. 10 Historical: Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes This movie was actually created by Sam Mendes in inspiration of his grandfather . Mendes was inspired by Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes the Grandfather of Sam Mendes. The story is based on parts of his Alfred H. Mendes's time as a "runner", a messenger, for the British army on the Western Front. The basis for the film was inspired by the stories of Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes, director and co-writer Sam Mendes's grandfather, who served as a … Alfred served as a “runner” in the war, according to Time, and his memories were the basis for much of the film’s plot. Alfred served with Kings Royal Rifles Corps during the war, and the film heavily features The Devons, both antecedent Regiments of The Rifles. However, there are so many fine filmed dramas based on the carnage of the First World War, 1917 offers no new way of seeing. A commemorative bench in his local botanic gardens is less self-indulgent. Mendes meant the film to be a homage to his grandfather’s participation, Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes, and that sounds noble enough. Watch our interview with Sam and learn more about his inspiration and the importance of telling stories of the First World War. 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes, who based it on stories told to him by his grandfather, Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes, with some liberties taken. # RIFLES # … Mendes’s own mission as director was to be faithful to the experiences of the men who fought, including his own grandfather, Alfred H Mendes. Director Sam Mendes ("American Beauty," "Skyfall") racks up his first screenwriting credit (with 'Penny Dreadful's' Krysty Wilson-Cairns) by condensing his grandfather Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes’ war stories into one epic journey. Watch our interview with Sam and learn more about his inspiration and the importance of telling stories of the First World War.