Everyone loves a good story – even better when the stories happen in real life! That’s why we scour the internet, looking for the best real life stories out there. These are the stories we’re loving this week.
The real life American Hustle – a crumpet factory boss’ daughter from Watford
The award-winning film, starring gorgeous Hollywood heavyweights Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Christian Bale, said at the beginning that “some of this actually happened.” In fact, the tale was inspired by Evelyn Knight, from Watford, and American Mel Weinberg.
In the late 1960s, Evelyn, now 71 and living quietly in Florida, first met Mel at a party. “I first saw Evelyn at a swimming pool and I called her up,” Mel has said. “The first time I took her out I took her to a wiseguys place where they served a big Porterhouse steak with French fries and spaghetti. She had just come to this country. She finished her steak then asked me, ‘Have you finished yours?’ I said no, so she ate mine too!”
Whilst she has shied away from the limelight shone on her in the wake of the success of the film, Mel has relished the attention. But then, that is what they liked about each other: he was bewitched by her honesty and straightforwardness, and she was drawn to his charismatic personality.
As in the film, they came to the FBI’s attention when they began scamming people with the offer of loans from a company called London Investors, all for a non-refundable advance fee. The loans were never approved, but people kept falling for it – including singer Wayne Newton – because they were desperate and because “Lady Evelyn” lent an air of authenticity to the scam. Though they were arrested on charges including wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy. Mel said he was ready to submit a plea in exchange for her release, but the FBI wanted them to help in four much bigger cases, including one that came to be known as Abscam. In that case, the FBI used Mel and Evelyn to help trap crooked politicians by offering them bribes from a fake sheik.
That is pretty much the only way the film mirrors real life, however. There will probably be some spoilers here, so don’t read on if you haven’t seen the film.
**SPOILER ALERT**
After Abscam, Mel didn’t divorce his wife and marry Evelyn immediately, and his wife certainly didn’t move on to a better life with another mobster, as in the film. Instead, Mel and Evelyn carried on the affair until Mel’s wife killed herself, about two years later. A month later, in 1982, Mel and Evelyn wed. They remained married until 1998, when they divorced acrimoniously. About this, Mel has said, “now she hates my guts. I guess I was never really affectionate enough. She hated the fact I dragged her into all this. She was nothing like that chick in the movie.”
Indeed, when she did eventually cut ties with Mel, Evelyn got a job caring for the monkeys Nasa had sent into space – a far cry from the glamorous ending of the film. But then, that seems to suit her better. Not that she’s told the press that. She’s leaving all the attention grabbing to Mel.
Watch two sisters give a superb and heartfelt ballet performance in wheelchairs
These two sisters, Quincy and Gracie Latkovski, choreographed a moving ballet performance to ‘Reflection’, from Disney’s animated film Mulan. In the dance, they show that despite Gracie’s disabilities – she has cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis – she feels like she can do anything any child can do when she dances. So she and her sister, who is also a dancer but doesn’t have the disabilities, created this performance to showcase that feeling.
Talking about the routine, Gracie said, “I love dancing and want to show that I can do anything everyone else can because I believe in my dreams.”
Get some tissues ready, and watch the performance below.
Walter Williams back from dead: Mississippi man alive in funeral home
If you think you’ve had a bad day, spare a thought for poor Walter Williams. The 78-year-old collapsed in his home in Lexington, Mississippi, USA, and when the coroner couldn’t find a pulse, his family sent his body to the morgue. Imagine their surprise (and how many pairs of pants needed washing) when his body bag began to move!
Walter was returned to his relieved family, and the coroner later speculated on what may have happened. After Walter collapsed and as the coroner was checking for a pulse, his pacemaker must have failed momentarily, the coroner speculated. Then, a little while later, the pacemaker restarted, and Walter was able to regain consciousness.
The funeral home manager, Byron Porter perhaps explained it best when he said, “he was not dead, long story short.”
Needless to say, Walter will probably get some very generous gifts for his birthday and Christmas from relatives keen to make up for their terrible mistake!
These are some of the best real life stories from around the web. Let us know what you think about them, or share your own favourite shocking tales, in the comments below.
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