The problem with history is simple. There is too much of it, And more of it comes along every day. We need something that will cut the past down to size. We want heroes and heroines that a modern person can identify with. That is where Hollywood comes in.
Film makers have often based their work on historical events. Why go to the trouble of writing a brand new story when so many exciting things have happened in the pasty People will often already know the story, That leaves the director free to thrill us with details of what life as like in imperial China or ancient Rome.
Most historians dislike this attitude. They see history as a complex thing, influenced by great political and economic forces. Film audiences are not very interested in this. They want kings and queens. They pay their money to see fancy clothes and a good fight. And this is what the film industry tries to give them.
Sometimes this approach can cause trouble. The film Titanic was a success around the world. In one of the film's most dramatic moments, a member of the ship's crew begins shooting into the crowd trying to get into the lifeboats as the ship sinks. When the film was released, the real life sailor's surviving relatives protested. They pointed out that this was not what had actually happened The film makers made a public apology. But everyone who has seen the film remembers the sight of the man shooting into the crowd.
Defenders of "Hollywood history" say that most of the time the film makers get the facts right. The action is based on real events and the clothes are accurate. People talk in the way that they would have done in the past even if they do it with a modern American accent. For many people, a historical film will be the closest they come to discovering the past.
It is still possible to find mistakes. Millions have been spent on putting together a replica of ancient Rome. The costumes are right and the atmosphere is perfect. Yet if you look very closely, a plane can be seen passing through the sky above.
Some film makers say that history needs to be simplified if it is to be filmed. The film maker's job is to make viewers interested. If they want to know more, they can do their own research.
The difference between film history and real history is the difference between the facts and the truth. We can watch a "costume drama" and know that all the materials used are probably accurate. But if we want to find out the whole story, we have to do it ourselves. We have to go back to the books.
The main point of the passage is______.

A. that films based on past events are often big hits
B. how much we can trust the Hollywood version of history
C. that we should read books rather than see films to know the history
D. why film audiences are interested in film history rather than real history