American Hustle - Inspired by Melvin Weinberg, Evelyn Knight, and the ABSCAM Sting

Inspired By A True Story

1978. Melvin Weinberg and Lady Evelyn Knight have been arrested for fraud, and are facing three years in prison when the FBI presents them with an offer: Come work for us, conning politicians and others into committing crimes by providing favors in exchange for cash, all under the illusion of an Arabian Sheik, and you get probation.

In 2013, director David O Russell directs Christian Bale and Amy Adams in a film detailing many of these same events through a very different lens. Once again, never trust a plunging neckline or anyone wearing a 70's combover, because American Hustle was inspired by a true story.

American Hustle featured an all-star cast of Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, and starred Christian Bale and Amy Adams as two con artists who are blackmailed into working for the FBI in a sting known as ABSCAM, intended to bring down politicians and the like by posing as representatives for a sheik interested in investment opportunities in New Jersey. American Hustle was directed by David O. Russell and received numerous academy award nominations including for Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Actress, Director, and Best Picture.

Welcome to Inspired By A True Story, a podcast where every two weeks, our award-winning hosts and film critics discuss the genuine details that have inspired some of the most memorable true crime movies around. Each episode will break down the crime or crimes that inspired a specific film, and then discuss how factual that film is, versus how much is simply Hollywood magic.

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